A Gentleman’s Game

It’s not everyday you get the opportunity to play golf with a TV star, a legendary golfer, and an international sports superstar. But just a few short weeks ago, Adam Wonus, one of our newest Kennedy’s franchisees, and I got that opportunity when we won our way into the Audi Quattro Cup U.S. Final at Pelican Hill in beautiful Newport Beach, California.

With the Pacific Ocean in the background and a cigar in hand, Adam and I swung the clubs with Dennis Haysbert (former president David Palmer on the Fox television series “24”), renowned golfer/commentator Ken Venturi and LPGA phenom, Lorena Ochoa. While I would love to say our nerves were steady and it was just another day on the golf course, I would be lying if I did.

Yes, believe it or not, attempting to precisely hit a tiny, white ball in front of two golfing legends and a TV star was unnerving to say the least. But despite our nearly debilitating excitement, we were able to put together a solid round of golf that included Adam missing a hole-in-one by mere centimeters and me knocking it closer to the pin on a daunting par 3 than the number-one ranked female golfer in the world.

As a lifelong golf fanatic who loves and respects the game, the experience was exhilarating and unforgettable. And, as Adam and I mused after the round, there isn’t another sport in this world that can bring together such diversely talented (or not so talented) individuals to compete on the same stage… however small that stage may be. We both agreed that it is that simple fact that brings us back to the course week in and week out. It’s that chance at glory that comes with every golf shot no matter how tall, how strong, or how fast you are. It is a game that rewards precise thinking as much as precise physical execution. It’s not me against Tiger Woods (if I could ever be so lucky), it’s me against the course; it’s me against the elements; it’s me against me. I was fortunate enough to learn that lesson from my father at a young age, and it is one that transcends the game of golf. Whether it is learning how to combat negative thoughts, traverse unpredictable circumstances, or simply take a drop when we really just want to try and pull off the miracle shot, we can apply many of these lessons to our lives as businessmen, husbands, fathers and sons.

To all who truly value the sport, golf is a “gentleman’s game.” Not because it is a game limited to the privileged or elite, but because it is a game that commands no less than the utmost integrity and honor among its competitors. Whether young or old, four hours on any golf course will surely evoke the spectrum of human emotions from all of us. But because we chase those spectacular, pure shots that seem so few and far between, we learn to channel that emotion and give the game the respect it ultimately deserves, one swing at a time.

No, I don’t think 2009 will be the year I win my first major or that I’ll get to stare down Tiger on the 18th green at Augusta. But just like the many years I’ve had the opportunity to play this great game, it will assuredly be another year that the game of golf affords me invaluable lessons I can draw upon throughout my personal and business life. It will be a year that we’ll all feel the nerves over that three-foot putt, even if Ken Venturi isn’t watching intently in the background. It will be a year that we’ll mistakenly hit two balls out of bounds off the first tee. And it will be a year that so many rejoice when that last putt falls to break 90. It will be a year no different than any before it – no matter the disappointment or the elation; we’ll keep coming back for more because, after all, that last putt did fall.

Tony Zara is Executive Vice President of Mercantile Commercial Capital where he manages the financial underwriting and business development functions of the company. His expertise in sales and finance has enabled he, and his team, to grow Mercantile Commercial Capital’s loan production to over $100 million a year in a very short period of time. As Executive Vice President of Mercantile, Tony has also played an intricate role in developing and implementing the company’s ACE Correspondent Program that was rolled out during 2006. The Program has offered a partnership opportunity to mortgage brokers throughout the United States who wanted to not only share in the enormous income opportunities MCC has identified, but also realize the marketing power that the team at MCC has deployed so effectively in the past. Tony has been a key player in this MCC area development strategy with its correspondents and has been involved with the sale of over 35 territories in just 18 months.

Prior to joining Mercantile, Tony worked as a Business Analyst for American Express in London, England. While in London, he worked within Global Network Services and was responsible for the successful implementation of American Express Blue™ smart chip technology throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. His day to day responsibilities included international government relations, business development, strategic planning, and financial analysis.

Tony is an active member in several national organizations such as the Association of Corporate Growth (ACG), Wharton Alumnae Association, Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Orlando Class 66, National Association of Development Companies (NADCO), National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).
Tony earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. While there, he also played quarterback for the Quaker’s football team, which recorded 33 wins, only 7 losses, and 2 Ivy League Championships during his tenure. Tony is an avid sports fan and enjoys playing golf in his spare time. He and his wife Catherine live in Longwood, FL with their five year old son, Zachary.

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