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Quieting the Golf Geek

Fairway_CY

Entry posted by Fairway_CY

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For as long as I've played this game (going on 24 years now), every year, there comes a point where my inner golf geek gets pent up and needs to get out.  When I say my inner golf geek, I'd guess that many of you who visit sites like TST know what I'm talking about.  He's the part of me that just obsesses over the game.  He forces me to think about golf from the time I wake up until the time I finally fall asleep for the night... and even then, there are times I dream about it.  

When I lived up north, it would typically start around the beginning of February.  I'd start itching to play... watching non-stop coverage on the Golf Channel... visiting golf sites multiple times a day... finding any day that was at least 40 degrees or warmer just so I could run to the range and hit some balls beneath the heat lamps.  I hated the fact that snow was still on the ground and golf was very likely 2 months or more away from actually being something I could do.  My golf geek was defeated, for the most part, by Mother Nature.  

Now, I live in South Carolina.  Golf season is never ending.  Still... I found myself 'burned out' after the most recent season.  I had played in about 20 tournaments (and another 60 or so rounds outside of those), finding myself in contention often and even managing to win a pair of them.  By the time the year end tournament was over... my golf geek was exhausted and I needed a break.  I even told my wife as much.  She was happy that she was going to have her husband back, even if she knew it was temporary.  If she knew HOW temporary, she probably wouldn't have been quite as happy.

It lasted all of 5 days.  I was back on the course playing a match the very next weekend.  Since then (just over a month ago)... I've gone back into full golf geek mode.  The TV in my bedroom hasn't changed from the Golf Channel in at least 3 weeks now.  I don't believe there is a course vlog on YouTube that I haven't watched.  My clubs sit in the corner taunting me until I give in and take them out.  I've taught myself how to hit a hybrid and my 3 wood again which excites me and drives my desire to be on the course.  I've got the urge to play a money match any and every day of the week.  Alas... the majority of my golfing buddies have put the sticks in the garage for a bit.  I'm left to go out and challenge myself.  

I need to suppress my golf geek.  I've got to find a way to calm him down until tournament season rolls around again at the beginning of February... give me at least a month to recuperate.  I need to ignore him when he turns my head longingly towards the clubs in the corner.  I've got to stop him from taking me into my closet to stare at my golf shoes.  I need to learn to close my browser when he opens up the golf shopping sites... change the station when he turns on the Golf Channel... drop my phone when he picks it up to text my golfing buddies who have had enough of me urging them to get out for a round.  

He's a junkie who feeds off the rush felt when pounding drives off the tee... crisply hitting an iron... blasting balls out of bunkers... sticking 40 yard pitch shots to tap in range... dropping putts into the cups... and interacting with other golfers and their inner golf geeks.  

It's the holiday season... a time when I'm supposed to be thinking about seeing the kids' faces when they open their gifts on Christmas morning.  Instead, my golf geek has me thinking about the fact that my daughters are getting their own sets of clubs this year so they can join my son and I on the course.  I'll always have a foursome for my golf geek to torment.  

I've contemplated professional help... but when I think of those words, my golf geek starts thinking of lessons!  Medication?  He thinks of Crown and ginger ale in the 19th hole.  Getting away?  He wants to drive to Florida for some rounds on Disney World property.  I need to make it stop!

Well... maybe not.  Maybe I just need to give in and let him run things for awhile.  After all... he did get me to move down here.  Perhaps this was his plan all along?  

CY

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CarlSpackler

CarlSpackler 763

Posted

Naw. Feed the beast. Play on. >=]

Come on down. We still have a spot open for a TST gathering in Orlando 12/28.

RandallT

RandallT 832

Posted

Quote

I've contemplated professional help... but when I think of those words, my golf geek starts thinking of lessons!

Ya know, CY, but you could limit your golf this winter to just.....

wait for it.....

wait for it.....

lessons and dedicated practice.  Your wife would be glad that you do mirror drills in a hallway, rather than playing a full round. And I'll be waiting for you over in these threads :-P

But seriously, you and I have had polar opposite seasons. I've pretty much done nothing but practice/lessons (with a break in there for part of the late summer). I have no idea how I'll score in spring. In retrospect though, it has been eye-opening to think almost nothing about getting out to the course and just let an instructor guide your progress. 

I'd recommend it to anyone whose willing to give that a shot for a few months. Challenge is to see what fundamental change you can make to your swing- to see what scores and consistency of play arrive when the season starts.

A new focus for your geek-dom for the winter? Yah, I know- there's a happy medium between us somewhere, right? Your inner geek sounds like he wouldn't be interested in anything "medium" when it comes to golf :beer:. But think about it- I've enjoyed it, and still a few months to go til I plan to get back out to the course. 

Fairway_CY

Fairway_CY 129

Posted

3 hours ago, CarlSpackler said:

Naw. Feed the beast. Play on. >=]

Come on down. We still have a spot open for a TST gathering in Orlando 12/28.

Haha!  I'd love to get down there next week.  Unfortunately, I'm off from work but I've got the kids home all week.  Since my wife will be at work, I don't think she'd be too happy if I disappeared to Orlando without her.  

Have fun though!  I'll be there for a week in March, so... I plan to play a few rounds while I'm there.  

2 hours ago, RandallT said:

I'd recommend it to anyone whose willing to give that a shot for a few months. Challenge is to see what fundamental change you can make to your swing- to see what scores and consistency of play arrive when the season starts.

A new focus for your geek-dom for the winter? Yah, I know- there's a happy medium between us somewhere, right? Your inner geek sounds like he wouldn't be interested in anything "medium" when it comes to golf :beer:. But think about it- I've enjoyed it, and still a few months to go til I plan to get back out to the course. 

There's gotta be a happy medium!  Unfortunately, I haven't been the practicing type for awhile now.  I kinda get out to the course and play and try to practice while I'm on the course.  That said, the country club I joined in September has a pretty nice facility that I have been making some use of from time to time.  

Perhaps I'll spend January focusing on different areas of my game at the club?  The good thing is that my work schedule is so flexible that I can almost guarantee myself an hour or more at the club each weekday without upsetting my wife since she'll be at the office anyway.  

;-)

CY

JonMA1

JonMA1 510

Posted

It's good to know I'm not the only one.

BTW, are the courses in South Carolina open this time of the year? Because SC is the leader on my list of states where I'd love to retire.

Fairway_CY

Fairway_CY 129

Posted

14 hours ago, JonMA1 said:

It's good to know I'm not the only one.

BTW, are the courses in South Carolina open this time of the year? Because SC is the leader on my list of states where I'd love to retire.

Absolutely!  The courses here (for the most part) are open year round.  The club I joined in September has covered the greens and closed the course for a few days recently due to freezing temperatures, but... it's lasted 2-3 days each time and then the covers come off and the course is open again.  

I lived my entire life until 3 years ago in New Jersey.  The majority of the courses I played at would stay open either until the first snowfall or until November.  They'd then close up shop until April... sometimes March if it was a mild winter.  

Being able to play the entire year down here is wonderful.  I initially wanted no part in moving south when my company asked me, but... after some research and negotiation... it's been the best decision my family could have made.  I don't miss the winters at all.  Now, summer time is awful down here at times and my electric bill suffers, but... it's a fair trade off!

CY

CarlSpackler

CarlSpackler 763

Posted

1 hour ago, Fairway_CY said:

Being able to play the entire year down here is wonderful.  I initially wanted no part in moving south when my company asked me, but... after some research and negotiation... it's been the best decision my family could have made.  I don't miss the winters at all.  Now, summer time is awful down here at times and my electric bill suffers, but... it's a fair trade off!

I'm right there with you. Moving to FL has been awesome. Don't miss winter AT ALL.

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