Are you glad golf is not the easiest game in the world?

[Barfolomew]

Are you glad golf is tricky?  We all struggle with the game.  Even the best in the world will lay an egg at the worst possible time.  Most other sports don't penalize you as much for such a small error. 1 millimeter off and its in the bunker instead of pin high for a birdie look.  It's not for the weak hearted.

 

I like that it's not really easy.  It gives you something to strive towards, for decades.  I don't think anyone will ever master golf, that's not the point of golf in my opinion.  I hit the perfect putt, oh ya that single blade of grass says "not today sucker!"

 

So are you glad golf is as TOUGH as it is or would you prefer golf to be an EASIER game??  

 

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

If I wanted an easier game I'd play disc golf.

 

Always fun to see people (who are not professionals) brag about "I shot -11 today!"

 

Yeah, good for you, and I'm an all-star when it comes to wiffle ball. 

[lefthack]

I play it because of the physics involved. I enjoy the challenge of the lie, the angle, the shot that each shot leaves me with. The idea of getting this little ball into a cup 300+ yards away in as few shots as possible is fun for me.

 

I gave up skateboarding for this. I would not have done that if it were easy.

 

<edit> I don't think it's overly tough, but to shoot par takes effort. Most folks have a "handicap" for a reason.

Edited May 28, 2021 by lefthack

[Barfolomew]

13 minutes ago, lefthack said:

I play it because of the physics involved. I enjoy the challenge of the lie, the angle, the shot that each shot leaves me with. The idea of getting this little ball into a cup 300+ yards away in as few shots as possible is fun for me.

 

I gave up skateboarding for this. I would not have done that if it were easy.

 

<edit> I don't think it's overly tough, but to shoot par takes effort. Most folks have a "handicap" for a reason.

 

That's a good point.... if you're gonna replace other activities for something else (as we naturally do thru life) it better be worthy

 

Oh and I snapped my Achilles in October riding skateboard just from pushing really hard with my foot not from a fall or anything, had surgery and coming back to golf now..... I'm 50, guess I'm done riding skateboard too or so everyone tells me haha

[lefthack]

13 minutes ago, Barfolomew said:

 

That's a good point.... if you're gonna replace other activities for something else (as we naturally do thru life) it better be worthy

 

Oh and I snapped my Achilles in October riding skateboard just from pushing really hard with my foot not from a fall or anything, had surgery and coming back to golf now..... I'm 50, guess I'm done riding skateboard too or so everyone tells me haha

 

I hit 50 in September. I refuse to give it up entirely, but I only take my bike to the skate park now. I think I can roll around on that a while longer.

 

Golf does give me some sense of artistic expression like skateboarding. I can't hit every shot well, but I hit some pretty good ones. And at least a couple times a round, I even surprise myself. Just like skateboarding. Not quite good enough to be pro, but good enough to enjoy doing it.

[stephenmatt]

I am, I would get bored if it was easy. I love how many facets of the game you can work on and there is always something you could do better.

[Hawkeye77]

Yes!

[Barfolomew]

6 minutes ago, lefthack said:

 

I hit 50 in September. I refuse to give it up entirely, but I only take my bike to the skate park now. I think I can roll around on that a while longer.

 

Golf does give me some sense of artistic expression like skateboarding. I can't hit every shot well, but I hit some pretty good ones. And at least a couple times a round, I even surprise myself. Just like skateboarding. Not quite good enough to be pro, but good enough to enjoy doing it.

 

I hear ya I play par golf and like to joke with my non golf friends when they ask how I play.... I say "if I play really well and Tiger plays really bad I beat him" hahaha

 

But that's the beauty of golf..... I could never beat Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Michael Shumacher, Tom Brady or Wayne Gretzky at their sports even on their worst day...... BUT if the stars align Tiger going down lol

[Obiwan21]

Depends on the day. What I appreciate about it's trickiness is that in any given round a trunk slammer might be able to pull off a shot or a putt that a pro makes and the next shot they get completely humbled.

 

[MattyO1984]

Just as an quick aside, what is the easiest game in the world?

[kmay__]

Nothin worth doin is easily done. Love the challenge of golf, and how it can change from round to round, even hole to hole. 

[Roody]

Yes. It's that never-ending chase of the perfect round. Which is never attainable. And that's what makes it fun - you keep trying. 

[golfandfishing]

It really is the perfect game. You can play alone and still compete or you can play with 3 buddies all of vastly different skills and still have a great time. It’s outdoors. A lot of courses are in beautiful areas and at the very least are home to birds, fish, turtles and a host of wildlife even in very urban areas. The golf ball doesn’t lie - we can make any excuse we want about a distant car horn, the sun in our eyes, our glove being wet or whatever but deep down we know it was a personal failure that put that 6 iron in the short side bunker. You can not have your best stuff and figure out a way around the course for a decent score. You can stripe it and shoot 80. Presses. Carry overs. Emergency nines. Stay and play packages. Golf is great and the fact that’s it hard is what makes it so - it is an aspirational game at all levels. 

[Blonde Line Lizard]

The game of golf is relatively simple; hit the ball, find it, then hit it again.  

 

It is all of the rules pertaining to the game that make it difficult.

[betarhoalphadelta]

3 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

Just as an quick aside, what is the easiest game in the world?

 

Tic Tac Toe. Either that or Global Thermonuclear War.

 

With very little effort, all games end in ties.

[Ferguson]

I think golf brings out a person's true personality and provides the perfect test for mental deftness.  A golfer is his own worst enemy.

A single shot can instantly produce an emotion. 

 

If I said this once, I have said it 1,000 times - if a physically coordinated 12 HC got his/her emotions under control and set no expectations about score, he/she could score 3-5 shots better per round.   

 

 

 

[golfandfishing]

28 minutes ago, Blonde Line Lizard said:

The game of golf is relatively simple; hit the ball, find it, then hit it again.  

 

It is all of the rules pertaining to the game that make it difficult.

The rules really are pretty simple for the vast majority of us. We see complex deals on tv because television requires towers, ropes, crappers, stands, tents, 25,000 - 200,000 extra people on the course and courses with dramatic features. Our everyday play really involves reteeing, drops from penalty areas, free drops from obstructions and move/not move loose impediments. These are all very simple to learn and are intuitive if you care about playing by the rules. Another great thing about golf is that it’s all up to you - if you don’t want to play by the rules you don’t have to. You can take a free drop from the water, roll your ball into a good lie or hit it 8 times on a hike and mark down a 1 if that’s your thing. 

[GolfTurkey]

13 hours ago, lefthack said:

I play it because of the physics involved. I enjoy the challenge of the lie, the angle, the shot that each shot leaves me with.

 

[dugue4]

3 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

Just as an quick aside, what is the easiest game in the world?

 

Easiest to learn - Go fish

Easiest to watch - Football

Easiest to tear a family/friend group apart - Monopoly

[lefthack]

4 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

Just as an quick aside, what is the easiest game in the world?

 

Shuffleboard.

[ohioglfr]

Golf is like billiards in that every shot is a calculation of multiple factors, but even more complex because of the added dimension of loft, wind direction and lie, among other things.  It truly is a game played on a 5 1/2 inch course between your ears, as a famous golfer said.  Despite my best mental calculations, I'm at the total mercy of my swing and hope for the best.  I suppose that hope is what sustains me in this game.

 

 

Edited May 28, 2021 by ohioglfr

[phizzy30]

Golf is like that irresistible woman that you keep going back to no matter how good or bad she treats you.  She also commands you to pay lots of attention and to spend exorbitant amounts of money on her as well.  So tell me fellas.  Why are we such gluttons for punishment???

Edited May 28, 2021 by phizzy30

[GLF4EVR]

16 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

Golf is like that irresistible woman that you keep going back to no matter how good or bad she treats you.  She also commands you to pay lots of attention and to spend exorbitant amounts of money on her as well.  So tell me fellas.  Why are we such gluttons for punishment???

Not a bad argument there.  Except, wouldn't there be a lot more women playing golf due to the easy pickin's for them??

[phizzy30]

Just now, GLF4EVR said:

Not a bad argument there.  Except, wouldn't there be a lot more women playing golf due to the easy pickin's for them??

Golf is boring according to my wife and so are the men that play the game.  😳

[GLF4EVR]

2 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

Golf is boring according to my wife and so are the men that play the game.  😳

Mine doesn't play, but she likes watching the tournaments on TV.  She was just as happy as I was that Phil won the PGA.  She was the first to say it ranked right up with watching Jack win his last Masters.  

 

[MattyO1984]

3 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

Golf is boring according to my wife and so are the men that play the game.  😳

 

Sounds like a match made in heaven 😂

[Barfolomew]

3 hours ago, GLF4EVR said:

Mine doesn't play, but she likes watching the tournaments on TV.  She was just as happy as I was that Phil won the PGA.  She was the first to say it ranked right up with watching Jack win his last Masters.  

 

 

You have found yourself a winner!  Lets you enjoy golf with your buddies but doesn't mind you watchin for hours on the weekend lol!

[sethdavidsdad]

I enjoy the challenge, I seem to still want to improve and get better everyday. Having a bad day pisses me off and makes me want to come back and do better. Playing great gets me excited to come back and do it again. 

[phizzy30]

1 hour ago, MattyO1984 said:

 

Sounds like a match made in heaven 😂

We call ourselves the odd couple. 

[lefthack]

5 hours ago, GLF4EVR said:

Mine doesn't play, but she likes watching the tournaments on TV.  She was just as happy as I was that Phil won the PGA.  She was the first to say it ranked right up with watching Jack win his last Masters.  

 

 

Mine played with her first husband because he was awful and she beat him. She's only played with me once. Now she just rides in the cart and makes fun of me while I play.