Why You Quit Playing Golf (2022)

[Nave]

What are some of the reasons you have quit playing golf?

I understand that injuries may be one of the reasons for some. Here is why I am about put it on hold, unless I find the inspiration to continue.

Recently I do not enjoy the game much, and I don’t know specifically why!
That is right after a recent high of taking lessons, upgrading part of my clubs, and breaking 80 for the first time.

Generally these are some of the things negatively impacting my interest in golf:
- So What: It took me a long time to break 80, and now I think “so what”. Not much has actually changed and it feels empty
- People’s Excuses: Almost every week I hear someone saying (on the range or field) “I have not played for ages” or excuse #1001 
- Time & Body: I incorporated golf specific physical training and it helped my game, but when I removed the gym equation it immediately impacted my game
- Golf Gods: In the last two weeks I focused on practicing with my new 3-wood, successfully. However, this week I seem not to be able to hit a simple 7-iron shot
- Other Joys: I started swimming regularly and I enjoy that much more than playing golf 
- Balance?: I started some other personal development projects both through my professional work and privately - those seem more enriching than golf

Writing this helped to reflect, however I am still in need of something to help find my passion in golf again.

Thank you!

[GolfLug]

I have not quit. Have no reason to. I suggest play competitively to get your juices going. I find it cures boredom arising from dinking around the ball with nothing to chase. 

 

Edited September 28, 2022 by GolfLug

[Darkfrog]

I quit golf sometime in my mid-20s. Not sure why, since I really loved playing. I wasn't really good at the time, but the game was fun, and Tiger Woods was an athletic idol of mine (along with Michael Jordan and Jerry Rice). Looking back, I guess I was moving from college into a full time job, and just felt like I didn't have the time or money to play golf. I was playing on three different soccer teams, and was also an avid cyclist, and golf just didn't fit in the picture.

When I started up again in my late-30s, I reached a point where I almost quit again after becoming insanely frustrated with playing terrible, literally shanking every other shot. But instead of quitting I started taking lessons, and that set me on my current path.

My ability to hit a golf ball ebbs and flows, and whenever it gets bad and I get frustrated, I zoom out and look at how much I have improved which sort of gives me some perspective. My worst golf now is way better than my best golf 5-6 years ago. Learning/building new skills is something that really drives me, and that process with golf is perpetual for me.

And even when the golf is simply awful, I think about the connections I have made on the course. My regular foursome came about because 4 random guys, different ages, different backgrounds, all ended up getting early tee times on Sunday mornings, and after running into each other over and over again, we decided to start playing as a group. And over the last few years we've forged a cool camaraderie centered around our weekly rounds. I'm a strong introvert, and have a lot of social anxiety, so the few personal connections I make are valuable to me, and I like to nurture them.

[Nave]

1 hour ago, Darkfrog said:

I think about the connections I have made on the course

Great perspective overall - thank you for sharing. This part stood out for me - maybe who I play with is a factor in my current consideration as well.

[StuM]

I started playing in high school but quit early in college for 2 reasons.  First, none of my close friends played and second I was broke and could not afford to play.

Now, I can’t imagine not playing.  I am currently dealing with a bum ankle but still golfed 36 holes in light rain & mid to low 50 degree temps. I need to heal the ankle over winter or it may be a deterrent next year.

I want to golf better but golfing poorly will not stop me.

[ChetlovesMer]

Right now, I'm trying to take a little time off. ... Not really quitting, more like pausing.

I'm trying to let my elbow heal. 
Although, I just had two friends text me to invite me to play next week... So, there's that. 

[TourSpoon]

I don't think I ever "quit" playing, but I did take off from consistently playing when my kids were growing up. When family, career, and finances dictated playing only once or twice a month, I packed it in for a long while. Once the kids were teenagers and I had extra time, I was back at it. Here is the thing, I don't do things I don't enjoy and being a casual golfer is something I can't get into.

[Jeremie Boop]

9 hours ago, Nave said:

Great perspective overall - thank you for sharing. This part stood out for me - maybe who I play with is a factor in my current consideration as well.

This has also been a factor in why I had taken a break until recently. I have nobody locally that I know to play golf with and playing solo rounds just ended up not being as enjoyable so I just didn't have the desire to play. Also, a lot of personal life changes which took up more of my free time. This time I'm going to focus more on improving my swing most of the time through practice and play the occasional round when I have someone to go with or to see if any improvements are occuring.

Edited September 28, 2022 by Jeremie Boop

[SEMI_Duffer]

I started playing in 2020.  (In fact: Today is my Golfversary: The anniversary of my very first game.)

That season went mostly well, considering it was my first.  But, by the end of the season my swing had become thoroughly non-functional.  So I took on-line lessons.  That was working well.

Then 2021 happened.  First I was delayed by knee surgery.  Got over that and resumed training.  Then I was persuaded to play before I felt ready with my new swing.  That resulted in the predictable disaster--compounded by playing with a friend who had little patience making the experience even more miserable.  Then, right after that game, suffered an eye problem that resulted in losing about 1/3 of the eyesight in my right eye.  (I eventually got most of it back.)

That was the last straw.  I quit golf.

But then, early this year, I found myself looking longingly at a golf course I'd played as I drove past it.

So about two months ago I resumed training.  I haven't even gotten to a range, this year, much less played, because I don't care to repeat The Great Mistake Of 2021, but I do believe I'm back.

I sure hope so.  Since I decided I was back I've acquired a range finder, a PRGR launch monitor, golf shoes, a new sand wedge, a Sunday bag for range trips, a box of Ksig balls, and a swing speed trainer.

Looks like I got just a bit optimistic on how fast my swing training would progress  

Or maybe I'm just an equipment ho 

[Nave]

5 hours ago, Jeremie Boop said:

This time I'm going to focus more on improving my swing most of the time through practice and play the occasional round when I have someone to go with or to see if any improvements are occuring.

Thanks for sharing - this was part of the cycle I went through as well. I went from playing a lot of single rounds and the occasional session with friends to focusing on practicing and then playing more ‘meaningful’ rounds with others.

3 hours ago, SEMI_Duffer said:

Today is my Golfversary

Happy golfversary!!! Cheers to injury free golfing without “The Great Mistake” 😀

Rangefinder, launch monitor, new shoes and wedge - I love your enthusiasm there!

17 hours ago, GolfLug said:

I suggest play competitively to get your juices going. I find it cures boredom arising from dinking around the ball with nothing to chase. 

Amen! I think this may be exactly what I need. You mean local community or neighborhood competitions? At which point were you ready to play competitively? I have not taken the leap yet.

[StuM]

5 hours ago, Jeremie Boop said:

This has also been a factor in why I had taken a break until recently. I have nobody locally that I know to play golf with and playing solo rounds just ended up not being as enjoyable so I just didn't have the desire to play. Also, a lot of personal life changes which took up more of my free time. This time I'm going to focus more on improving my swing most of the time through practice and play the occasional round when I have someone to go with or to see if any improvements are occuring.

West Central Ohio is not all that far away.  Maybe I can come down and join you for a round or we can meet half-way.  Heck, I drove from SE Michigan to Poland, OH for a day trip to play 1 round and driving to Dayton is a shorter trip than that.  Probably not until next year, but I am game.

[Jeremie Boop]

2 minutes ago, StuM said:

West Central Ohio is not all that far away.  Maybe I can come down and join you for a round or we can meet half-way.  Heck, I drove from SE Michigan to Poland, OH for a day trip to play 1 round and driving to Dayton is a shorter trip than that.  Probably not until next year, but I am game.

I'm always up for meeting more people from the site. I know a pretty nice course up in Bowling Green called Stone Ridge that may be a good midway place.

[GolfLug]

44 minutes ago, Nave said:

Amen! I think this may be exactly what I need. You mean local community or neighborhood competitions? At which point were you ready to play competitively? I have not taken the leap yet.

I suggest you start here (NSGA) if you are not a member of a club that has member tourneys that you can play in. Joining a state association is relatively cheap and comes with a lot of redeeming benefits. 

Men’s Tournaments – Nevada State Golf Association

If you can establish a GHIN then you are ready. There is no other type of 'getting ready'. 

Here in Virginia I played in one day weekend tourneys for a year (I played six one year IIRC) before I become a club member. These were within two hours of drive from where I live. Added benefit was I played some high end courses for a VSGA rate which was awesome. 

It changed my perspective on how good I actually I was compared to how I was scoring with my buddy group. Grinding over three footers on tough greens in front of strangers separates the men from the boys very quickly. Yah, you will not be bored. 

[StuM]

13 minutes ago, Jeremie Boop said:

I'm always up for meeting more people from the site. I know a pretty nice course up in Bowling Green called Stone Ridge that may be a good midway place.

That would be great.  I actually grew up not far from there but have never played there.  I'm putting a note on my calendar to reach out to you in April or May and we can find a date.

[mcanadiens]

15 minutes ago, StuM said:

That would be great.  I actually grew up not far from there but have never played there.  I'm putting a note on my calendar to reach out to you in April or May and we can find a date.

If I were in Bowling Green, I'd quit playing golf and get cheesesteaks at Mr. Spots.

[Nave]

3 hours ago, GolfLug said:

Grinding over three footers on tough greens in front of strangers separates the men from the boys very quickly. Yah, you will not be bored.

Haha, I love it. I may need that type of reality check.

[Carl3]

I saw video of me at the driving range and quit in the middle of the summer. I couldn’t believe that I did that in public. I looked like I was being tasered or was having a seizure while holding a golf club. That was probably 12 years ago. I think my swing looks better now. 😂

[billchao]

I quit golf all the time. Usually when I’m playing poorly around the 14th hole 😃

I don’t think I’ve ever actually quit playing golf. I’ve taken breaks here and there but that’s not really quitting. I’ve taken several weeks away from golf at times for various reasons such as injuries, work/life obligations, and being mentally burnt out from trying to hard to improve my swing.

I’ve come to learn that my enjoyment of the game has evolved over time. I used to think that I’d enjoy it more if I played better, but it’s all relative. Whether you’re a 5 or a 25, you’re going to hit good shots and poor shots relative to your own abilities and standards. Today I might be displeased with a shot that I would have been happy with ten years ago. And ten years ago, I would have been ecstatic shooting a score I’m not happy with today. I’ve learned that the process of improvement itself is what I enjoy, but it hasn’t made my individual rounds any more enjoyable now that I’m shooting scores 10-15 strokes lower than in the past.

I’ve also discovered that I like golf course architecture and learning design aspects. I’m not particularly knowledgeable but it still adds an extra layer of enjoyment while playing.

And the last thing but certainly not the least is being a part of this community and having been to various outings, I’ve met a bunch of great people and had great experiences. Golf is much more fun with friends than by myself or paired up with strangers.