Considering hanging the clubs up...?

[118811]

Well, been playing this game for 32 years.  Got down to a 4 in my middle 30's.....now 62.

Though for the past year and half been playing more like a 10.  But the last 3 months ...along with a nagging back issue, im barely breaking 90.

The game has become more frustrating than fun.  Distance not really an issue.  I just have no idea where the driver going!

My chipping and pitching have become horrible too.  Honolulu has very poor practice facilities, all mats, with eggs for balls....or I would consider range time for a few months.

I think I'm ready to look for another sport or hobby.

Have any of you been here!?

[TheDeanAbides]

I'm sure many of us have been there. The answer is nearly always to take a lesson with a good pro.

[caniac6]

Take a break, and see if you miss it. It's supposed to be fun, and if it isn't, do something else. 

[Mitchell]

Definitely get the frustration over lack of quality, readily available practice facilities since lived on Oahu for about 3.5 years. Really don’t need a lot to get chipping and pitching sorted, just inclination to do so and ability to enjoy process and make it fun.  Full swing fundamental check and an understanding of how to proceed playing game in most healthy manner for your physical ability will help.  Take a break, get the back sorted/rested , stop being tough on yourself about an activity that should be enjoyable, and then if decide to go back to playing since missed the challenge, competition, and comraderie will have proper perspective and elimination of some limititations that took some of your joy. 

[Sean2]

Sure, I feel your pain. I am 65 and while my short game is pretty decent, my full swing game is not. It's a frustrating game. You would think after doing something for so long you would keep getting better, not so with golf...sometimes it's the opposite. 

 

That all said, I still play because I like the exercise (I walk), being outdoors for 5 hours or so, and the socializing. 

[Hawkeye77]

I was going to be supportive until I reread it and realized you are in Hawaii, lol.  To quote the judge from The Verdict, "You'll get no sympathy from me!"

 

Seriously, take a break, no harm done.  Maybe look into some fitness options and focus on that for a bit, sit and look at the Pacific (I could do that all day).  When you come back your body is ready to embrace practice/play/maybe some changes if you hook up with an instructor.

 

I've lost parts large and small of most of the past 7-8 seasons with various injuries and surgeries (luckily no back issues) and parts of golf still hurt, but sometimes you just need to shut it down for a bit.  

 

Just because you are 62 doesn't mean you are losing ground on Father Time by taking time off.  I'd argue you are driving yourself into an early golf grave by continuing as you've described.  If you want to freak out over losing ground, sit and look at snow and often subzero temps for several months every year!

 

A productive break, prioritizing, and you may come back fresh and ready for new challenges!  Or you'll find out you love chasing butterflies and bird watching or needlepoint or mountain biking - great!

[scomac2002]

Welcome to my world!  Herniated disc in 2017 that lead to a diagnosis of lumbar deterioration and the onset of arthritis.  Like you at 62 there are days that this is no fun not withstanding the days that it just plain hurts to play.

 

I think that living in a seasonal climate has been helpful as it forces an annual sabbatical from the game.  In the spring my love of the game is renewed and I'm ready to give it a go again.

 

Lessons are always good if one is having trouble, especially physically because there maybe something that your doing to aggravate things that you aren't aware of.

 

I did a major equipment overhaul this past season dropping down a flex and going all graphite.  The clubs are lighter and are noticeably kinder to my back.

 

Yoga is a great option for rehabilitating a wonky back as it improves flexibility and core strength.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

10 minutes ago, scomac2002 said:

Welcome to my world!  Herniated disc in 2017 that lead to a diagnosis of lumbar deterioration and the onset of arthritis.  Like you at 62 there are days that this is no fun not withstanding the days that it just plain hurts to play.

 

I think that living in a seasonal climate has been helpful as it forces an annual sabbatical from the game.  In the spring my love of the game is renewed and I'm ready to give it a go again.

 

Lessons are always good if one is having trouble, especially physically because there maybe something that your doing to aggravate things that you aren't aware of.

 

I did a major equipment overhaul this past season dropping down a flex and going all graphite.  The clubs are lighter and are noticeably kinder to my back.

 

Yoga is a great option for rehabilitating a wonky back as it improves flexibility and core strength.

 

Some good advice there.

I've had back problems too, starting with surgery for a ruptured disc in my mid twenties, and a spell in hospital for another hernia a couple of years ago. I have also gone to graphite in my main set of irons, and am happy to drop down a flex when searching for classic sets with steel shafts now. My days of playing X100 are pretty much done!

And though I don't do it now, I also found Yoga to be really good for the back and flexibility all round.

[tbowles411]

My forced breaks come from Oct-March with a brief stint for a week in Orlando every year (except for this one).  However, I get it.  My back barks at me daily and to play or practice, I have to medicate, the day before, of and after to not hurt so bad.  All that said, I still want to play, but sometimes I just can't.  I've dropped weight in my irons and will do so in my woods and hybrids to accommodate the age related decline.  Graphite helped a lot, but also realizing that technology is there to help, it helped get some of the love back.

 

Take a deep breath for a bit and see if you miss it and try to take care of yourself.  You might feel differently in a month or two.  I don't feel badly for you being in Hawaii though.  Golfing almost daily is a dream, but when age and infirmity take over, it's hard to stay motivated. You'll come out of the other end feeling better, but remember evaluate your equipment.

[LeftDaddy]

I’ve “quit” golf 2 or 3 times over the years, and 2 months ago I was as down about my golf game as I’ve ever been (even when I quit).  Fast forward 2 months to now, and I’ve never been as excited about my golf game. A few things occurred that helped me get from there to here:

- I played so poorly for so long that I had to learn to appreciate the act of playing golf and the exercise and being outside, etc vs being focused on how I played. I played like a 40 handicap 2 months ago...was literally topping virtually every ball I hit. But I was working on some things and knew it was coming along, and besides...so what that I stunk?

- I mentioned I’ve been working on some things. The Christmas break allowed me to clear my mind and through that a few points in my swing improvements finally clicked. I’ve now been to the range and played a few rounds where I’ve never struck the ball better and I can recreate it each time. I know what is working. 
- And finally, I had spinal fusion a year ago, but got an all-clear from my doctor a few weeks ago and can now carry my bag and play golf somewhat pain-free again. 
 

Ive yet to put it all together in an 18 hole round, but feel like I’m maybe a month or so away from grooving everything. Hopefully you can get there too with a little help!

[Sean2]

1 hour ago, tbowles411 said:

My forced breaks come from Oct-March with a brief stint for a week in Orlando every year (except for this one).  However, I get it.  My back barks at me daily and to play or practice, I have to medicate, the day before, of and after to not hurt so bad.  All that said, I still want to play, but sometimes I just can't.  I've dropped weight in my irons and will do so in my woods and hybrids to accommodate the age related decline.  Graphite helped a lot, but also realizing that technology is there to help, it helped get some of the love back.

 

Take a deep breath for a bit and see if you miss it and try to take care of yourself.  You might feel differently in a month or two.  I don't feel badly for you being in Hawaii though.  Golfing almost daily is a dream, but when age and infirmity take over, it's hard to stay motivated. You'll come out of the other end feeling better, but remember evaluate your equipment.

Hawaii!? I feel bad for the guy...no cold, no snow...he is definitely missing out. 

[Dpavs]

Sometimes it is a just a slump and sometimes just a tune up from the pro will help. That said, as time goes on and with most activities, I find  that my experience, good or not so good, is usually predicated upon my own expectations. If I set my expectations at a level beyond those which I can reasonably meet, then the experience is a poor one. IMO, as time catches up with us all, there is almost always going to be a point where we need to rethink what is reasonable to expect from ourselves. It's not always easy to do, but I do believe it is necessary to do to avoid losing interest in certain things or frustrating ourselves by expecting levels of performance that we simply cannot repeatedly and reliably achieve anymore.

[QuigleyDU]

Breaking 90 at 60 plus years old is very solid golf. I understand that there have been better times. But now it is about managing expectations and having fun. 

[tbowles411]

2 minutes ago, QuigleyDU said:

Breaking 90 at 60 plus years old is very solid golf. I understand that there have been better times. But now it is about managing expectations and having fun. 

Amen!  That's why I bought big old chunky irons.

[llewol007]

I can see why you are frustrated OP. Shooting scores that most golfer never attain. Even at my ripe old age of 43, I’ve felt the same frustrations when I don’t shoot in the low 70’s. Just the other day I shot 81 and felt like I could have played better. That’s just it with golfers like you and me who know that you can shoot a decent number but when we don’t, we take it hard on ourselves. Just keep a positive perspective and find yourself a good short game area and work out the kinks. As far as the driver, take a little more loft in lieu of distance and see if you can iron that out as well. Take it all in stride and keep on it. You’ve done it before, you can do it again. 

[118811]

Thanks for the replies!

All good and positive.

I know managing expectations will be a large factor going forward.

Practice will be my focus for at least the next month.

Aloha

 

[Pepperturbo]

If you're feeling that disappointed take a break. 

 

Having said that, I am 70 and cope with the serious pain of osteoarthritis in hands, knees and hips.  I won't use painkillers or arthritis meds and at times, it costs 2-4 strokes during a round. 

 

Because it's even bothersome sitting on my azz, and that I love golf, I keep playing.  Though, I have other hobbies that have been with me since my youth, none of them give me the same level of enjoyment than hitting a sweet 2 iron or 3 iron or sticking a wedge to 1-2'.    

[Mych]

One thing that helped me get through a slump was playing 9 hole rounds. If it's a bad day, it's over quickly. If it's a good day, you don't leave much opportunity for it to fall apart. And if you are having a great day, you might decide to play the back 9 and put up a good score. 

 

9 hole rounds can also be a little easier to squeeze in as "practice"... after work, during long lunches, early mornings, etc. You get "back on the horse" quicker after a bad round and have a chance to lock in good swing thoughts soon after a good round. 

 

Somehow a 43 doesn't feel as bad to me as a pair of 43's, and when you get back into that rhythm of shooting around 40 consistently you can start stretching it back out to 18. 

 

It'll also be a little easier on your nagging back injury. 

 

Edited January 21, 2021 by Mych

[lefthack]

I am at the opposite end. I started in college and played 3-4 days a week. Became an engineer and played maybe once a year, if that for the last 30 years.

 

About to turn 50 this year and with the pandemic last year decided golf was better for my long term health than skateboarding. Gives me a skills related creative outlet that I can do alone or with others and is not crazy expensive if you are frugal.

 

 

But if it frustrates you, maybe a change is good. I don't keep score, so no idea what my handicap is. I know I am better today than I was a month ago. I also have no idea where my drive is going, either.

 

For me, I get 9 holes of practice in at least a few days a week. I am not playing straight, I am playing clubs and shots. Also trying different balls out, but that's just a bonus. And with the course being wet, I'm having to walk. I usually use a cart, but I am starting to enjoy the walk as well. 

 

Maybe don't keep score. Play based on how you feel. Enjoy the process of hitting a ball with a stick.

 

<edit> anyone who plays with me knows I laugh at my bad shots. But I also cherish the good ones. Gotta celebrate the wins, forget the loses.

Edited January 21, 2021 by lefthack

[Roody]

Get a lesson. I entered last season as a 7 index. My swing was kinda in rough shape, and the harder I tried to fix it, the worse it got. I climbed all the way up to an 11 index in the matter of a month or two. The frustration was making the game not enjoyable. 

 

I took a lesson with my club's assistant pro. A week and a half later, the swing changes started to gel, and I shot a 72. I ended the season as a 5 index, and stats-wise it's arguably the best season I've ever had. It really turned things around.  

[pktaske]

On 1/20/2021 at 10:13 AM, LeftDaddy said:

I’ve “quit” golf 2 or 3 times over the years, and 2 months ago I was as down about my golf game as I’ve ever been (even when I quit).  Fast forward 2 months to now, and I’ve never been as excited about my golf game. A few things occurred that helped me get from there to here:

- I played so poorly for so long that I had to learn to appreciate the act of playing golf and the exercise and being outside, etc vs being focused on how I played. I played like a 40 handicap 2 months ago...was literally topping virtually every ball I hit. But I was working on some things and knew it was coming along, and besides...so what that I stunk?

- I mentioned I’ve been working on some things. The Christmas break allowed me to clear my mind and through that a few points in my swing improvements finally clicked. I’ve now been to the range and played a few rounds where I’ve never struck the ball better and I can recreate it each time. I know what is working. 
- And finally, I had spinal fusion a year ago, but got an all-clear from my doctor a few weeks ago and can now carry my bag and play golf somewhat pain-free again. 
 

Ive yet to put it all together in an 18 hole round, but feel like I’m maybe a month or so away from grooving everything. Hopefully you can get there too with a little help!

Curious why are you carrying your bag. Does it not contribute to your back issue? Or does it help?

[LeftDaddy]

7 hours ago, pktaske said:

Curious why are you carrying your bag. Does it not contribute to your back issue? Or does it help?

Definitely doesn’t help. I just enjoy walking the course, and have been unable to carry my bag for a year due to this surgery. Part of the “joy” I’m finding in golf is the walking and the exercise, so once I got the all-clear I was eager to try it out again.  We do have caddies at my club also, but I don’t take a caddie every time I play.  Sometimes you just want to go out and knock the ball around a little bit, and bringing a caddie along for that feels superfluous (and especially when you know you are about to shoot 95 or something).  And I’d much prefer walking over riding. 
 

All of that said, I plan to use a caddie more often from now on because neck/back surgery is darned expensive!!!

Edited January 22, 2021 by LeftDaddy

[MattyO1984]

I have had friends do the same thing and they nearly, always come back to it and when they do, they regret stepping away.

 

Through one thing and another you might not be able to reach the heights that you once were able to but a mindfulness tip would be to step back and truly think about why you play the game. At it’s most basic level, which we often forget about because the game can be infuriating, we play it for fun. Reconnect with those fun elements that first got you hooked in the first place. In the crazy world that we live in, having golf as an escape is massive.

[Sean2]

8 hours ago, pktaske said:

Curious why are you carrying your bag. Does it not contribute to your back issue? Or does it help?

I read an article somewhere discussing carrying one's bag. It was either Stanford or the USC men's golf team that started using push carts as a study showed that carrying is not good for you. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

6 hours ago, LeftDaddy said:

Definitely doesn’t help. I just enjoy walking the course, and have been unable to carry my bag for a year due to this surgery. Part of the “joy” I’m finding in golf is the walking and the exercise, so once I got the all-clear I was eager to try it out again.  We do have caddies at my club also, but I don’t take a caddie every time I play.  Sometimes you just want to go out and knock the ball around a little bit, and bringing a caddie along for that feels superfluous (and especially when you know you are about to shoot 95 or something).  And I’d much prefer walking over riding. 
 

All of that said, I plan to use a caddie more often from now on because neck/back surgery is darned expensive!!!

 

4 hours ago, Sean2 said:

I read an article somewhere discussing carrying one's bag. It was either Stanford or the USC men's golf team that started using push carts as a study showed that carrying is not good for you. 

 

LeftDaddy, I definitely second the suggestion of a push cart. I also enjoy walking a course rather than taking a cart, but I don't enjoy carrying the bag. I found a cheaper 2-wheel pull cart on Amazon for $60, but you can find better 3-4 wheel push carts for not a whole lot more than that. 

 

Especially as we all get older, the walking is good for us physically. Some of you may find you walk 5-6 miles on a standard course... Where I hit the ball I might be closer to 7-8 lol 😉

 

I personally find it much more relaxing mentally to walk a course rather than take a cart. And during a bad round, it's nice to pull an IPA from my hidden cooler (which incidentally adds weight and is another reason I don't like carrying) to get my mind back into the right zone!

[betarhoalphadelta]

On 1/19/2021 at 10:09 PM, 118811 said:

Well, been playing this game for 32 years.  Got down to a 4 in my middle 30's.....now 62.

Though for the past year and half been playing more like a 10.  But the last 3 months ...along with a nagging back issue, im barely breaking 90.

The game has become more frustrating than fun.  Distance not really an issue.  I just have no idea where the driver going!

My chipping and pitching have become horrible too.  Honolulu has very poor practice facilities, all mats, with eggs for balls....or I would consider range time for a few months.

I think I'm ready to look for another sport or hobby.

Have any of you been here!?

If it's more frustrating than it is fun, that's a mental problem, not a physical or scoring problem. 

 

It sounds like you're putting too much pressure on yourself to score. That you've conflated your enjoyment of the game in itself with your expectations of what number should end up on the card. 

 

Managing expectations is important. I suck. I never know where my driver is going. When I hit a shot that actually goes as designed? Great! When it doesn't? Well, better luck next hole... And I'm having fun regardless. 

 

It sounds like you're having trouble managing expectations because you once played at a pretty high level, and mentally you have set that very high standard for yourself. And you're beating yourself up for not meeting it. 

 

I think I agree with some of the folks that suggested playing for the next few months without keeping score. Don't find yourself on the 18th tee thinking "damn, I need to make birdie here if I'm going to break 90/85/play to my cap". Stand on the 18th tee, forget about every other hole you've played that day, and just try to play that hole. Enjoy the beautiful Hawaii weather and the nice ocean breezes. Don't let the game be a good walk spoiled, try to mentally get in the place where you recognize how lucky you are to be doing what you're doing, and that you're on the right side of the dirt. 

[LeftDaddy]

11 hours ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

 

LeftDaddy, I definitely second the suggestion of a push cart. I also enjoy walking a course rather than taking a cart, but I don't enjoy carrying the bag. I found a cheaper 2-wheel pull cart on Amazon for $60, but you can find better 3-4 wheel push carts for not a whole lot more than that. 

 

Especially as we all get older, the walking is good for us physically. Some of you may find you walk 5-6 miles on a standard course... Where I hit the ball I might be closer to 7-8 lol 😉

 

I personally find it much more relaxing mentally to walk a course rather than take a cart. And during a bad round, it's nice to pull an IPA from my hidden cooler (which incidentally adds weight and is another reason I don't like carrying) to get my mind back into the right zone!

Thanks. I have a push cart but my golf club doesn’t allow them. Some founding member considers them unsightly I think. Anyway, carrying occasionally, caddies occasionally and riding occasionally works for me for now. 

[Mcgeeno]

The correct answer is @caniac6 amigo.

 

You take time off and you decide if the the grind is worth it. 

 

Plenty of us have been there. You sometimes need a break to see if its worth it.

 

[pktaske]

10 hours ago, LeftDaddy said:

Thanks. I have a push cart but my golf club doesn’t allow them. Some founding member considers them unsightly I think. Anyway, carrying occasionally, caddies occasionally and riding occasionally works for me for now. 

Thats GOT to be the goofiest rule I've ever heard. They allow golf carts but not a push cart? My bag weighs 25-30 lbs with all the stuff I have in there. During the summer I have at least 5 cold  bottles of water too. I'm not carrying it.

 

Did I read this right?

 

(sorry for the highjack)

Edited January 23, 2021 by pktaske

[Sean2]

3 hours ago, pktaske said:

That GOT to be the goofiest rule I've ever heard. They allow golf carts but not a push cart? My bag weighs 25-30 lbs with all the stuff I have in there. During the summer I have at least 5 cold  bottles of water too. I'm not carrying it.

 

Did I read this right?

 

(sorry for the highjack)

Yeah, that is crazy. I am 65 and walk 99% of my rounds. I couldn't do it if I had to carry.