Are golfers ever happy?

K

Kevblue

Assistant Pro
Joined
Jul 26, 2009
Messages
120
Visit site
I have been playing for 4 years. I hardly play in the winter so really it's not been a full 4 years. I am now off 8. When I started and was topping, hacking and fatting my way round courses and I've ripped your arm off if you'd have offered me an 8 handicap.

Now I'm actually at 8, I'm still not really happy and want to shave more shots off my handicap (suppose everyone does) thing is, I will probably still not be satisfied if I'm off 5 in a year or two.

Question is, are you satisfied with whatever standard you play too? Are Golfers ever really happy?
 
When you see your name at the top of the leader board are you happy? When you get a handicap cut are you happy? When you nail a long drive or sink a long, snaking putt are you happy? And then there's the banter and the scenery...

A few years back I had a 7 birdie round in a forum meet, enroute to a winning 42 points. Chuffed to bits with the score, but remember a disappointing 3x3 putts from the round. Nothing wrong with ambition as long as its realistic.
 
Kevblue said:
I have been playing for 4 years. I hardly play in the winter so really it's not been a full 4 years. I am now off 8. When I started and was topping, hacking and fatting my way round courses and I've ripped your arm off if you'd have offered me an 8 handicap.

Now I'm actually at 8, I'm still not really happy and want to shave more shots off my handicap (suppose everyone does) thing is, I will probably still not be satisfied if I'm off 5 in a year or two.

Question is, are you satisfied with whatever standard you play too? Are Golfers ever really happy?
Click to expand...

i could have wrote this. shot a pb of 3 over today. walked off the 18th thinking "i so should have been 1 under"
 
I think almost all golfers are striving for better scores and sit there at the end thinking of all the shots left out on the course, bad luck etc. conveniently ignoring the get out of jail shots, long putts holed, good luck etc.

Probably the reason most of us come back each week is we know we can make that next step forward - next time.

I fall heavily into the never really happy camp but love the challenge and making the next goal.
 
Kevblue said:
I have been playing for 4 years. I hardly play in the winter so really it's not been a full 4 years. I am now off 8. When I started and was topping, hacking and fatting my way round courses and I've ripped your arm off if you'd have offered me an 8 handicap.

Now I'm actually at 8, I'm still not really happy and want to shave more shots off my handicap (suppose everyone does) thing is, I will probably still not be satisfied if I'm off 5 in a year or two.

Question is, are you satisfied with whatever standard you play too? Are Golfers ever really happy?
Click to expand...

Sounds familiar ....... just be careful you don't stop enjoying your golf. If that happens ..... :o

I always took something positive out of a round, even if it was only one great shot or one superb putt. It was my way of keeping wanting to come back and try to be better the next time.
 
DCB said:
Sounds familiar ....... just be careful you don't stop enjoying your golf. If that happens ..... :o

I always took something positive out of a round, even if it was only one great shot or one superb putt. It was my way of keeping wanting to come back and try to be better the next time.
Click to expand...
That's a good standard for 4 yrs , but I have found that the lower I got the more I strived for perfection .
In golf that's not ever going to happen even the pros make mistakes the sooner you accept this the more you will enjoy your golf.
I have played many scratch and lower players and they can be a miserable bunch on the course never satisfied with their game.
once off the course I have only met one I did not like.
 
I am actually ecstatic today

Hit my new clubs for the first time today and man from Driver to Wedge I had a ball

Really sat here with a HUGE smile on my face

Happy Days

IMG_4560.jpg
 
It's good that the OP is striving to get lower and in that context I don't think he (or most of us) will ever be truly happy and there will also be that duffed shot or missed putt to blight a round
 
Happy? Yes, playing golf is a privilege to be enjoyed.
Satisfied? Not often, there is always something to improve or didn't go as well as it did yesterday.
Frustrated? Often, but I've not bent a club over my knee yet! :)
 
Capella said:
Happy? Yes. Every time I hit a good shot. Satisfied with where my game is at? Probably never.
Click to expand...

Absolutely...plus enjoy playing just for the sake of it, the views of Twm Barlwm from the 5th fairway on my home course, or the sea views at Portcawl, just being outside when the sun shines...

Could I play a bit better? Always. Or there'd be no point in playing
 
Yes. Happy because it's almost a year ago I really didn't think I'd ever be able to play golf but now here I am playing every moment I can and doing occasional pretty good shots. And happy that there's miles and years of work yet to go before I reach my full potential because for me it's the process of learning and improving and becoming more than I was that creates the happiness. A handicap figure is just a number. That will never be the source of anyone's satisfaction. It's the joy of having a goal and passing the milestones along the journey whilst always having a future destination that makes for happiness.
 
Happy?
playing on a walm summers evening when there's not many people about and it's quiet. Playing with friends and enjoying their company and the banter for a few hours. Playing a new course and working out the challenge it offers.
You bet!

Goods shots, bad shots, scores - that's just the accounting bit which at the end of the day isn't that important.
 
Every time I'm on the course and things aren't going well, or the weathers crap, or I shank another wedge sideways, one thought keeps me going.......

its better than shopping, and that makes me happy

as does spending time with some of the really old boys in the clubhouse, those too old, too blind or too ill to play any more but wish they could, telling stories about the club and their experiences over a bottle of red, that makes me happy.
 
Last edited:
Break90 said:
Every time I'm on the course and things aren't going well, or the weathers crap, or I shank another wedge sideways, one thought keeps me going.......

its better than shopping, and that makes me happy

as does spending time with some of the really old boys in the clubhouse, those too old, too blind or too ill to play any more but wish they could, telling stories about the club and their experiences over a bottle of red, that makes me happy.
Click to expand...

A bad days golf is better than any day in work :thup:

If I'm playing golf then I'm happy
 
Always happy to be playing be it good or bad, golf is a strange game,no matter how well you play you nearly always think it should have been better it's a game of if only.

Would be happier if I could transfer my winter scores to the season when it starts, I've had scores of gross 81, 83 and 85 which put me down to playing off 13 in the winter league,my proper H/c is 17 and if I could get down to 15 this season I would be more than happy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
first timer golf lessons - new clubs needed from the start?
2 3
Replies
46
Views
4K
Voyager EMH
Voyager EMH
P
Why are people A-Holes when playing MATCHPLAY?
5 6 7
Replies
121
Views
14K
Sid Rixon IV
S
H
I completed golf
3 4 5
Replies
99
Views
7K
Orikoru
Orikoru
S
Index keeps going down!
Replies
9
Views
1K
mrpar
M
BunkerPlayer
Foursomes with a Pro... any last bit of advice?
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
BunkerPlayer
BunkerPlayer
Top