When are you "happy" with a round?

[mikelz]

No three putts
No double bogies
No penalty shots

[mellojoe]

I'm happy when I'm playing with good guys who aren't areswholes.
I'm happy when I'm contacting the ball well.


That's it. That's all it takes.

[pinbacksc]

Im happy no matter what. Sure id be kind of upset if i totally blew chunks but just being out there is awesome.

[sonicblue]

I appreciate the "I enjoy the air" comments, but c'mon, this is about golf, and I think it's a great question to ask, "what about your golf game makes you happy?" I'm going to take a page out of the Vision54 book....

There are controllable and non-controllable goals. I'm trying more and more to view my game from the controllable side. What takes some getting used to is, SCORE is not controllable. Perfect example: you read your 20' putt, pick your spot, stroke it pure, rolls to your spot, perfect speed, doesn't break. No fault there. You just can't read every putt perfectly, and margin of error is very tiny.

For me, my measures are all qualitative right now. Mostly, it comes down to, do I feel like I made a good plan/decision on each and every shot, and did I trust that come swing time? The other day, I completely pushed a tee shot, just came way out my swing, it happens. My approach had big tree trouble, I decided to shoot a 4-iron out as far as I could get it down. Nice and easy, hit a 12" off-the-grounder, up to about 30 yards. Took a lob wedge, pitched it up, three hops, nearly holed it. Made a 3-4 footer for par.

That's what makes me feel good. Sure, I'd love to caress a drive 260 to the fairway, drop an iron to 20 feet, and ho-hum two-putt for par, 16x/round, but I can't expect that of myself right now. I probably have 4-5 holes like that per round, the rest require me to show some management, restraint and planning. I feel like when I can relax and not worry about recovering, it takes stress off my tee game, I don't feel like I HAVE TO bomb a drive or throw a dart, and then everything will start to come around.

[jammer59]

No three putts

I feel exactly the same way. If those things happen, I'm playing pretty well and the score will generally take care of itself.

[MrKadash]

When I feel like my ball-striking couldn't have been much better, and my short game was solid.

[Dent]

If I play good and the score doesn't show, Im happy. If I don't play well and the score is good. Im okay.

[Lange]

If i come out with a decent score, yet knowing i was playing my clubs right and made right choices on teh course wether it be playing if safe or choosing the right club. But i think most of all im happy when i have a good short game, such as having under 32 putts and good chipping

[iacas]

It's very simple for me: I'm happy when the ball goes where I want it to go.

Score is largely irrelevant. I've been happier with 78s than I have with 74s.

I take little to no joy in hitting a bad shot that gets lucky.

[CG031]

It's very simple for me: I'm happy when the ball goes where I want it to go.

Same here. I struck the ball one of my best rounds ever yesterday and only shot a 38. I've shot lower than that (it's my home course, I kill that place) but this was better ballstriking.

[jwnolefan]

Never. Secretly I think if all the facets of my game are on I can break par. So never. I always feel like left shots out there.

+1 on that... I am constantly frustrated on the course... no matter what. Sunday I shot 75- my best score ever... but I was +4 on the last 4 holes...

I would have been overjoyed and taken a 75 before the round, but as always, I got in my own head and choked it all away....

[bogeyhitter25]

I'm happy if I don't 3 putt any holes.

[Shindig]

I need a few good shots to be happy with a round. Thankfully, I sink 16-18 putts per round, and those are always happy moments.

[Megaman8]

One of the best feelings to me is a monster drive, The one with a perfect lil draw that just flys by everyone elses, lands in the middle of the fairway and gives you a perfect set up for a birdie.

[Soup Fan]

I like these responses. Glad to know I am not the only person not consumed by score.

Every time I get home my wife asks me "Who won?" and I usually don't know because I often times to forget to add up the card.

[niblick]

On an easier course, i'm happy when my score starts with an 8. On a tougher course (>120) anything in double digits is great.

[dkinser86]

I'm happy when the ball goes in the general direction that I intended for it to go. Nothing is more frustrating than watching the ball go somewhere that you didn't want it to go. But I also know that golf is ultimately about the final score. I'm happy as long as I am around my average, which is low 80s.

Good question by the way!

[Three Putt]

Always happy with a round, because I seem to hit enough really good shots. Also hit some below average and crappy shots, but the good ones outshine the bad ones 10 to 1.

Plus just like being outside, can't stand the indoors. Even eat my breakfast about 2 days a week in a fold out chair as the sun rises over the little par 3 in my backyard...2 eggs over medium, 2 slices of toast, 3 strips of bacon (low sodium nowadays), and a couple cups of Maxwell House coffee.