Why Do You Play Golf? A Two Option Poll

[iacas]

Just answer the poll, and you must choose one or the other.

[Dean Walker]

12 minutes ago, iacas said:

Just answer the poll, and you must choose one or the other.

Just my opinion, but I think unless you are getting paid or have aspirations of earning a living from this game, then its pretty pointless playing unless your main aim is to enjoy it. After all, it is a hobby for most. 

[Patch]

I play to have fun, and for the exercise. 

Shooting lower/good/consistent scores is just a byproduct of the having fun part

[iacas]

9 minutes ago, Dean Walker said:

Just my opinion, but I think unless you are getting paid or have aspirations of earning a living from this game, then its pretty pointless playing unless your main aim is to enjoy it. After all, it is a hobby for most. 

I tend to agree, but someone on Twitter is asserting otherwise.

[GolfLug]

Fun for me is shooting lower scores.

[ChetlovesMer]

I play the game to have fun. Having said that, the game is A LOT more fun if you can shoot a lower score. I'm been improving a lot of late and therefore, it's been more fun this year than most. 

[Beastie]

1 minute ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I play the game to have fun. Having said that, the game is A LOT more fun if you can shoot a lower score. I'm been improving a lot of late and therefore, it's been more fun this year than most. 

This ^^

It amazes me how many golfers walk off 18 without a smile. My worst round on the golf course is still a nice morning walk in a pleasant environment, with usually good company and a beer or a coffee after. 

 

[mcanadiens]

Maybe it is a cynical-sounding kind of an answer, but I really can't think of what else I would do.

This gets driven home very hard in the winter. I was walking around my front yard last weekend trying to see if the ground showed signs of thawing. Ended up watching TV and doing house chores. Some weekend.

 

[HJJ003]

I play because it’s fun, so that’s my vote. Though one of the largest contributors to the fun I’m having is my score. 

[DaveP043]

I'm always trying to shoot scores, but to an extent that's out of my control.  I can work all I want, try to improve my game, but I'm going to have bad days.  Most important is that I have fun, not just when I DO shoot good scores, but when I play poorly too.

[chspeed]

I play to have fun. When I inevitably sometimes play poorly (for me), I laugh at myself, enjoy my friends, and try my best to find a swing that'll work for the round. We have a sometimes member of our foursome who gets angry and frustrated, throws clubs, etc. Needless to say, not as much fun to play with as the others.

[klineka]

57 minutes ago, GolfLug said:

Fun for me is shooting lower scores.

I agree with this to an extent.

I wouldn't say that how much fun I have is 100% related to my score, I'd say that how much fun I have is more directly related to how well I am hitting the ball, which usually (though not always) translates to better scores. I have more fun hitting the ball solid and where I am aimed and shooting an 80 than I do spraying it all over the place, few lucky bounces, and ending up with a 77.

[GolfLug]

17 minutes ago, klineka said:

I agree with this to an extent.

I wouldn't say that how much fun I have is 100% related to my score, I'd say that how much fun I have is more directly related to how well I am hitting the ball, which usually (though not always) translates to better scores. I have more fun hitting the ball solid and where I am aimed and shooting an 80 than I do spraying it all over the place, few lucky bounces, and ending up with a 77.

Shooting lower scores is inclusive of all fun things including great ball striking. Never have I 'good bounced' to shooting a 70s round or even low 80s for that matter.

These days anything I shoot in upper 80s (my high rounds) is result of listless ball striking. I don't pout or anything but it's just so meh..

So yeah, low scores is fun for all the right reasons. Any other form of fun around the course involves the 19th hole..🍺

[iacas]

27 minutes ago, klineka said:

I agree with this to an extent.

I wouldn't say that how much fun I have is 100% related to my score, I'd say that how much fun I have is more directly related to how well I am hitting the ball, which usually (though not always) translates to better scores. I have more fun hitting the ball solid and where I am aimed and shooting an 80 than I do spraying it all over the place, few lucky bounces, and ending up with a 77.

Another way to look at the question is to ask whether removing one or the other would make you more likely to quit the game. For me, if I shoot 67 but don’t have any fun, that’d make me more likely to quit the game than shooting 77 but having a blast.

Obviously it’s a bit of a false dichotomy, but I’m not selling it as a truth or anything; just another way to consider which truly means more to you.

1 minute ago, GolfLug said:

So yeah, low scores is fun for all the right reasons. Any other form of fun around the course involves the 19th hole..🍺

Pretty sure you had fun at Dormie Club… man.

[Piz]

I play because I like to play.  While suffering through a poor round can be difficult...it beats working six ways to Sunday.

[mchepp]

I am a little confused why one can't desire to do both? They do not appear mutual exclusive. In fact I would argue that shooting lower scores makes one happier. 

Personally I play golf for the social aspect. Hanging out with other people who enjoy to play a game where we get to be outside, get some exercise, and have a small competition. Unless you are playing @DaveP043 in match play, then it is serious work. 

[klineka]

9 minutes ago, iacas said:

Another way to look at the question is to ask whether removing one or the other would make you more likely to quit the game. For me, if I shoot 67 but don’t have any fun, that’d make me more likely to quit the game than shooting 77 but having a blast.

Obviously it’s a bit of a false dichotomy, but I’m not selling it as a truth or anything; just another way to consider which truly means more to you.

Phrased that way, removing all fun out of the game would make me quit faster than if I suddenly started shooting 20 strokes worse.

[Lihu]

I would have voted for both, but the object of “playing golf” is to shoot lower scores?😁

Sometimes I go on the course to have fun too 😂🤪😂

Most of the time to have fun, but that’s not playing golf because I’m trying things I know won’t keep my score as low as possible 😊