Jump to content
IGNORED

You should just quit - and so should I


Note: This thread is 5754 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Every year, at least a couple times, I considering selling my clubs and quitting the game of golf. This usually happens after a round where I just blow up and can't seem to do anything right. I think to myself "I just spent a lot of money to go out and have a miserable time."

I'm constantly frustrated that I don't get to play/practice enough to reach my full potential and I feel like my scores are much higher than they "should" be.

Usually I follow one of these rounds with a pretty good round so the game pulls me back in, but honestly, I've wondered many times how people can stand to be as bad as I am, or even more baffling, how can you stand to be worse?

Seriously, I play golf with the realistic goal of shooting in the 70's or low 80's EVERY time I play. Am I there yet, no , but I honestly think that with practice and more play, I have the core skills to do so, and if I increased consistency, I would be there. However, the day I think that I can't do that any more, I'm quitting.

I'm amazed that every time I go out and play I'll see guys who have swings that rival Charles Barkley's and they are still out there spending their money whacking the ball around. What for? Is it because they/you enjoy drinking beer on the course with your friends? That would make some sense, although there seem to be cheaper ways to do that. Or are their/your expectations just lower than mine?

What keeps you playing? If you are a single digit hcp, I understand why you play. If you are like me, or even worse, why are you playing? Do you really feel like Golf is the best return on your "hobby" investment?

My favorite golf quote of all time "Lay off for three weeks, and then quit for good."

"take a couple weeks off - then quit for good"

 

- X-460 Tour 10.5 Fujikura Stiff
- War Bird 15deg 3 Wood
- MX-23 Irons
- Vokey 52 + 55deg wedges
- 900 60deg Low Bounce - Studio Design 1.5 - Pro V1x - SG4Sun Mountain Carry and Great Divider Cart Bags.


While the game is endlessly frustrating and expensive I really don't think I could ever give it up - no matter how hard I tried. I love the game and love being on the course. When I'm not on the course, I'm either watching golf (addicted to The Golf Channel), surfing golf websites (including this forum), reading golf magazines and books or visiting my local Golf Galaxy and Dick's to check out and demo equipment.

I have set a goal this year of getting my handicap under 8.0, which means I'm going to have to become much more consistent. I plan to work harder to get there than I ever have. Do I think it's realistic? Yes. Do I think it's possible? Maybe. I was an 8.9 to start 2008 and am currently a 9.8 (until next handicap revision anyway, at which point it will probably go up a little depending on my next round).

If nothing else the game is good exercise and a good chance for socialization. I am single with no kids and a job that is basically 7-4 most of the time, so I've got nothing holding me back. Golf is my one and only love...
Driver: SQ DYMO STR8-Fit
4 Wood: SQ DYMO
2H (17*), 4H (23*) & 5H (26*): Fli-Hi CLK
Irons (5-6): MX-900; (7-PW): MP-60
Wedges (51/6*): MP-T Chrome; (56/13): MP-R ChromePutter: White Hot XG 2-Ball CSPreferred Ball: e5+/e7+/B330-RXGPS Unit: NEOPush Cart: 2.0

It's fun and a great hobby. It's a game where you can play alone or with others. You can work on your game every day regardless of everyone else.

I never do something I don't enjoy for a longer time, so the only way to explain why I still play golf is that it's so much fun.

Ogio Grom | Callaway X Hot Pro | Callaway X-Utility 3i | Mizuno MX-700 23º | Titleist Vokey SM 52.08, 58.12 | Mizuno MX-700 15º | Titleist 910 D2 9,5º | Scotty Cameron Newport 2 | Titleist Pro V1x and Taylormade Penta | Leupold GX-1

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Sounds like you are being overly hard on yourself ... you should be enjoying the game ... Remember, you are out enjoying the game; but, I undertand that when you aren't playing well it's really hard to enjoy.

This is a downward spiral ... A bad shot puts you initially into a bad mindset, that mindset can put you at an instant disadvantage for your next shot and so on, and so forth ...

Just remember, a bad day on the course beats a great day at work anytime!
In my Bag:

Driver: Burner 10.5* Stiff shaft
3 WoodBurner 15* stiff shaft
5 WoodBurner 18* stiff ShaftHybrid3DX (18.5*)Irons: (4-LW):Putter: Rossa Indy SportBalls: Reds

i just go out there and enjoy it, theres no feeling in the world like draining a birdie putt, or better yet one of those rare eagles :)

I've been in this situation before...."That's it I'm quitting!! Ahhhhhh!!!"

Stick it out. The next round you play where everything comes together and you are playing well you'll think to yourself "why would I ever want to quit this wonderful game?"

I can see getting frustrated, knowing you can shot a 75, but instead shooting a 85. I guess that would upset me too. So next time I would make sure i have tried my hardest to correct the mistakes I made last time.

In my bag are
Hibore XLS 10.5*
Hibore XLS 22* 3i Hybrid
TA7 irons 3-PW, SW
CG11 60* LW VP #5 putter.


PiKapp and Zeph hit some of the same notes I'd sing as well.


It was funny.....I quit the game when my hcp was at it's lowest...12-13 and I was a member of a tough and challenging course. I just couldn't make the breakthrough into single digits....but could see promise and improvement....shooting some low rounds w/o heroical holes...just many pars for a nice respectable scorecard.

My frustration level with the game was higher then...than now....and yes, it's about reduced expecatations. There are now other demands on my time, finances, hobbies and etc.

I think that I enjoy the game more now because I see the whole of it. It is not just a pure competition between yourself and the guys you are trying to beat, not just against the course and ultimately not just against yourself.

For me it is something to work towards and savor the flush shots. There are at least one or two per round that are "pro-quality"....these shots are to be appreciated and filed away for memory....let them override the skulls, dips, slips, shanks and other uglies.

There is a huge social aspect to the game. Everone can use some "buddy-time". Next Monday I'll be playing in a tourney with a lot of members that I don't yet know.....I suspect that by the end of the day I'll get to know a good many more of them. These are folks that I'll have at least one common interest with....and take it from there.

It's another way to enjoy the outdoors. I basically gave up hunting this past year for various reasons and spending several hours on a golf outing is a huge way to recharge those "fresh air" batteries.

The biggest reason of all.....the thing that brought me back to this game....is spending time with my son. He's getting into the game ever since last summer. We are taking the baby steps together with golf. It's a load of fun and we keep it light on the bad shots and celebrate his good shots enthusiastically. He's at an age now where spending time with his old man is fun. I suspect that will not always be the case when he enters into those tough teenage years. It will make those 6 hour golf outings so important. This is my selfish reason for getting him into the game.

909D Comp 9.5* (house MATRIX OZIK XCON-6)
Burner Superfast 3 & 5 woods (house MATRIX OZIK XCON-4.8)
G15 Hybrid 23* (AWT shaft)
G5 5 iron-PW-46*, UW-50*, SW-54 & LW-58 (AWT shaft)
Studio Select Newport 2 Mid SlantGrips: PING cords & Golf Pride New Decade Multi-Coumpound Bag: C-130...

...I'm amazed that every time I go out and play I'll see guys who have swings that rival Charles Barkley's and they are still out there spending their money whacking the ball around. What for?

Someone once said "In golf, as long as there is life there is hope".

I think that sums it up. The 20 handicapper dreams of bogey golf. The 15 handicapper dreams of pars. The 10 handicapper dreams of birdies. And so on. Personally, I decided I could not play the game for fun if I could not reach a level of competency that let me shoot around even par now and then. But apparently a lot of people enjoy playing golf even if they are making double and triple bogeys on every hole. A friend and I paired up with two random hackers yesterday. My buddy and I shot even for the 9 holes. On one par-4 my buddy had a three foot putt for birdie and I had a 12 foot downhill slider with thee feet of break. I made my birdie putt to push the hole. Now, I just plucked my ball out of the hole without much emotional reaction. The guys we were playing with had no idea where the ball was going, no idea how to putt, etc.; they probably shot 15 over par. But they both made par on a par-3 and you would have thought they won the lottery, they were so excited. An impartial observer from another planet might conclude the hackers were better at the game because they appeared to be having more fun. SubPar

Someone once said "In golf, as long as there is life there is hope".

Yes !!!!!!!!

909D Comp 9.5* (house MATRIX OZIK XCON-6)
Burner Superfast 3 & 5 woods (house MATRIX OZIK XCON-4.8)
G15 Hybrid 23* (AWT shaft)
G5 5 iron-PW-46*, UW-50*, SW-54 & LW-58 (AWT shaft)
Studio Select Newport 2 Mid SlantGrips: PING cords & Golf Pride New Decade Multi-Coumpound Bag: C-130...

what keeps me going is the challenge. i know there's a single-digit (if not scratch) player lurking in me. i just have to chisel away the rugged, clumsy exterior to get to him, and i absolutey refuse to stop until i find him.

or i die.

whichever happens first.

I agree, its probably the most frustrating game ever created. But I play for those amazing shots, that 185 yd 5 iron into the green that you stick 6 feet from the pin, or the chip in from the bunker, or that 30 ft putt where you read the break just right. And there is nothing quite like spending 3-5 hours on a beautiful course on a beautiful day with good friends. Nothing like it.

If that's the way you feel, why are you playing the game?

Different players have different goals and what they consider good. If I was +6 I'm sure I'd still feel that I was playing badly sometimes and wonder what I'm doing but I'll still keep doing it. I'm sure Watson has considered quitting many times recently with his putting issues as have many more; at the end of the day I suspect he carries on because he loves the game first and it's a living second.

Don't give up on it. Apart from anything else, that's a bit easy isn't it?

Home Course: Wollaton Park GC, Nottingham, U.K.

Ping G400, 9°, Alta CB 55S | Ping G400, 14°, Alta CB 65S | Adams Pro Dhy 18°, 21°, 24°, KBS Hybrid S | Ping S55 5-PW, TT DGS300 | Vokey 252-08, DGS200 | Vokey 256-10 (bent to 58°), DGS200 | Ping Sigma G Anser, 34" | Vice Pro Plus

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I love this thread.

The day my news irons came in, I pulled a chest muscle. I was soooooo happy. Haven't been able to swing since. Have thought about quitting many times.

Can't.

Driver: Nike Covert Driver

Irons: Mizuno JPX-825 Pro 5-GW 

Cleveland Mashie 1, 2, 3, & 4 hybrids

Wedges: Mizuno MP-T4 Black Nickel 54* & 58*

Putter: Wack-e with super stroke grip

Ball: Titleist Pro V1X


The biggest thing that keeps me playing is the desire to shoot a round at even par. I have played a few nines at even, but never a whole round. Of course after I accomplish that, my desire will be to have an under par nine and under par round. So for me that is why I keep playing.

I understand you point though. I see so many people who can’t hit a ball out of their shadow and they love going out and will play as much as they can. Many of these same people have neither the desire nor the ability to get better, but they keep playing. Some people just don’t care how good they are. That is fine with me, but I don’t understand it either. When I was in that position, I always knew I could be better, so I kept playing to get better.

You are right in that the cost is enormous for what you get out of it. You basically spend $1000+ to get the equipment (woods, irons, putter, balls, bag, tees, etc.) then pay $30 on up to play one time and what do you get out of it? Nothing other than the joy of playing golf. I will sometimes drive home thinking that I just spent $50 and I leave with nothing. I could have at least taken the family to dinner.

If you really want to get better and get over that hump, find a good teacher and take a series of lessons. I was in the same position as you several years ago. I thought I should be scoring better than what I was. I knew I had some faults, but I didn’t think it was as bad as it was. I took one lesson and the guy pointed out my faults and told me I would never be any better than what I was if I kept doing what I was doing. After the first lesson he told me “we can probably get you down to a 6 or 7 handicap”. I was a little disappointed, because I thought I would end up better than that. After I had gone 7 or 8 times and we had worked out all of my faults he told me he was wrong and that I could be scratch as long as I had the time to play and practice. The biggest thing for me is finding the time.

I will judge my rounds much more by the quality of my best shots than the acceptability of my worse ones.


I play for fun, I enjoy golf, and don't think of quitting except every 3-4 holes . . .

In my Cart Bag:
Driver: R7 Draw 9*
3W: Ovation 15*
Hybrid Halo 19* 2H, Halo 22* 3H
Irons: i/3 O-Size 4-PWSW: Vokey SM 56*Putter: Anser


I think people's expectations about their golf game are funny. I took up playing in my early 30s, so the odds of getting good were already stacked against me, so I just have fun. I'm steadily improving, but I also am now 36, which is statistically when good golfers start declining. My goal for the year is to break 90 (actually 45 for 9 which is all I have time to play). Same goal as last year.

Eventually though, I will stop improving altogether and start declining (as will you), and then I will start hitting driver on par 3s and relying on the short game that I will develop sometime between now and then to scramble for bogeys. I think I'll still love it though.

"You can foment revolution or you can cure your slice - life is too short for both" David Owen

WITB*: 2010 winter edition

Driver: AyrtimeFW/hybrid: Distance Master Pro Steel 5w, 7w, 27* hybridIrons: Powerplay 5000 hybrids (6i-SW)Wedge: SMT Durometer 55 degPutter: Z/I Omega mallet*as soon...


are you kidding? ill never quit...
i havent gotten my first hole in one yet!!!
i know guys in their 80's that used to be scratch golfers that cant break 90 on the forward tees anymore... they still play... and still have fun...
even if i cant break a hundred on a particular day... its so much better than grinding it out at the office in front of the keyboard wishing i was attempting to break a hundred... heck playing in the rain... cold and wet is better than working...
guess you need to redefine the meaning of fun in your game... if you equate scoring with fun... or expectations... goals... maybe you need a break
RUSS's avg drive - 230yrds and climbing

Note: This thread is 5754 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    PlayBetter
    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • I see what you are saying. I work with companies that make everything from hearing aids, to assembly cells, to fire trucks, to combines. Pretty much everything in between. I know of very few who cannot handle one-piece flow. (I'm actually struggling to think of any other than Rolls Royce. Incidentally, Rolls Royce is without a doubt the worst manufacturer I've ever worked with.) Either LAB's factory is really behind the times. (Pre-1992) or they are sticking you for ordering a custom.  Again, if they are making their customs from special order parts that's one thing. But since they are just building from standard parts, then either their factory sucks, in which case I could help them. Or they are just charging what the market will bear. And in that case, shame on us, the consumer, for allowing it.  A couple of good reads on the subject are "The Toyota Production System" (originally published in 1992, updated several times.) And the even better "The Toyota Way" (originally published in 2003). Any manufacturer of any product should be able to achieve one-piece flow.       Don't get me wrong. Even though I personally didn't really like their putter, I'm rooting for them. I've been involved with American Manufacturing since the late-80's. I got to see first hand as Toyota Principles migrated to the US. Pretty much every major American Manufacturer has adopted these principles in some form or another.... or they've gone out of business.  LAB is an American Manufacturer and therefore I'm on their side. Which is why if they really do need an extra 110 to 150 bucks to produce a custom from standard parts, I (and others like me) can help them.  I decided to write them an email and simply ask them if the additional cost was due to market value or cost-plus pricing. I'll let you know if they respond.   
    • Day 229 (18 Dec 24) - Wonderful Wedge Wednesday - pulled out the 58* to hit some easy 58* wedges in the backyard-key focus again was on the foot position (getting that slightly open foot stance, opened hips and making a smooth swing thru the ball.  
    • Some quick notes. Mine arrived yesterday, and on Monday I used a student's in his lesson with him. The touch interface is very responsive. Almost iPad-like. Not at all like crappy touch screens that lag or where you're not sure you hit the button. A lot of the smaller (negative) issues are software based, so I think they can iterate on them and improve them: I named myself "Erik J. Barzeski" and so my little user "circle" shows up as "EJ." First, stop assuming someone's initials. Second, when I choose "Edit Users" the only option to edit is… to remove the user. I can't edit my name or whether I'm a righty or a lefty. That's not "editing" a user. I created "Student Lefty" and "Student Righty" as guest profiles, and think they should add colors to the little circles. It could let you more quickly find the person you're looking for. Not much of an issue with three, but if you play with a group of ten friends here and there, it would help. There are four different ways to dismiss a screen, which I found funny. You can tap away from a panel, click an "X," click "save/cancel," or click "Done." They could have done Not all clickable areas appear to be tappable. "Power Save" and "Battery Save" are tappable (you can change the settings), but they just say "Power Save : ON" or something. I definitely don't love the shot tracer. In the overhead view, a dot appears where your ball would have landed. But… if you're hitting the same club, every dot is the same color (orange for a 7I). I think the last dot, the last shot, should be a different color. After you've hit five or ten shots, you don't even really know which dot is the new one. The impact camera is more than what's offered by a lot of things (like even the QuadMAX), but at the same time, not all that useful. It's only about six (eight? ten?) frames and it's snot from a not great angle because you hit from so side-on. The hitting area with club data is pretty small. This won't work very well off of grass. And you'll want to move it around lest you wear out your Alignment is super easy. Lay a club down, rest two balls against it… aligned. I do wish it prompted you to align it when you turn it on, even if one of the options was "keep current alignment" if you haven't moved it since last using it (or it never moves in your sim or something). I don't have a subscription yet and may never get one. I don't plan to use Home Tee Hero for much. I may plug it in to GSPro at some point. I think you can connect to it via your WiFi network. As in… it joins your network, and so you can be online and connected to it wirelessly. I'm not sure what the USB-C port is for. The fiducials (club stickers) I have for the GCQuadMAX also work on the Garmin. You don't need to use their larger stickers. Heck, I used the tab from a GC fiducial on Monday and it worked fine. The storage/travel case is well done. It's solid, sturdy. But, oddly, there's no real good place to put the charger and cable. Maybe I can set it in against the back side beneath the handle? I could have used a little pocket for that. The weight is not anywhere near as substantial as it looks. Because the GCQuadMAX is denser, I think it may almost be just as heavy (I think officially it's 7.x pounds for the Quad and 9.x for the R50). Because the unit sits almost directly beside the golf ball, I don't think people are going to be as worried about shanks as they are with the GC units (GC3, GC4/MAX) or other "side-on" units. I do wonder about someone accidentally hitting it off the toe and into what seems to be plexiglass covering the cameras, though. The range UI is nice — you can split screen to show the impact video, the shot data, the range overview of ball flight… etc. If you hook it up to an external display I'm pretty sure you can get three things. Maybe four, with split screens on both? That's all I can think of for now, but I'll be updating this as I go.
    • I am sure they do have software that does that. Manufacturing and design software's are pretty sophisticated now.  If they were to make it all custom, that would not be mass manufacturing that gets them the profits they need. Building a putter one exact way is way cheaper than having to input 300 different combinations. Also, they are selling through big box stores, so they need that one putter. That is why you do not see Edel in golf stores, it is all custom built.  Yea, but PXG is not selling their clubs in big box stores, trying to do bulk sales. They are doing everything custom. So, having multiple options available at no cost adder is a very good business decision that makes it look like they are giving you a deal.  I am not sure Mizuno does that anymore, at least online purchases. When I go to their website, there is no option to customize loft and lie angle. They do that if you get fitted. Also, I am not sure what the price is compared to just buying a set off the shelf at the store.  To me, it could be a perception of no adder, but is it really? Also, if Srixon is selling you clubs at the same price as a big-box store, they are not giving you a deal. So, maybe that customization is built into the price of the club there? The big box store is going to mark up on the irons in addition to what Srixon makes selling to a big box store.   
    • I've got one and am going to begin testing. Tips for Approach R50 Placement | Garmin Customer Support Garmin Support Center is where you will find answers to frequently asked questions and resources to help with all of your Garmin products. Using Practice Balls With Garmin Golf Launch Monitor Products | Garmin Customer Support Garmin Support Center is where you will find answers to frequently asked questions and resources to help with all of your Garmin products. If you buy one via a link I can give you (you'll pay nothing more than standard cost), I'll give you a free hour of instruction on GEARS. Reach out prior to purchase. And subscribe to this topic for more info. I'm going to test the accuracy and a few other things here in the next week or so.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...