Is golf really hard?

[iacas]

  On 5/17/2016 at 6:53 PM, Groucho Valentine said:

Go on...

You gots to recover and get it in the hole, chief. Short game and putting is how you separate IMO. 

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It's off topic for this thread but I literally wrote a book on this topic.

Short game and putting matter much less.

[Rainmaker]

  On 5/17/2016 at 4:55 PM, 70sSanO said:

Since I used a poor analogy that will never go away, what prompted me to start this thread was another thread that listed 20 setup worries and one of the replies was that golf is hard.

I really wasn't trying to compare the mechanics of golf to other sports in difficulty.  It just seems that we make golf harder than it probably should be because we obsess over every little thing and measure our success to an unobtainable goal for most people.  That obsession drives a lot of people to chase the wind; a perfection that can't be obtained, and, at times, that isn't acceptable so we obsess more.  And I am no different.

John

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I agree but disagree, lol.  For the majority of us, when start learning golf it is hard . .it's complicated . .it's counter-intuitive.  As we work to improve we can get obsessive, sure.  As we steadily improve, we find ourselves saying things like "we make it too hard on ourselves" . ."we overcomplicate things".

Do we?  Or do they just seem less complicated now because we have started to master them? 

I like your expression "chase the wind" because I think every golfer does that at every level.  That's kind of the essence of the game, really.  No matter how good you are now - you could be better tomorrow.  The ones who are really obsessive and really talented get to be on TV every weekend. 

 

[Buckeyebowman]

  On 5/16/2016 at 7:59 PM, Golfingdad said:

 

Basically, I think what you might be saying, is why do we, immediately at the outset of taking up the game, define our ability based on how we compare to an elite or scratch level golfer when we don't do that in the other sports.  I think the answer is partially simply because we can - because it's an individual sport where it just works that we get to (kinda) compare ourselves to elite level golfers even if it's not in everybody's best interests to do so.

 

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I think it's because there is a thing in golf called par! Which is how many strokes you are "supposed" to play the hole in. How many strokes a "scratch" handicap golfer should take. And therein lies the comparison.

There are compensations. We allow weaker players to use forward tees, thus playing shorter holes. And golf has a handicap system, allowing chops and sweet swingers to compete on a level playing field. When you stop and think about it, golf is probably the most egalitarian game the world has ever seen!

EDIT: Lest I get off topic, yes, golf is hard! I read something once that went, something like, "if you watch it, it's a sport. If you play it, it's a game. If you work at it, it's golf!"

Edited May 18, 2016 by Buckeyebowman

[boogielicious]

  On 5/17/2016 at 4:55 PM, 70sSanO said:

Since I used a poor analogy that will never go away, what prompted me to start this thread was another thread that listed 20 setup worries and one of the replies was that golf is hard.

I really wasn't trying to compare the mechanics of golf to other sports in difficulty.  It just seems that we make golf harder than it probably should be because we obsess over every little thing and measure our success to an unobtainable goal for most people.  That obsession drives a lot of people to chase the wind; a perfection that can't be obtained, and, at times, that isn't acceptable so we obsess more.  And I am no different.

John

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Excellent point John. I think we see Pro golfers, some with body types that are not that impressive, and think that their level is achievable. We don't do that with other major pro sports because we know we aren't fast enough or tall enough or big enough, etc.

[Vinnie D]

I think golf is really hard.  I am entering my 3rd season.  I am very busy with other things, so I don't get to play/practice much.  I have worked with a retired PGA teacher who is helping me out.  But I just don't seem to be getting any better.  Seems like I'm getting worse.  I went to hit a large bucket of balls last night and couldn't even get the ball in the air.  Trouble is, I'm not even sure what I'm doing wrong.  My coach/friend is not always available to tell me.  Seems like when he's there, he can see what I'm doing wrong and coach me.  And then, I can hit a few decent shots.  But when I go myself, I can't seem to hit the ball anymore.  Very frustrated with it.  I would like to be able to get the ball in the air at least 50% of the time, so I could least go play a round without wasting everyone's time because I call can do is hit worm burners....ughh

[mcanadiens]

Most other sports, the difficulty level is primarily related to your opposition. When I was a kid, tennis with my dad was easy. Now, tennis against anyone under 30 would be very hard.

In golf, you may score better or worse than someone and still struggle badly. Shot one of the worst rounds in recent memory with a buddy a couple of days ago. We mutually agreed to retire the scorecard after nine holes. Can't recall ever doing that in a different sport.