Why do You Want to Be Good at Golf?

[saevel25]

1. I have some talent for the game
2. I tend to enjoy sports that you don't need to rely on a team. 
3. I enjoy the process at getting better in the game. 

 

[boogielicious]

I tend to want to be the best I can be in whatever I’m doing. It’s my nature. That goes from academics, to work, to sports, music, art, home repair, cooking, everything. But I’m more competitive against myself than against others. I enjoy doing things with others who have more skills than me because it helps me get better.

[billchao]

18 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

I tend to want to be the best I can be in whatever I’m doing. It’s my nature. That goes from academics, to work, to sports, music, art, home repair, cooking, everything. But I’m more competitive against myself than against others. I enjoy doing things with others who have more skills than me because it helps me get better.

This is pretty much my answer.

[Bob M]

I tend to be competitive mostly with myself as well. Defining "good" somewhat loosely, I would like to get to the point that I typically shoot in the 80's which would give me a sense of accomplishment and feel of competence when I play the game.

[Maverick]

19 hours ago, TourSpoon said:

Playing well is better than playing poorly. It is that easy. 

That is the truth.

[Ty_Webb]

1 hour ago, Maverick said:

That is the truth.

Yep - gotta say, there is not much in the world that compares with the feeling of a well struck shot that, when you look up, is going right where you wanted it to (and not all that much to compare with the crushing disappointment of seeing that ball come down 20 yards short of your target).

[Double Mocha Man]

What's the point of taking on any hobby/sport if you don't want to be very, very good at it.  Okay, I guess there are some reasons.  But isn't that why they sell you all that equipment?

[Denny Bang Bang]

In general, I enjoy competing against myself and others.  Golf allows both those things.  Also, most activities are more enjoyable the better you continue to become at them.

[Esox]

On 2/7/2022 at 12:16 AM, mattthegolfer said:

Why do you want to be good at golf?

 

 

 

 

Because being bad at it sucks?

Because without trying to improve, there is no challenge, and if there is no challenge, it is a pointless activity.

[tehuti]

I have a picture of how good a golfer I SHOULD be. And whether that is realistic or not I measure myself against that.

At some point I will either reach my goal or have to reassess where I want to be. 

[jsgolfer]

This is a great question, like @Club Rat, never really thought about why I love golf so much and I've always wondered, would I still play if I wasn't any good.  

I believe I would, as it is my Happy Place.

Edited February 15, 2022 by jsgolfer

[GolfLug]

From a philosophical perspective a round of golf is like preparing a meal that you have to eat no matter how it tastes blow by blow, one morsel at a time. The irony is the worse the meal, the more you are forced to eat your own shitty food (more shots). Lot of folks blame the kitchen, the utensils, the supplies, the lighting, whatever, etc.. but really you know the accountability ends with you and only you. Heh. Just gotta be better, do better unless you are ok with eating shitty food. 

From a more direct perspective, you have to play golf at a somewhat reasonable level to enjoy the higher art of golf. For example, a par 3, 140 yards to back of the green.. do I hit a hard 9 or a soft 8? Welp, the decision making is pointless if my shot zone is 40 yards in size with either club.     

[Bucki1968]

This topic is similar to one of the other deep conversations we have on the golf course. How do you know when you are good? Is it a handicap  you finally reached? Is it that you don't lose a golf ball when you play? What is the "good" criteria? I was hoping to put that in a poll but I'm not sure how to do it.

Edited February 15, 2022 by Bucki1968
spelling

[GolfLug]

11 minutes ago, Bucki1968 said:

This topic is similar to one of the other deep conversations we have on the golf course. How do you know when you are good? Is it a handicap  you finally reached? Is it that you don't lose a golf ball when you play? What is the "good" criteria? I was hoping to put that in a poll but I'm not sure how to do it.

I have always thought, you just know when you know. Sitting here today I think if I ever reach 5-6 cap, I will die a happy man. But won't know till it happens. Maybe I will get greedier when I get there..... if I ever get there.  

[Double Mocha Man]

20 minutes ago, Bucki1968 said:

This topic is similar to one of the other deep conversations we have on the golf course. How do you know when you are good? Is it a handicap  you finally reached? Is it that you don't lose a golf ball when you play? What is the "good" criteria?

I've been chasing good since I was 12 years old.  It's elusive. Every time I reach my personal good then I move the goalposts.  It's like the mechanical rabbit they use in dog races... you can never catch it. In golf there is always an area (or several) where you can improve.  There are days where I feel like I've achieved good, relative to my expectations, which are always too high. But then, it's good today, gone tomorrow.

[mcanadiens]

1 hour ago, Double Mocha Man said:

It's like the mechanical rabbit they use in dog races... you can never catch it.

At least that rabbit always moves forward. Personal definitions of good can move backwards to.

At one point I was nipping on the heels of averaging bogey. Now the occasional round in the 80s sounds like a pretty noble goal for yours truly. 

 

[Double Mocha Man]

You need a faster greyhound.

[mcanadiens]

15 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

You need a faster greyhound.

That wouldn't hurt.

Sadly, I think I'm stuck with the SOB that I got.