You should just quit - and so should I

**AbsoluteZero** · March 16, 2009

Every year, at least a couple times, I considering selling my clubs and quitting the game of golf. This usually happens after a round where I just blow up and can't seem to do anything right. I think to myself "I just spent a lot of money to go out and have a miserable time."

I'm constantly frustrated that I don't get to play/practice enough to reach my full potential and I feel like my scores are much higher than they "should" be.

Usually I follow one of these rounds with a pretty good round so the game pulls me back in, but honestly, I've wondered many times how people can stand to be as bad as I am, or even more baffling, how can you stand to be worse?

Seriously, I play golf with the realistic goal of shooting in the 70's or low 80's EVERY time I play. Am I there yet, no , but I honestly think that with practice and more play, I have the core skills to do so, and if I increased consistency, I would be there. However, the day I think that I can't do that any more, I'm quitting.

I'm amazed that every time I go out and play I'll see guys who have swings that rival Charles Barkley's and they are still out there spending their money whacking the ball around. What for? Is it because they/you enjoy drinking beer on the course with your friends? That would make some sense, although there seem to be cheaper ways to do that. Or are their/your expectations just lower than mine?

What keeps you playing? If you are a single digit hcp, I understand why you play. If you are like me, or even worse, why are you playing? Do you really feel like Golf is the best return on your "hobby" investment?

My favorite golf quote of all time "Lay off for three weeks, and then quit for good."

**PiKapp23** · March 16, 2009

While the game is endlessly frustrating and expensive I really don't think I could ever give it up - no matter how hard I tried. I love the game and love being on the course. When I'm not on the course, I'm either watching golf (addicted to The Golf Channel), surfing golf websites (including this forum), reading golf magazines and books or visiting my local Golf Galaxy and Dick's to check out and demo equipment.

I have set a goal this year of getting my handicap under 8.0, which means I'm going to have to become much more consistent. I plan to work harder to get there than I ever have. Do I think it's realistic? Yes. Do I think it's possible? Maybe. I was an 8.9 to start 2008 and am currently a 9.8 (until next handicap revision anyway, at which point it will probably go up a little depending on my next round).

If nothing else the game is good exercise and a good chance for socialization. I am single with no kids and a job that is basically 7-4 most of the time, so I've got nothing holding me back. Golf is my one and only love...

**Zeph** · March 16, 2009

It's fun and a great hobby. It's a game where you can play alone or with others. You can work on your game every day regardless of everyone else.

I never do something I don't enjoy for a longer time, so the only way to explain why I still play golf is that it's so much fun.

**JCDot33** · March 16, 2009

Sounds like you are being overly hard on yourself ... you should be enjoying the game ... Remember, you are out enjoying the game; but, I undertand that when you aren't playing well it's really hard to enjoy.

This is a downward spiral ... A bad shot puts you initially into a bad mindset, that mindset can put you at an instant disadvantage for your next shot and so on, and so forth ...

Just remember, a bad day on the course beats a great day at work anytime!

**Ian** · March 16, 2009

i just go out there and enjoy it, theres no feeling in the world like draining a birdie putt, or better yet one of those rare eagles :)

**$2 Nassau** · March 16, 2009

I've been in this situation before...."That's it I'm quitting!! Ahhhhhh!!!"

Stick it out. The next round you play where everything comes together and you are playing well you'll think to yourself "why would I ever want to quit this wonderful game?"

**Dpricenator** · March 16, 2009

I can see getting frustrated, knowing you can shot a 75, but instead shooting a 85. I guess that would upset me too. So next time I would make sure i have tried my hardest to correct the mistakes I made last time.

**Dub** · March 16, 2009

PiKapp and Zeph hit some of the same notes I'd sing as well.

It was funny.....I quit the game when my hcp was at it's lowest...12-13 and I was a member of a tough and challenging course. I just couldn't make the breakthrough into single digits....but could see promise and improvement....shooting some low rounds w/o heroical holes...just many pars for a nice respectable scorecard.

My frustration level with the game was higher then...than now....and yes, it's about reduced expecatations. There are now other demands on my time, finances, hobbies and etc.

I think that I enjoy the game more now because I see the whole of it. It is not just a pure competition between yourself and the guys you are trying to beat, not just against the course and ultimately not just against yourself.

For me it is something to work towards and savor the flush shots. There are at least one or two per round that are "pro-quality"....these shots are to be appreciated and filed away for memory....let them override the skulls, dips, slips, shanks and other uglies.

There is a huge social aspect to the game. Everone can use some "buddy-time". Next Monday I'll be playing in a tourney with a lot of members that I don't yet know.....I suspect that by the end of the day I'll get to know a good many more of them. These are folks that I'll have at least one common interest with....and take it from there.

It's another way to enjoy the outdoors. I basically gave up hunting this past year for various reasons and spending several hours on a golf outing is a huge way to recharge those "fresh air" batteries.

The biggest reason of all.....the thing that brought me back to this game....is spending time with my son. He's getting into the game ever since last summer. We are taking the baby steps together with golf. It's a load of fun and we keep it light on the bad shots and celebrate his good shots enthusiastically. He's at an age now where spending time with his old man is fun. I suspect that will not always be the case when he enters into those tough teenage years. It will make those 6 hour golf outings so important. This is my selfish reason for getting him into the game.

**SubPar** · March 16, 2009

...I'm amazed that every time I go out and play I'll see guys who have swings that rival Charles Barkley's and they are still out there spending their money whacking the ball around. What for?

Someone once said "In golf, as long as there is life there is hope".

I think that sums it up. The 20 handicapper dreams of bogey golf. The 15 handicapper dreams of pars. The 10 handicapper dreams of birdies. And so on. Personally, I decided I could not play the game for fun if I could not reach a level of competency that let me shoot around even par now and then. But apparently a lot of people enjoy playing golf even if they are making double and triple bogeys on every hole. A friend and I paired up with two random hackers yesterday. My buddy and I shot even for the 9 holes. On one par-4 my buddy had a three foot putt for birdie and I had a 12 foot downhill slider with thee feet of break. I made my birdie putt to push the hole. Now, I just plucked my ball out of the hole without much emotional reaction. The guys we were playing with had no idea where the ball was going, no idea how to putt, etc.; they probably shot 15 over par. But they both made par on a par-3 and you would have thought they won the lottery, they were so excited. An impartial observer from another planet might conclude the hackers were better at the game because they appeared to be having more fun. SubPar

**Dub** · March 16, 2009

Someone once said "In golf, as long as there is life there is hope".

Yes !!!!!!!!

**mirv** · March 16, 2009

what keeps me going is the challenge. i know there's a single-digit (if not scratch) player lurking in me. i just have to chisel away the rugged, clumsy exterior to get to him, and i absolutey refuse to stop until i find him.

or i die.

whichever happens first.

**jmontgo3** · March 16, 2009

I agree, its probably the most frustrating game ever created. But I play for those amazing shots, that 185 yd 5 iron into the green that you stick 6 feet from the pin, or the chip in from the bunker, or that 30 ft putt where you read the break just right. And there is nothing quite like spending 3-5 hours on a beautiful course on a beautiful day with good friends. Nothing like it.

**misty_mountainhop** · March 16, 2009

If that's the way you feel, why are you playing the game?

Different players have different goals and what they consider good. If I was +6 I'm sure I'd still feel that I was playing badly sometimes and wonder what I'm doing but I'll still keep doing it. I'm sure Watson has considered quitting many times recently with his putting issues as have many more; at the end of the day I suspect he carries on because he loves the game first and it's a living second.

Don't give up on it. Apart from anything else, that's a bit easy isn't it?

**Norm3333** · March 16, 2009

I love this thread.

The day my news irons came in, I pulled a chest muscle. I was soooooo happy. Haven't been able to swing since. Have thought about quitting many times.

Can't.

**goblue107501** · March 16, 2009

The biggest thing that keeps me playing is the desire to shoot a round at even par. I have played a few nines at even, but never a whole round. Of course after I accomplish that, my desire will be to have an under par nine and under par round. So for me that is why I keep playing.

I understand you point though. I see so many people who can’t hit a ball out of their shadow and they love going out and will play as much as they can. Many of these same people have neither the desire nor the ability to get better, but they keep playing. Some people just don’t care how good they are. That is fine with me, but I don’t understand it either. When I was in that position, I always knew I could be better, so I kept playing to get better.

You are right in that the cost is enormous for what you get out of it. You basically spend $1000+ to get the equipment (woods, irons, putter, balls, bag, tees, etc.) then pay $30 on up to play one time and what do you get out of it? Nothing other than the joy of playing golf. I will sometimes drive home thinking that I just spent $50 and I leave with nothing. I could have at least taken the family to dinner.

If you really want to get better and get over that hump, find a good teacher and take a series of lessons. I was in the same position as you several years ago. I thought I should be scoring better than what I was. I knew I had some faults, but I didn’t think it was as bad as it was. I took one lesson and the guy pointed out my faults and told me I would never be any better than what I was if I kept doing what I was doing. After the first lesson he told me “we can probably get you down to a 6 or 7 handicap”. I was a little disappointed, because I thought I would end up better than that. After I had gone 7 or 8 times and we had worked out all of my faults he told me he was wrong and that I could be scratch as long as I had the time to play and practice. The biggest thing for me is finding the time.

**TheWarHound** · March 16, 2009

I play for fun, I enjoy golf, and don't think of quitting except every 3-4 holes . . .

**glebert** · March 16, 2009

I think people's expectations about their golf game are funny. I took up playing in my early 30s, so the odds of getting good were already stacked against me, so I just have fun. I'm steadily improving, but I also am now 36, which is statistically when good golfers start declining. My goal for the year is to break 90 (actually 45 for 9 which is all I have time to play). Same goal as last year.

Eventually though, I will stop improving altogether and start declining (as will you), and then I will start hitting driver on par 3s and relying on the short game that I will develop sometime between now and then to scramble for bogeys. I think I'll still love it though.

**flopdarock** · March 16, 2009

are you kidding? ill never quit...
i havent gotten my first hole in one yet!!!
i know guys in their 80's that used to be scratch golfers that cant break 90 on the forward tees anymore... they still play... and still have fun...
even if i cant break a hundred on a particular day... its so much better than grinding it out at the office in front of the keyboard wishing i was attempting to break a hundred... heck playing in the rain... cold and wet is better than working...
guess you need to redefine the meaning of fun in your game... if you equate scoring with fun... or expectations... goals... maybe you need a break

Sign In

You should just quit - and so should I

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Topics Being Discussed Right Now on The Sand Trap

TST Partners

Posts

Important Information