Trying to Enjoy "Casual Golf"

[DaveLeeNC]

For about 15 years I played a couple rounds a week and, on most non-play days, did various forms of practice. I played to an honest 5'ish index (dip down in the 4's in the summertime and maybe as high as 6.5 to 7 in the winter). More recently I have tried to become a casual golfer, playing once per week and pretty much not practicing.

 

When all is said and done I don't enjoy that. I have moved up a set of tees but what I hate is just not being able to hit solid shots on anything resembling a regular basis. My driver is still reasonable, but outside of that solid hits on full swings are rare. And there are times where I have to resort to what I call 'defensive golf' where I use half swings (might hit a 4i hybrid 120 yards) just to keep things predictable.

 

I can't be the only person on this board who has gone from serious to casual golfer. What are other's experiences here? For me giving up the game is a real possibility (and going back to my old routine is not a possibility).

 

Thanks.

 

dave

[SNIPERBBB]

Don't think I could do it unless it involves playing different courses all the time. Funsie golf at the home course with no competitive play would get old extremely fast.

[DaveLeeNC]

> @SNIPERBBB said:

> Don't think I could do it unless it involves playing different courses all the time. Funsie golf at the home course with no competitive play would get old extremely fast.

 

For me I (used to) simply enjoy the process of hitting golf balls and trying to score. I didn't need any extra competition or even a wide variety of courses (although then and now that is not an issue).

 

FWIW.

 

dave

[MelloYello]

I think we can all relate a little. There are always ebbs and flows. Thankfully, my game is as good as ever thanks to switching jobs and finding a ton of new friends to play with each week(end).

 

But before that I was stuck in a boring job, living on my own in a small town. Nobody I knew played so I would go out on my own. I hit a lot of range balls but without other friends it all felt kind of pointless in a "big picture" kind of way. I got stuck in that head-space where half of me wanted to invest everything I had and the other half just didn't see the point and kind of almost wanted to walk away.

 

Long story short, it was tough going through all that.

 

That said, a lot of playing decent golf is having a reasonably solid swing. If you are really struggling then you probably lack in some of the fundamentals. If you were playing all the time and got down to a 4 or 5 that's impressive, but at the same time it can be done even with some bad habits. Maybe look at some of that stuff.

 

I'm with you when you point out that bad golf isn't fun. I totally understand that. So you need to get better, but that'll take some applied effort. So decide on some reasonable path forward in terms of fixing your swing issues.

 

All that being said...you _MUST_ make it somewhat social. I've played countless rounds by myself and it's lonely out there.

 

Maybe some are cut out for that but IDK if I could go back. I ended up in a dark, depressing place that had me questioning life choices and stuff. You don't want to go there. If golf isn't fun, you need to be honest about why. For me, it was moving away after grad school and living a depressing, isolated existence wherein nobody I knew shared my desire to play golf.

 

Being blessed to have 5-10 regular golfing partners right now, I don't know that I could ever go back to being all alone trying to work at something that just kind of made me feel all the more isolated. If that's your fundamental issue, you just need to find a way to change it.

 

But if it's just swing mechanics, then get you butt in gear and go work on it! ;)

[dubbelbogey]

I'm competitive, too, but these days that typically doesn't manifest itself in the form of actual "competition" with others. Instead, I compete with myself all of the time. I'm always trying to improve some aspect of my game: swing, course management, mental/emotional skills, and understanding how my equipment can be best used. It's both fun and intense a the same time - and always engaging and interesting.

 

This is not to say that I think what I do is the same as true competition against others. I've been involved in some sort of competitive sports for most of my 5 decades of existence, and the best improvements to my sports skills have always come when I've regularly competed against others who are better than me. That sort of competition is the crucible that strips out what is unneeded and has you build on what works. Plus, beating the brains out of my golf buddies is just plain fun.

 

While I'd love to retire and start entering more golf tournaments again, that's not where I'm at in life at the moment. So my little "games" on the practice range and practice green are where that competitive instinct is worked out.

 

Of course, we're not all alike, so each person is going to need to find their own way to make it work, but some aspect of "beating your former self" can be a good motivator.

 

 

 

 

 

[LeftDaddy]

I may be in the “opposite” boat, where I in the recent past took golf too seriously, and that affected my enjoyment of the game (and probably stunted my growth somewhat). I’ve tried to “enjoy” it more lately, for more than just a binary choice of good golf = fun, bad golf = no fun. I try to appreciate being outside. I try to appreciate the good shots and “forget” the bad shots.

 

Mind you, I’m mostly doing this in the hope that through some sort of mental adjustment it leads to better scores. It hasn’t really “worked” yet wrt score, but has mildly improved my enjoyment. I’m not settling for “oh well, I am what I am, I’ll just have fun no matter how I play”. Far from it. But I am trying to be “OK” with some bad rounds here or there too, but with appreciation of being outdoors, exercise, doing something I love, etc etc.

[molecularman]

At one point I was hitting thousands of balls a week. Playing around a +2 and wanted golf to be my profession, either playing or teaching.

When I went a different direction in life, I really struggled with the idea of casual golf. If I wanted to play golf, I wanted to be all in. So I basically stopped playing. I played maybe 1 or 2 rounds a year for years. Still hit the ball solid, but you lose the consistent miss (taking out one side of the course) and you lose that touch and ability to really work the ball well. I've recently turned a corner where I've found I just enjoy golf as a social event - finding friends or family to enjoy a round with is nice. Through this, I've actually found a return of passion for golf, wanting to get out and play a bit more and get better, but without a self imposed pressure of "I have to get better".

[deadsolid...shank]

It will be interesting this year Dave. I’ve typically been a 120-150 round a year person. Usually at least two or three times a week, with practice almost always on the days I didn’t play.

This year I’m guessing I’ll be lucky to get 25-30 rounds, and practice is a rarity. I’ve played four holes in the last three weeks, and now I’m in a tournament this weekend. I have no feel for where my game is. If it goes as I predict it likely will (not well), I’m contemplating hanging them up. I just don’t think I can become a casual golfer who just enjoys being out there, regardless of the level of play.

[GolfNuts4]

Interesting post as I was just thinking about this. I live in south Florida and belong /live on a course. I have my own cart and access to a range at any time. I used to drive up and hit balls almost every day when I was not playing. I recently have lost my passion for practicing and hitting balls. I still play 1-2 times/week and still enjoy playing with my buddies, but practicing really does not interest me anymore. Not sure if this is just a phase or will be lasting. Maybe the summer heat has something to do with it as well.

[JayGord]

I just try to play as many courses as possible. I hate playing the same course within 3 months of my last round.

I've played 80 different course over the past 12 months

[dan360]

There is enough work in my life. Golf is not work and never will be. For me anyway. I enjoy it whether Pebble Beach or the putt putt place.

[Murphy76]

> @JayGord said:

> I just try to play as many courses as possible. I hate playing the same course within 3 months of my last round.

> I've played 80 different course over the past 12 months

 

That sounds like such a great idea!!!

 

A change of scenery can make a big difference.

[bigred90gt]

> @DaveLeeNC said:

> > @SNIPERBBB said:

> > Don't think I could do it unless it involves playing different courses all the time. Funsie golf at the home course with no competitive play would get old extremely fast.

>

> For me I (used to) simply enjoy the process of hitting golf balls and trying to score. I didn't need any extra competition or even a wide variety of courses (although then and now that is not an issue).

>

> FWIW.

>

> dave

 

I am right there with you. I played tournament golf for a while, and these days I have absolutely zero desire to play competitive golf. I'll occasionally play for a beer, or play $1 skins, but that's my limit and it's always friendly rounds with my uncle and a few guys (far more beers consumed than $s changing hands). The desire to spend that much time at the course practicing and grinding just isnt there anymore. Recently I rarely even warm up before I play. Pull up, load the clubs, head to the first tee, stretch for about a minute, then fire away. Whatever score I tally up at the end of the day is what it is. I'm just happy that I can even swing a club after having 2 back surgeries.

[shanx]

My mantra is "I'm just happy to be here". Was a solid 6 handicap when life was easier, always had time to practice, play in leagues, play Saturday morning and Sunday afternoons. Kids, house and work came along, golf took a backseat. Handicap went up, practice time dwindled, but I played when I could.

 

Kids are older, lost the house in the divorce, but practice time is back, along with weekly rounds of golf.

 

Game is slowly coming back, but I am enjoying golf. Rounds are less intense, I relax, enjoy the scenery, weather, comradeship with others I am playing with.

 

I took lessons this spring, first time in a long time. The new swing is slowly becoming effective, it's been fun seeing things improve.

 

I guess the short answer is, golf is more about shooting low numbers, get out there with super low expectations, enjoy the other components of this great game!