The biggest obstacle to playing golf?

[Mats++]

Weather, daylight, work.

The days are getting longer now when the spring is approaching, but still we have 10-20 cm of snow and -8°C ( 4-8 inches ,18°F).

[Shindig]

School is in the way. I keep trying to schedule some golf in during the week, and my lab-mates keep scheduling meetings over my golf.

[Metanoia75]

for me its my mind.... getting ahead of myself on the course is my biggest obstacle!

[msd3075]

MIne is wife, work, kids in that order...IN fact the wife causes the most grief...

Do what I do; sneek out early in the morning on Saturday and Sunday before she wakes up. Works like a charm, at least until you get home.

For me, my biggest obstacle is work in combination with the hours of daylight. I play on the weekend but get most of my practice in after work during the week. When I'm leaving the office at 5:00 and the sun goes down at 5:30 or so, there isn't much time to go practice. It seems to be getting better the past few weeks, and it'll be really nice when DST starts back up (March 8th is already marked on the calender).

[David in FL]

Easy.......it's time.

Just too many other important things competing for a finite number of hours in the week/month.

[PiKapp23]

Money and work for me. I would love to play more but can't afford to play as much as I do, let alone more. And of course, it's cheaper to play during the week but work prevents that. I do take several vacation days through out the year just to play golf, though.

[Chief Broom]

MIne is wife, work, kids in that order...IN fact the wife causes the most grief...

Well keep playing and eventually I bet she'll stop. Probably move out with the kids too, but you can't have everything...

Just a hunch but I imagine that her dislike of golf is merely a symptom. Figure out what it is she's unhappy about and fix that and she probably won't give you any grief when you do play.

[Bourbon and Coke]

Weather. Fortunately, it seems to be an early spring.

[Chief Broom]

As to my biggest obstacle to playing I'd have to say it's time. Golf is a game to takes a lot of time to play and figuring out how to fit it in with all of your other responsibilities has to be the biggest challenge to playing any much less playing more. A 3 1/2 - 4 hour round is pretty good time wise and when you factor in time spent driving there and back, time to warm up before your round, taking a break at the turn, and shooting the breeze afterwards playing golf can occupy easily six hours of your day. That's significant. I've figured out ways to play when the course first opens during the week. I'll walk nine holes and be to work around 9AM. Playing like that takes much of the social aspect out of golf. It's not like I'm meeting a group of friends when I do this, early morning weekday rounds I play alone unless there is someone starting out that I join. But if you're trying to work on your game on a regular basis it's going to require that you get creative about how you approach the game and managing your time.

Finances are also an issue but there are ways to get around that too. Usually this requires lowering one's standards by playing venues where you can get good deals, also compromising regarding equipment is an area where one can save money (buying used gear, cheaper balls, etc.). I always figured that golf was golf. Sure it's nice to play an immaculately groomed course, but $100+ rounds add up fast. The local muni (or farmer's former pasture) may be hard with tiny greens and no water but sub $20 rounds mean a lot more golf for the same money.

[elementz]

Weather is the #1 issue for me. Living on the East Coast of Canada, there is still a few feet of snow on the ground and temperatures are well below freezing. Golf season around here is from May - October. I have done well staying away from these boards in the off season but I am getting the itch.

[Nyper]

I would say time, money, and playing partners.

This time of year there's not enough daylight to play after work Mon-Fri.. so that leaves only Sat & Sun and I usually only get to play one of those days.

Around here, almost every course is $50... which to me just seems expensive. I don't think any of the courses are worth more than $40. And the one course that DOES cost $40, is the worst one around and isn't worth paying $30 for.

Annnd.. most of the courses around here do not let singles on easily. I can understand it.. but it's aggravating. I just moved to the area in the last year or so and simply don't know that many people that play golf regularly. It's aggravating. When I go play by myself I get paired with somebody completely random. I'm willing to play with absolutely anyone.. but I have to admit it gets annoying to get constantly paired with people who can't break 120. I know everyone has to start somewhere.. but when you're spending your whole day helping some complete stranger look for their ball it's aggravating. I even got paired with one guy last year who couldn't speak English. Not a word!

[chipper2]

For me it is weather or money. In Michigan it is hard to play in the snow and below freezing temperatures. Money to spend the winter where it is warm to play and still afford to play. I did get a couple of weeks in Florida in January. I hope that will hold me till it get to be golf season up here.

[MI Rob]

Same as chipper2, the biggest obstacles for me are weather and money in Michigan.

[flopdarock]

weather and time

[SasQuatch<3]

School and Money! ohh and Work too!

[M2daRizzle]

school and money for sure

[wachesawgolfer]

Glad to hear no one has injuries which limit their play as I have have been dealing with this past year.

[Andro26]

I would have to say lack of daylight savings time. I like to golf in the afternoon after work. My course offers a player development ($40/month) plan with unliminted range balls a weekly clinic and all the golf you can play after 4:00 each day for $10. I get out of the cube jungle at 5:00pm an during the winter I might be able to hit a large bucket before it gets dark.

After March 8th I will be out there everyday for at last 9 holes.