A serious question: how do you find the time?

barrybridges

barrybridges

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This is the start of my second year of playing golf 'properly' (as in more than just knocking it around my municipal as a kid) and I'm really struggling.

Not with the golf (although that is also pretty bad), but with life getting in the way.

I'm getting really frustrated with myself. Until today I hadn't swung a club since a comp on Christmas Eve. I wasn't as rusty as I expected, but I just don't seem to be able to find time to practice or play.

So, can anyone shed any light or offer their secrets - quite seriously - as to how someone like me can make the time for golf?

My situation should - in theory - be easy. I work for myself and have quite a lot flexibility around my hours - I can take time off during the week if needed, without any issues of holiday. Weekends are more difficult as my wife and I don't have much quality time during the week, although sometimes I can squeeze a cheeky range session in.

What complicates it is that we only have one car and my wife is the one who uses it (it was her car before we got married). So, during the week I might find myself at home but can't get the to the course. Sadly, we can't afford a second car at the moment.

So, what can I do? Last year I play around 20 rounds of golf in total, and managed to get to the driving range on average once a week - maybe a bit less. I know there's a decent club golfer in me but I'm not playing enough to see the improvements. I have had lessons - and would have lessons - but there doesn't seem much point if I don't have the time between lessons to practice.

Your thoughts and suggestions would really be welcome.
 
Sounds frustrating without a car. Are you a member anywhere, you could then get a locker to keep your clubs then its just yourself that needs transporting.

I was without a car a bit for a while so just got one of our group to pick me up and then I got in the beers or a bit of brekky. They seemed happy enough !
 
Scottjd1 said:
Sounds frustrating without a car. Are you a member anywhere, you could then get a locker to keep your clubs then its just yourself that needs transporting.

I was without a car a bit for a while so just got one of our group to pick me up and then I got in the beers or a bit of brekky. They seemed happy enough !
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I'm not a member anywhere, but surrounded by clubs that I could join - literally 4 - 6 clubs within 15 minutes drive! Godstone, Edenbridge (Kent and Surrey), Chartham Park, Tandridge (but too expensive), Westerham, Limpsfield Chart etc.
 
If your serious Barry then I'd join the nearest course to you with a locker room. You could cycle there if need be providing your clubs are already there.

I lost my licence through epilepsy so feel your pain mate.
 
Also, I'm a bit of a loner and don't have any friends nearby who I can play golf with! I did play with Oddsocks at Addington last year (which was great and we should do it again!) and my next-door neighbour is a member at Tandridge, but there's likely to be no-one around who I can just call up and arrange a game with on a regular basis without making contacts at any new club.

I'm aware that I probably need to join a club to get started, but I'd like to play more regularly before I join a club as I'm cautious it could be a big waste of money if I only manage to get out once a month.
 
Ok I suppose the be all question is if you joined somewhere local how many times a week do you think you would play.

Ps your always welcome to tag along if we're playing but we play Saturday and Sunday's mainly ;)
 
Oddsocks said:
If your serious Barry then I'd join the nearest course to you with a locker room. You could cycle there if need be providing your clubs are already there.

I lost my licence through epilepsy so feel your pain mate.
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That's a pretty good idea - I hadn't thought of that.

If that's the case then Edenbridge is really the only option. Godstone is 15 minutes cycle but has no facilities (as in, no clubhouse or lockers - it's just a shed on the 1st tee).

Edenbridge is my closest club (8 minutes drive and 20 minutes on the bike) but sadly it's also the worst maintained club in the area. Really poor drainage, constantly boggy, uneven greens with marks all over them - I suppose beggars can't be choosers but it's in something of a state.
 
My Fiancee and I share a car. It helps that we work for the same company on the same hours, but ultimately, it's just finding something that fits.

She plays netball 2 nights a week plus Saturdays. I tend to go and play golf once at the weekend (either on a Saturday afternoon when she's done with Netball, or on a Sunday - whichever day I don't play will be our time together at the weekend).

During the week, I'll go to the range the nights she doesn't have netball (or in the summer, go to the course for 9 holes), or I'll drop her off at Netball training, go to the range for an hour, then pick her up.

I've stopped going to the range as much, as it's becoming expensive and a cost I can't really afford, which is why I'm looking forward to the clocks going forward, so I can get down the club for a few holes after work.

We don't do much during the week after work partly due to the fact that we can't afford to (wedding and honeymoon to pay for), and partly because we just like relaxing watching TV or whatever after work, so it's no great shakes for me or her to go out and do something in the evening.

Golf is (now) my only hobby - apart from going to the gym - and she has netball. So it works ok for us.

Is there anyway you can catch a bus to the course during the week if you're taking a break from work?
 
The other option is joining a society that friends may play for, it's a great way to meet players from your area who could be possible taxi drivers in the future
 
Aztecs27 said:
My Fiancee and I share a car. It helps that we work for the same company on the same hours, but ultimately, it's just finding something that fits.
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This sounds like a similiar situation to us (although different work situations).

I know this is going to sound quite terrible, but part of the issue is that my wife and I have got into the habit of weekends being 'special' as we don't see a huge amount of each other during the week - I've got us into bad habits in the sense that it would be difficult for me to say now 'I want to play golf every other Sunday'.

We had a wedding to pay for last year also - a bit like you - and now we've got a little un on the way in September so time is going to be even more limited.

At the moment, whenever she goes out for dinner with her friends (every three weeks normally) I'll drive her there and then head to Hilden driving range for an hour, then pick her up.

She works from home one day a week also so I take advantage of the car and go to the driving range.

Unfortunately, I haven't got anyone I can just phone up and say 'fancy a game tomorrow' which is what I need.

I think the idea of storing clubs in a locker is a good idea, but again I'm really quite naive about golf and memberships - do you have to commit to a full year or can you join/leave like a gym membership, or pay by direct debit?

We're just about to leave the gym (to save money for the baby in Autumn) but I could spare some money to join a club until September if they do 6 month memberships? Then maybe review things to see if I have the time after that (which I guess I won't).

I can get to the local clubs by bike quite easily, so getting there wouldn't be a problem if there's space in the lockers.
 
barrybridges said:
Also, I'm a bit of a loner and don't have any friends nearby who I can play golf with! I did play with Oddsocks at Addington last year (which was great and we should do it again!) and my next-door neighbour is a member at Tandridge, but there's likely to be no-one around who I can just call up and arrange a game with on a regular basis without making contacts at any new club.

I'm aware that I probably need to join a club to get started, but I'd like to play more regularly before I join a club as I'm cautious it could be a big waste of money if I only manage to get out once a month.
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I play on my own all the time. I love it.

didn't make too many friends at my last club, mostly because I couldn't play in a lot of weekend comps and I lived half an hours drive away.

Hopeful new club is 10 minutes drive and should mean more comps this year, thus making a few friends. Even if I don't it's not the be all and end all. I'll happily play on my own early/late in the day and save the social rounds for when I travel to forum meets, comps or when I go back to lincolnshire to play with my mates back home.
 
barrybridges said:
This sounds like a similiar situation to us (although different work situations).

I know this is going to sound quite terrible, but part of the issue is that my wife and I have got into the habit of weekends being 'special' as we don't see a huge amount of each other during the week - I've got us into bad habits in the sense that it would be difficult for me to say now 'I want to play golf every other Sunday'.

We had a wedding to pay for last year also - a bit like you - and now we've got a little un on the way in September so time is going to be even more limited.

At the moment, whenever she goes out for dinner with her friends (every three weeks normally) I'll drive her there and then head to Hilden driving range for an hour, then pick her up.

She works from home one day a week also so I take advantage of the car and go to the driving range.

Unfortunately, I haven't got anyone I can just phone up and say 'fancy a game tomorrow' which is what I need.

I think the idea of storing clubs in a locker is a good idea, but again I'm really quite naive about golf and memberships - do you have to commit to a full year or can you join/leave like a gym membership, or pay by direct debit?

We're just about to leave the gym (to save money for the baby in Autumn) but I could spare some money to join a club until September if they do 6 month memberships? Then maybe review things to see if I have the time after that (which I guess I won't).

I can get to the local clubs by bike quite easily, so getting there wouldn't be a problem if there's space in the lockers.
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doesn't sound bad at all. Our relationship, if anything, is a little too relaxed and we don't save weekends for special date nights or anything! We probably should! I'm really terrible though as I'm waaay too laid back and happy to sit in front of the telly watching the golf. :D One of these days, when I have money again, I'll take her away for a couple of nights!

Also, would she have a problem with you heading out early to play on a sat/sunday, be back for 11 or 12pm (or even earlier), then you'd have the rest of the day to spend together?
 
I have a wife (..... A very understanding one luckily) and a 2 year old son and they are my world.

I fit my second passion (Golf) around them so play anywhere between 18-36 holes per week in the summer with the odd range session thrown in.

Your circumstances are completley different to mine so doesn't really compare. Some good advise has been given above so maybe worth some serious consideration.
 
A few suggestions:-

1. Join a club as a 5 day member, which is cheaper. Pay direct debit and if no joining fee you can stop it after 6 months if you dont like it. Yearly green fees may only be 2/3 rds of the full rate.
2. Play at 5.00 in the morning in the summer (honest). Years ago 2 of us used to play the local muni and play it in about 2 1/2 hours before work. Go to work feeling great, but gets to 3.00 and want to have a snooze. If the mrs doesn't take the car until 8.00 your fine.
3. Play late in the day or after work, get a taxi there, just get the mrs to bring you home.
 
HID is pretty good, she understands golf is my time with the lads and would rather me be doing that than for example being out on the drink until 4-5am.

My two day passes are mainly the summer providing I'm back by 1pm latest on the Saturday so we still have Saturday afternoon and evening.

You need " your time " too bazza,
 
Hi Barrybridges,
As a retired golfer I must say I applaud your will to play the best game ever invented, I had problems when younger but being a shift worker helped to some extent to get round these. Depending on your living arrangements, (do you have a garden? You could set up a net in which to practise) now I know that some of you Forumer's will not agree that this is good practice, but it is better than nothing. Sorry I cannot be more help, but I wish you well for the future, don't give up because it is so rewarding even at the age of 75.
 
My car is off the road at the mo. So I just jump in a taxi when I want to go to the course, as its only 10/15 mins away. Only cost about £4 each way.
 
DaveM said:
My car is off the road at the mo. So I just jump in a taxi when I want to go to the course, as its only 10/15 mins away. Only cost about £4 each way.
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£4 for a 15 min taxi, you do know Barry bridges is a southerner don't you, it would be more like £14 each way
 
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