Acceptance.... Part II

[Region3]

Tiger's original Acceptance thread got me thinking.

Not for years have I been bothered about having to accept how bad I'm playing. I know it happens and I know it'll change, just not when.

But it got me thinking about my round at the weekend though, and I wondered if there is something else I should 'accept'.

I scored very well, and thinking back it was probably about as well as I could expect to play. All areas pretty good but with a little room for improvement, and it dawned on me that this might be as good as I ever get.

I can't really complain because I don't spend a lot of time practising, but I felt a sense of disappointment when I started to realise that there might be nowhere to go without putting a load of hours in.

Am I on my own, or anyone else feel this way?

 

[pokerjoke]

Tiger's original Acceptance thread got me thinking.

Not for years have I been bothered about having to accept how bad I'm playing. I know it happens and I know it'll change, just not when.

But it got me thinking about my round at the weekend though, and I wondered if there is something else I should 'accept'.

I scored very well, and thinking back it was probably about as well as I could expect to play. All areas pretty good but with a little room for improvement, and it dawned on me that this might be as good as I ever get.

I can't really complain because I don't spend a lot of time practising, but I felt a sense of disappointment when I started to realise that there might be nowhere to go without putting a load of hours in.

Am I on my own, or anyone else feel this way?

Im taking by this a cut is on its way?
Having played with you recently and seeing how well you strike the ball,i can definitely see
you being a lower handicapper than you are.
In fact im lower than you know but in my opinion your long game is much better than mine,
but my short games better than yours.
I also shot a great round sunday[a level par round] in a team game,however I know I can be better.
The difference is I practice regulary and I want to get lower.
There is somewhere to go but you have to work at it.
Don't accept nothing apart from being the best you can be,and knowing you your not
someone who will just hit it, find it, and hit it again.

 

[Imurg]

I'm in the same boat Gary, without some serious practice I'm not going much lower. Having shot a 66 gross (-4) I have accepted that I'm unlikely to better it..
I think it's vital that everyone accepts that sooner or later you will reach your peak and begin the slippery slope.
That's not say that you should give up trying, just be realistic.
It is, after all, a hobby. It's not our livelihoods...

 

[Hobbit]

Nooo!!

By all means accept the way you play but not what you score. Accepting what you do will put an end to some of the frustrations a bad shot might bring, and will make it easier to score well.

 

[Val]

If you accept it will never change, I accepted I was a bad putter and liable to miss a lot of short putts. Mad a change to my putter and set up and began holing a few and confidence grew, I stopped accepting I'd miss and my putting improved no end. There's a lot to be said about what's between the ears.

Good to meet you yesterday Gary, great golf mate :thup:

 

[Tiger]

All I'll say is my 'practice' consists of putting on a six foot rug and one or two 40 min lunchtime sessions a week on an open bit of heathland i.e. not at the course. Due to work and my family commitments that's not going to change for the foreseeable future. So I've accepted that I will remain pish...

From what I've seen you post on here like PJ I can't believe you will accept that's as good as you can get. Now get off your backside and go and practice :thup:

 

[garyinderry]

Tiger's original Acceptance thread got me thinking.

Not for years have I been bothered about having to accept how bad I'm playing. I know it happens and I know it'll change, just not when.

But it got me thinking about my round at the weekend though, and I wondered if there is something else I should 'accept'.

I scored very well, and thinking back it was probably about as well as I could expect to play. All areas pretty good but with a little room for improvement, and it dawned on me that this might be as good as I ever get.

I can't really complain because I don't spend a lot of time practising, but I felt a sense of disappointment when I started to realise that there might be nowhere to go without putting a load of hours in.

Am I on my own, or anyone else feel this way?

chin up gaz! you played a lot of great golf yesterday. on another day on better greens you could easily have converted the birdie looks you gave yourself of which there was plenty.

really impressed with all aspects of your game. peppering pins with the short irons. bombing drives and that 4 wood. many times we were in similar positions and more often than not, you stuck it next to the pin, whereas I was on the green somewhere

I was surprised when you said you played off 6. I had you pegged for 3 at least! :thup:

 

[Region3]

No cut unfortunately, it was a forum meet.
It wasn't so much the score that I don't think I can better, or my handicap, just the way I played.

Probably delusionally, but I've always thought that when it eventually all came together I was going to score something silly. Now I'm not so sure.

I'll get over it

 

[diablo333]

Thats not bad for practice.. At the moment with work being busy I can get an hour at the range once a week. Might be able to get 9 holes in on the Sunday, getting darker earlier so making it tough.
not got decent carpet at home to practice putting. But I know I've loads to improve on.

 

[harpo_72]

Putting is 50% of the game, if you have a carpet, practice that. I do regularly, it has made a world of difference. I still need to get out though and just keep everything loose and working.

 

[Tiger]

No cut unfortunately, it was a forum meet.
It wasn't so much the score that I don't think I can better, or my handicap, just the way I played.

Probably delusionally, but I've always thought that when it eventually all came together I was going to score something silly. Now I'm not so sure.

I'll get over it

:thup:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Never going to accept I've reached a point where I can't get better. I'm a stubborn git and still have total conviction I can get to single figures next year

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I've had times in the past when I wondered briefly if I could get better but those are the thoughts that drive me to do so. I don't think I would enjoy the game as much if I didn't think I could improve.

 

[kid2]

I scored very well, and thinking back it was probably about as well as I could expect to play. All areas pretty good but with a little room for improvement, and it dawned on me that this might be as good as I ever get..

There's your answer Pal...... If there's room fir a little improvement then you can't accept that this is as good as your going to get......As PJ says your long games better than his but his short games better than yours..... Get chipping and putting at home even..... It'll pay off in the end....:thup:

 

[JustOne]

All areas pretty good but with a little room for improvement, and it dawned on me that this might be as good as I ever get.

As good as you get huh? I would say that it can't get a lot better than level par ..... maybe a couple under every now and then and then you're off scratch. So if you just do that every time you play you're sorted!!!

Once you're hitting like you are there ARE only small improvements you can make... a bit longer with your drives, a bit more accurate with your irons, a bit closer with your chipping and 1 extra putt per round holed ..... and voila! All un-noticable changes unless you have one particular bad shot that you need fixing. Add in experience and improved course management (knowledge of the course you are playing) and there's no reason why you can't get to 3 h/cap next year.... and scratch the following - IF YOU PRACTICE

... if you sit on your arse all day then don't come here whinging!!! LOL


Great score by the way Gary :thup: :thup:

 

[Region3]

Get chipping and putting at home even..... It'll pay off in the end....:thup:

- IF YOU PRACTICE

I knew my laziness would bite me in the end.

So rephrasing the original post... my natural talent has got me as far as it can, and to get better I have to practice. Bugger.

Maybe when our proposed chipping green is finished I'll spend some time down there, but putting on carpet and chipping in the back garden is boring as heck.

And as nice as some of the comments have been, I wasn't after my ego massaging. I was more after thoughts from others that might have thought the same. Jammydodger was the first person that sprang to mind but I don't know if he still looks in from time to time.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

I don't think you should have any acceptance of you cant get better. Your off 6 and you shot level par and felt it could be better than that so clearly you are doing something right. You have the ability and I cant see why you cant get to cat 1 before the end of next season. We have several golfers who are late 60's and early 70's who are still cat 1 so I cant see why you cant get better then you already are.

 

[duncan mackie]

I accept that I will never consistently play as well as I am capable of playing - there, that's my acceptance documented :thup:

Now I can get back to concentrating on how my Vet partner and I can beat the Club Champion & scratch cup holder and his league partner (who won the handicap singles) in the first round of the winter knockout on Sunday ...

 

[JustOne]

Jammydodger was the first person that sprang to mind but I don't know if he still looks in from time to time.

I've felt the same as Jammy for 4yrs now. Shooting level par doesn't interest me (I know that sounds soooo wrong) but it's more about enjoying the company for me. I hate practising and just want to play well after falling out of the car and onto the tee....

At least I'm realistic.... I play crap most of the time because I don't practice.... it's only the 'swing stuff' side of it that provides any interest at all :angry: