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What I Love About Golf

CarlSpackler

Entry posted by CarlSpackler

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Several recent threads on the forum got me thinking, what is it that I really love about golf. Why do I spend precious time and money on a sport that I am decent at, but certainly can't call myself good. My (unofficial) handicap is now at 10.7. It is only that low because of some very good rounds that I played late last year, so it is probably a bit lower than it realistically should be. I would love to get down a bit more into the single digit range, but I'm not sure if I can make that happen. Perhaps moving to Florida and not having the 3-4 month winter break will keep me warm this year and prevent those higher springtime scores that raise my handicap. I love shooting good scores, but that is really not what excites me about the game. 

I love walking the fairways and seeing the birds and other wildlife. Not too long ago, I was playing my home course in Ohio for the last time and noticed this guy swimming around in the water.

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Then there was this guy hanging out in the grass last year.

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I've seen bald eagles, hawks, deer, and yes, lots of groundhogs on that course. Thankfully I have yet to encounter alligators or venomous snakes here in Florida. I do love nature, but that isn't what gets me out on the course. Lord knows there are much less expensive ways to view wildlife.

I have fond memories of following my Dad and Grandpa around Penn Terra golf course (now closed) as a youngster. I had my own clubs and a cart and would whack my ball along as they played. My dad would have me pick up my ball after a few "worm burners" and drop it by his ball. That would infuriate me to no end. I wanted to hit it past them so bad it hurt. That is what leads me to what I love the most about golf. It's this guy.

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That's right. It's the big dog. The annihilator. The Dig D. The Boss. I love hitting the driver. Approach shots, pitches, chips, putting are all things that I need to do to finish the hole and post a score, but this guy is what drives me (pun intended) to keep playing. I just want to hit it further and further. It will misbehave every now and then, but it is truly my BFF. If I were to get remarried today, this would be my best man.

Perhaps if I learned to love my other clubs as much, I could reach that single digit handicap.

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mcanadiens

If you played more in the winter, you'd see the lovely piles of deer poop as well. Keeping the floor warm.

To the other point, there is nothing like hitting one out there. Seems like I might score crappy and still enjoy the round if I can at least hit the old #1.

 

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CarlSpackler
15 hours ago, mcanadiens said:

If you played more in the winter, you'd see the lovely piles of deer poop as well. Keeping the floor warm.

To the other point, there is nothing like hitting one out there. Seems like I might score crappy and still enjoy the round if I can at least hit the old #1.

I've definitely seen a good share of critter scat on that course, mostly goose. The boy and I were playing out there 2 springs ago and swear we encountered human doody. 

Yes. I love hitting the driver. I detest holes like #3 and #11 at Homestead where you have to hit a H3 or iron because it's a 90* dogleg. Par 3's are pretty depressing too. Give me a driver or give me death. I think that was a Revolutionary quote. :-D

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Club Rat

My passion for the game has several factors.

The enjoyment of the beautiful surroundings and being with fellows golfers that often and sometimes time lead to new friendships.
The camaraderie which the game builds among friends with friendly competitions. 
The personal enjoyment of playing well and the special moments of hitting that great shot or better yet, holing the shot.

The opportunity to take golf vacations to many locations is also high on my priority list.

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CarlSpackler
8 minutes ago, Club Rat said:

My passion for the game has several factors.

The enjoyment of the beautiful surroundings and being with fellows golfers that often and sometimes time lead to new friendships.
The camaraderie which the game builds among friends with friendly competitions. 
The personal enjoyment of playing well and the special moments of hitting that great shot or better yet, holing the shot.

The opportunity to take golf vacations to many locations is also high on my priority list.

My best friend, @missitnoonan, and I developed an awesome friendship playing golf even though he always tried to get in my head and rattle my confidence. I got paired up with a guy last Saturday who bladed a shot on # 3 that rolled across the ground and right into the hole for an eagle. He was about 140 yards out. That was the ugliest eagle I have ever seen, but we had a good laugh about it. I looked at him and said, "I would have never thought to play it that way." 

 

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Jeremie Boop
4 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

My best friend, @missitnoonan, and I developed an awesome friendship playing golf even though he always tried to get in my head and rattle my confidence. I got paired up with a guy last Saturday who bladed a shot on # 3 that rolled across the ground and right into the hole for an eagle. He was about 140 yards out. That was the ugliest eagle I have ever seen, but we had a good laugh about it. I looked at him and said, "I would have never thought to play it that way." 

 

Hmm.. HE tried to get into YOUR head? Funny how it seemed the other way around when I played with you two, or at the very least it was mutually destructive :-D

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CarlSpackler
Just now, Jeremie Boop said:

Hmm.. HE tried to get into YOUR head? Funny how it seemed the other way around when I played with you two, or at the very least it was mutually destructive :-D

Not me! O=)

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Club Rat
6 hours ago, CarlSpackler said:

 tried to get in my head

In my early years of golf I had friends who played that game.

I'd simply say "here, hold my beer and watch this" and then pound my drive 50 yards past them.... :-P

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CarlSpackler
Just now, Club Rat said:

In my early years of golf I had friends who played that game.

I'd simply say "here, hold my beer and watch this" and then pound my drive 50 yards past them.... :-P

Yep. I'm usually 50+ yard past @missitnoonan. He is older though.

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iacas
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26 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

Yep. I'm usually 50+ yard past @missitnoonan. He is older though.

Tell him to come back and hang out on the site again. Hasn't been on since January 11.

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JonMA1

What do I love about golf? The same thing that makes the game maddening - It's so damned hard to sustain momentum. We work on our iron game and it improves. Just about then, our putting or chipping needs work. We get that back to where it was and our driver starts to falter. Get it fixed and the iron game starts to require work again. 

I wonder how boring golf would be if once we learned something that was it and we wouldn't have to worry about losing it.

Specifically, my two favorite things about golf are:

1. Hitting a long iron onto a green.

2. Having a crazy putt that needs to go uphill over the fringe and back down with a hard break towards the hole on a fast green - and pulling it off.

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