wow golf is crazy hard :(

[inthehole]

I've always been of the belief with regard to doing ANYTHING at the highest level, you have to have an inherent natural ability (i.e. "gift") to build on.     I play electric guitar very seriously ... I could practice 8 hours a day for years, and never be able to do what Yngwie Malmsteen or Paul Gilbert does - they have something more ... their nervous systems are just wired differently.      I think the same holds for sports - you have to have a gift, and no amount of practice will get you there if you don't have it to start with.    Those that rise to the top, not only have that gift, but have an incredible drive to excel and practice an insane amount to get there.    I'm not saying you don't have that gift, but I think you'd know by now if you did & practice alone and intestinal fortitude unfortunately won't get you there...

[turtleback]

Originally Posted by inthehole

I've always been of the belief with regard to doing ANYTHING at the highest level, you have to have an inherent natural ability (i.e. "gift") to build on.     I play electric guitar very seriously ... I could practice 8 hours a day for years, and never be able to do what Yngwie Malmsteen or Paul Gilbert does - they have something more ... their nervous systems are just wired differently.      I think the same holds for sports - you have to have a gift, and no amount of practice will get you there if you don't have it to start with.    Those that rise to the top, not only have that gift, but have an incredible drive to excel and practice an insane amount to get there.    I'm not saying you don't have that gift, but I think you'd know by now if you did & practice alone and intestinal fortitude unfortunately won't get you there...

This.  Well said.

[tstrike34]

I firmly believe that with the proper discipline and plan, hard work pays off in the long run. Getting frustrated only leads to incompetence and degrading your self esteem.

This game of ours is highly dependent on one key thing: Yourself .

I strongly concur with the sentiment on this thread: Set small incremental goals and accomplish those first. Work very hard at the little things and do them extremely well. When everything comes together, the greatest factor will be your Eureka moment.

My strategic goal is long term and way down the road (8 years). My intermediate goal is 4 years away. My short term goals are right here and right now. Furthermore, my short term goals are broken down in subtasks (5 Simple Keys). Those subtasks are broken down into job objectives (drill, feedback, correct, and execute (then rinse repeat until mastery)).

I view my golf progression like my Allergy treatment. I have to get shots every week for the next 6 months. Afterwards I will start taking shots once a month for another 2 1/2 years. Afterwards, my allergy program will be complete and my resistance will be solid.

Don't forsake your family or life for the sake of your dream. Make your approach simple and integrate it into your lifestyle. Then what you seek will perhaps will be at hand.

Good hunting!

[newtogolf]

Part of becoming an adult is learning and dealing with the reality that sometimes our dreams aren't attainable.  I'm not suggesting you give up your dream but I encourage you to consider alternative options that you can be happy with should you fall short of your dream.

Parts of your posts seem desperate, which indicates you're putting yourself under a lot of pressure to attain this dream and could be why you're having a tough time with golf, school, family and relationships.  Even the best golfers have back up plans.  Life is tough and you never know what it has in store for you.  By developing a back up plan you can be happy with, you'll reduce the pressure to succeed in golf and likely start to see your game improve.  Good Luck.

Originally Posted by golf55

Golf is more than a game to me. I want this more than anything and I'm putting insane amount of work but not having any progress. It sucks.

I don't care if making it pro to is impossible, I'm going to try and try. fail some more and try again.

I don't really understand how you guys can tell me I should just give up my passion.... I wish it was that easy but it's not. I'm going to take my mind of golf for 2-3days and practice some more. I will shoot under par this year! I been saying that for last couple yrs :(

If I really don't improve this year I really need a back up plan. My parents and I discuss this as my "final" year. pray for me. I want to believe I can make it one day but my lack of self esteem just kills it sometimes.

[zeg]

Good advice here.

To succeed at a world-class level in golf, as in anything where success is merit-based, you have to both work hard and have some degree of the innate *something* that it takes for that hard work to produce the level of skill that success requires. Most people don't have it; most of us could practice golf 8 hours a day for 10 years and still never make it on the Tour. The odds aren't good. That's the harsh reality.

However, some people do make it. Some people do have that je ne sais quo i . The only way to find out whether you've got it is to put in the time, put in the work, and keep at it even in the times when it's not fun.

If you have the means to do it, or can scrape them together, the question then becomes whether it's worth it. Statistically, no. It's not. Putting that kind of time and money into playing golf is not a financially sound investment. It only makes sense if you like what it gets you on the way. Do you enjoy the challenge? Do you enjoy the game, at least occasionally, when you're grinding away at it? Is it something that you'll be glad you did, even if---as is most likely to happen---you never make it to the big time?

But even if it is the path you want to take, you'll hate it sometimes. You just have to know yourself well enough to decide whether that's a passing phase---frustration and burnout hits everyone.

[onephenom]

Sounds to me like a psychologist or even better a sports psychologist would do as much as a new teacher

[Topper]

Originally Posted by divot dave

he said nothing of the sort.

My bad.  I guess I miss-interpreted the following:

Originally Posted by Golf55

I feel like my chances of going to D1 school and making pro is impossible.

I don't care if making it pro to is impossible, I'm going to try and try. fail some more and try again.

My parents and I discuss this as my "final" year. pray for me.

Anyway, I have to admire the intensity.  Hopefully, you can maintain your intensity AND learn to enjoy the game.  I have no doubt you'll become an excellent golfer....even though you might not receive college scholarships or your tour card.

[divot dave]

Originally Posted by Topper

My bad.  I guess I miss-interpreted the following:

not to nitpick, but for the record...

Originally Posted by Golf55

I feel like my chances of going to D1 school and making pro is impossible.

I don't care if making it pro to is impossible, I'm going to try and try. fail some more and try again.

My parents and I discuss this as my "final" year. pray for me.

does not sound anything like:

Originally Posted by Topper

Your only interest in golf is as an avenue into the world of professional athletics.  So if you can't go pro, then you cannot play and enjoy the game for what it is and your parents will only let you invest time into sports for which you have a real opportunity to go pro.

he never says his ONLY interest in golf is so he can become a pro athlete, he also never says he cannot enjoy the game if he can't go pro, and he also never says his parents will let ONLY let him invest time into sports for which he has an opportunity to go pro.

no offense, i just thought it was a little harsh the way u misrepresented the kid's position. but if reading between the lines is your forte' don't let me stop you, you're definitely not alone on this forum.