What motivates you to play?

[jetandollie]

I am in a bit of a weird spot with golf. 

 

I have long, long accepted the fact I will never be a professional. I live in a small town where we have a public course and about 70-80 seasonal members. There is no competitive element or structure to anything at the course. I work 5am-1pm so I tend to play at odd hours and typically walk on as a single so the "getting out with the guys" part of it does not really apply either. For years I stressed over scores, trying to shoot as low as possible and in turn drove myself a little bit mad. Now I enjoy the game much more for the walk/exercise and feeling of hitting good shots (as infrequent as they might be). I could shoot 74 or 104 and there is literally not one person that would care in the slightest. I am not interested in trying to swing the club 120mph and chase speed like many others are doing, nor do I want to go out 2-3 times per week and drink for four hours on the course. 

 

When golf strictly becomes a hobby, what keeps you motivated to play?

[goaliedad30]

I play because I love the game ....

[llewol007]

I used to play team sports and for me, golf for me is such an individual sport that not only depends on physical action but also mental focus. If you dont have both working hand in hand, it shows. The best aspect about golf is it is between you and the golf course. At the end of the round, it is you to either congratulate or to ridicule. Along with that, each day is never the same. Always brings a different challenge and with that, I cant wait to play another 30 years+

[lefthack]

My urgency to kill people. Playing reduces that.

[PureDivots]

Golfing is pretty much the only time for me where I can disconnect and just relax. Also, I am competitive with myself I am always thinking the next round will be the best. 

[huskydawg]

Breaking 70 one day.  I can't practice or play a lot because of lack of transportation in a foreign land but maybe one day I can make a bunch of birdies and do it.

[North Butte]

Pretty much the sun being up, not raining, being between 40-90 degrees and I'm not at work. That's sufficient motivation for me to play golf.

 

I'm not being flippant. For all my whining about bad rounds or whatever, it doesn't keep me from wanting to be back out there again tomorrow. It's just fun and for me fun is enough.

[bcski]

I play simply because I enjoy golfing alone or with others.  It is a combo of being outdoors (usually riding these days due to back issues) and doing something I love for half the day.

 

For e being on the range and chipping area an hour prior and just relaxing and working on things is my me time.

[Phreddy]

In a world that has the attention span of a gnat it is 3 1/2-4 hours with friends.  Connected by competition, humor and quest to hit that magic shot.

[Blonde Line Lizard]

If I could only live in a small town and play alone, I think I would enjoy the game much more.

 

Living in a big city where golf is popular sucked the enjoyment out for me.

[jholz]

Insanity? Compulsion? Masochism?

 

Take your pick. 

[david.c.w]

For me it is 1/2 the challenge and 1/2 the camaraderie.  I played most athletics growing up, but not golf.  I tinkered when I was in my mid-teens (shot 100+), but did not get serious until I started playing with a friend in college, just the two of us (shot 90+).  Had a baseball grip until I was 23.  Played a lot with my dad when I was in my late 20's and got a little better (shot high 80's).  Joined a club when I was 35 to play golf but got sidetracked by the tennis side (also easier with 2 young kids).  Started playing more in my early 40's and being smart (shot low 80's).  Right now down to a 4.7 and will generally shoot 77 - 82 depending on if any putts go in.  So right now I am 47 and playing the best golf of my life.  Now I  concentrate on both swing improvements and course management to stop that 1 bad shot of the day.  I will never be scratch but I want to stay in the low single digits as long as possible.  For me the challenge to get better and stay better is 1/2 the fun.

 

The other 1/2 of the motivation is the amazing group of people you play with regularly.  Read any thread about "Should I join a club?" and 100% of club members will tell you YES.  The consistent group of 4 or 8 or 12 or guys never gets old.  There is never any question on where we should go or when we should go or how much we will spend.  There is a consistent group of guys that play at around the same time and we always have a good time.  When you get those blow up rounds where you lose 4 balls it does not matter; you are still with your friends and enjoying each others company.  There is always talking and joking and sometimes private conversations about work or family.  Fun and a little therapy.

 

The last 10% (yes I am at 110%), is the sometimes wonderful feeling of being alone and outside.  When the wife is at tennis and my son is watching a game and my daughter is at soccer practice, sometimes I can walk the back 9 by myself on a beautiful Thursday evening.  It is very rare to be alone and outside, so when it happens it is amazing.

[clevited]

11 hours ago, jetandollie said:

I am in a bit of a weird spot with golf. 

 

I have long, long accepted the fact I will never be a professional. I live in a small town where we have a public course and about 70-80 seasonal members. There is no competitive element or structure to anything at the course. I work 5am-1pm so I tend to play at odd hours and typically walk on as a single so the "getting out with the guys" part of it does not really apply either. For years I stressed over scores, trying to shoot as low as possible and in turn drove myself a little bit mad. Now I enjoy the game much more for the walk/exercise and feeling of hitting good shots (as infrequent as they might be). I could shoot 74 or 104 and there is literally not one person that would care in the slightest. I am not interested in trying to swing the club 120mph and chase speed like many others are doing, nor do I want to go out 2-3 times per week and drink for four hours on the course. 

 

When golf strictly becomes a hobby, what keeps you motivated to play?

 

 This is a great question as I was just about to post a similar topic when I popped in here.  

 

I am motivated to play golf because of the following and in order of importance to me.

 

1) I enjoy getting out on a beautiful course, on a beautiful day and just focusing on something other than the stresses of work and life.

2) I love the feel and look of a well executed shot even if they don't happen often.  I remember the good things I do and don't sweat the bad.

3)  I love to crush the ball so sometimes, just a monster drive makes my day (doesn't even have to be in the fairway)

4) I want to see how good I can get, but I am not stressed to push myself more than I want to.  I don't have an interest in tournament golf or becoming the best, just good enough as defined by my own standards.

 

Edit:  Separate little question here.  Does anyone get irked when other golfers give unsolicited advice?  They can't seem to fathom sometimes that a person plays the game just for the enjoyment and not to become the best golfer in the world.  A lot of us are not competitive, or at least not really with anyone but ourselves and we aren't obsessed with becoming better.  We do what we want to do whether they think it is dumb or not from a scoring stand point.  Sorry, little rant there but too many people do that and it bugs the crap out of me.

Edited June 17, 2021 by clevited

[MtlJeff]

Playing sports is a good way to stay in shape, golf is a sport that you don't need teams or large amounts of organization to do

 

So i took it up after college, and now i like it.

[kmay__]

[phizzy30]

I've been playing since I was 8.  Fell in love at first sight.  My father introduced me to the game.  I was sick as a child so my mother wouldn't let me play anything too physical besides golf, tee ball soccer and swimming.  I played in high school and college.  I love baseball as well, but that requires a bunch of people to congregate together.  Hitting a 300+yard drive really gets me pumped.  Shooting a 72 also gets my juices flowing.  I think we're all addicts, but it's not drugs or alcohol, it's golf. 

Edited June 17, 2021 by phizzy30

[DArnie]

"When golf strictly becomes a hobby, what keeps you motivated to play?"

 

My Wife.😄

 

Ok, somebody had to say it!

[Paddy_2_Iron]

Honestly it’s really simple.   Hit greens in regulation.  

[Zitlow]

Besides the obvious benefits of being outdoors, hitting balls and playing releases endorphins. 

[lefthack]

I think part of the reason I am enjoying it more is the availability to play a "quick" solo round on an empty or mostly empty course. I can hit shots, re-hit shots, lose balls, laugh at bad shots, celebrate the good ones.

 

I'm not keeping score because I'm not technically playing. More like practice and it's fun.

[SwingBlues]

Driving with an open container...& true, unforgettable "Hold my beer" moments with my buddies 👍

Edited June 18, 2021 by SwingBlues

[JetPilot]

It’s a puzzle I’m constantly trying to finish.  At times, I get most of the pieces together and I can see how pretty the picture is.  But I can’t ever seem to find the last pieces to finish the puzzle.   
 

The search for those missing pieces holds my attention.  
 

I’m 50 and in my lifetime I think there has been some really poor golf instruction.    Probably well intentioned, but misguided.  It seems there are golf instructors who are figuring out a better way to skin the cat.  Undoing misdirection is difficult.

[Kdaniel72]

Three reasons. To break 90, break 80 and to break 75 from the blues. Or from 6,700 to 7,000 yards.

[SNIPERBBB]

Competition. I don't get anything out of casual golf normally other than practice. I'll play vacation golf, heading to Spencer Iowa next month for a convention if anyone knows any good courses around there...

 

 

[leekgolf]

On 6/16/2021 at 10:56 PM, jetandollie said:

When golf strictly becomes a hobby, what keeps you motivated to play?

1. It's my hobby.

2. I have nothing better to do.

3. I'm trying to improve. I'm way past any point where I could dream of playing golf for a living. I'm not likely to win even a club championship anymore. I just like working to get better.

 

Some people love model trains, some love flying airplanes or helicopters. I know people that love amateur auto racing. Some love riding motorcycles, either back woods or road riding. I love the feel of a well struck iron. I'm addicted to trying to get that every shot.

 

 

[jbrunk]

Precisely because it’s a game where you can go out and card a 74 or a 104.  You never know, so you have to go try.  Sometimes all it takes is one good shot to keep me coming back.

 

Of course there are cognitive & emotional benefits to physical exercise, practicing hand-eye coordination, walking in nature, exposure to the sun, setting and achieving goals, etc. All of which comes through playing golf.

 

But let’s face it. This is GolfWRX. All those clubs in my basement aren’t going to play golf by themselves.

Edited June 19, 2021 by jbrunk

[jonsnow]

34 minutes ago, jbrunk said:

Precisely because it’s a game where you can go out and card a 74 or a 104.  You never know, so you have to go try.  Sometimes all it takes is one good shot to keep me coming back.

 

Of course there are cognitive & emotional benefits to physical exercise, practicing hand-eye coordination, waking in nature, exposure to the sun, setting and achieving goals, etc. All of which comes through playing golf.

 

But let’s face it. This is GolfWRX. All those clubs in my basement aren’t going to play golf by themselves.

You sleep on the course? And I thought I was obsessed...

 

I just absolutely love the feel of a well struck golf shot. Even though they don't go as far as they did now that I'm in my 60s, a solidly struck 7-iron that goes 145-150 yards gives me the same feeling as one that went 165-170 yards 30 years ago. I'm just addicted to that feeling.

[NoTalentLefty]

Friends, looking for that one great shot, love of the chase. I constantly change something in my swing, not always for the good but for discovery. Just love the game since I was a little kid and my parents couldn’t afford me to play. I would make a course around the yard with a stick and plastic ball. Just always appealed to me maybe because I couldn’t let anybody down like a team sport. 

[jbrunk]

29 minutes ago, jonsnow said:

You sleep on the course? And I thought I was obsessed...

 

Only when I’m behind your group. 😉 

[jonsnow]

2 minutes ago, jbrunk said:

Only when I’m behind your group. 😉 

Now that was cold. Well played, sir!