While I can't attest to your golf game, I have only been hitting the ball since Sept, but I can attest to quitting smoking and losing weight. Both journey's are incredibly tough, but the rewards are entirely worth it.
I made a deal with my wife that when she got pregnant, I would quit smoking. I tried the patch, the gum, and even welbutrin. Ultimately I had to set a calendar where I was only permitted "x" number of cigarettes per day, and I had my wife dole out my cigs to me. I succeeded in quitting by the time that my son was born. Now that I quit, did I fall off the wagon a time or two? I certainly did, but I had my wife to remind me why I quit, and and I got back on the wagon.
With weight loss, everyone is different, I tend to lead a fairly active lifestyle, even when I was 353 lbs. Sure my annual physical looked great, and I could move with the best of them at work, but being at the weight I was at didn't help. Everyone has their own path on weight loss. I resisted the eventual path I took (gastric bypass) as long as I could, but I eventually took the leap and it did wonders for me (I'm at 202 now). I still work with my dietician on a monthly basis to keep me honest. I haven't touched any alcohol or pop since my bypass, and I do contribute that to helping out a lot with keeping the weight off.