Crossroads

Tiger

Tiger

Money List Winner
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Messages
5,789
Location
Suffolk
rub-of-the-green.blogspot.com
For those into tame gangsta rap I'm not going to bust into a rendition of the Bone Thugs N Harmony hit and for those of an older persuasion this isn't about Benny either....

Some of you are familiar with my story of why I took up golf but for those who aren't... About five and a half years ago I was diagnosed with MS. I suffer from something called Uhthoff's phenomenon which means when I get hot my symptoms come back. In my case issues with fatigue, coordination and numbness from the chest down.

Well fast forward to today and after some pretty aggressive treatment I'm back running consistently (three times a week) and for the first time in 5.5 years played football last week. Now physically I'm no where near how I was but I'm gradually improving.

So here's the thing. I've missed football massively and golf will still be there in a few years. I'm also hopeless at golf despite grooving a 'pretty swing' so when membership renewal comes in do I save the cash and try and get back on a footy pitch next season... thoughts welcome but particularly interested in hearing from anyone else that turned to golf when they could no longer play another sport

Cheers
 
Tough call. Could you get away with being nomadic for a season or two or do you prefer the convenience of getting up to the club and playing as and when. What are the effects going to be, playing and training in a physical environment. I played at a reasonable standard and did miss it, especially the post match part for a season or two but once I got back into the golf the itch was scratched
 
I gave up rugby with a shoulder injury that would have meant reconstructive surgery to keep playing. In all honesty hardly a week goes by in the season when I do not miss it and think about getting the boots out again. If I had the chance to play for another couple of years I would jump at it. Golf will always be there to come back to
 
tough one mate, but glad to hear your getting there!
I had a spiral fracture dislocation of the left leg (shin and ankle four bits) playing football at 25, and was recommended to give up playing. Took up golf around a year later just messing around hitting balls here and there and then got the bug, found i enjoyed and got a membership and some lessons at 27 and that was the start for me. 8 and a half years later still going, love it really, the social side, meeting new friends etc, but really the competition and drive to improve helps.
Do I wish i still played football? squash? able to go running? all without pain? EVERYDAY!
Would I give up the last 8 years golf in exchange for playing football? YES!! WITHOUT DOUBT. i was raised of football, its all i knew really until i got hurt.
BUT, I am very grateful for being able to play golf, the people i have met and the enjoyment i get, playing team golf is fantastic and gives a little insight into being part of a team again.
good luck in deciding, golf will always be there i guess and if your heart is not there yet, maybe go back to football while you can.
 
Hi Tiger,
Glad to here your getting better.
What age are you?
What level of football you talking about?

I gave up football a while ago now through injury,i had a good run,played semi-pro for
Ilfracombe for 9 seasons.
I dislocated my shoulder,and I did this repeatably for a few years until my op.
I also had Achilles tendonitus for 3 years.
I loved football,however now im beginning to regret playing.
I cant run due to the bad Achilles and a calf that just tears for hardly any reason.
Yes golf will be there in years to come,however a bad injury could put paid to that.
Stick to golf its easier.
Also your not that bad,youve got a lovely swing.
 
Well if you decide to bin the membership and stick to the football I'd be more than happy to invite you up to have the occasional friendly game of golf at my place just south of Norwich. Good luck with whatever you decide and let me know if you ever fancy a round.
 
I played football to a very average standard into my 30,s before I ever hit a golf ball! I really regret not taking up golf 20 or 30 years ago! I feel I've missed out on something I could have been half decent at if I had started younger!!!
 
JustOne said:
I'd stick with your golf. Football is for kids...... and idiots that try to snap your leg on a Sunday morning.
Click to expand...


Why I agree with the above, I'm going to throw a swerve ball.

If you condition is made worse by getting hot, why would you seriously do anything to put pressure under an already sensitive condition, rather like an epileptic having a staring competition with a strobe light,

Ok that's a bit drastic but personally your golf works well with your condition, football on the other hand doesn't. If your set on it I'd prob just get back into 5 a side or something on a mid week, but I'd still keep golf as my main passion.

Fair play and congratulations to managing and somehow taming the beast.

Ps before anyone goes off on one, I'm epileptic so the phrase I used was not meant derogatory to anyone....
 
Mate, I am chuffed to bits that it is all working out for you. I gave up football and athletics due to injury and took up golf. I thought I would miss playing and have to say that I do miss it but no where near as much as I thought I would. To stop the temptation of me playing again I burnt my boots and my better half threw away the set that I had hidden. The other thing I did before I came to the decision to stop playing football was to have a good old chat to my other half about it and what could happen if I was hit again in the area that was giving me all the trouble. I also had to think of the fact that if I was injured playing football again , with my job would they still be happy employing me.

In regards to what you do , you do what ever you enjoy. If you can play football at the moment and really enjoy it , then why not go for it .You can still have the odd round of golf and I am sure you will get invites from loads of us mate.
 
Thanks guys. PJ age is part of the problem. I'm 35 in the summer and especially after 5 years out I've lost a fair bit of pace and conditioning. I very much doubt I'd be able to play first team football anymore so it'd be Saturday afternoon reserves. I am a little worried that doing my ACL or rupturing my achilles is much more likely at my age :(
 
Good to hear you're on the up Matey!
Talk to Kid2 - he went back to footy after an injury (OK, not the same but..) and he crocked himself again.
You're no Spring Chicken any more and it's going to take a lot to get back to the level you played at in the past.
5 years out is a long time, especially with your condition. You'll have lost your pace and although you could get some back I doubt you'll get it all.
I had to pack up Cricket as my left knee went - kneecap tendons were splitting on the lower one and if it had gone my knee would have exploded (Syd Lawrence!). Once it healed, I missed a whole Summer, I tried to get back into it but couldn't trust the knee and so couldn't regain the standard I had before. My bowling pace was well down ( used to be pretty quick) and running wasn't as easy.
I didn't want to drop levels as I knew I wouldn't enjoy it so I drifted away from the game.
Took up Golf - the left knee didn't hinder me - and the rest, as they say, is hysterics...!
I didn't really miss Cricket, I kind of resigned myself to the fact I wasn't going to play it anymore and just moved on.
At the end of the day, it's your decision and ,Yes, Golf will be there in a few years time.
But you've invested a lot in Golf, leave it for 5 years and it could take that long to get back to where you are now.

Take your time on the choice......
 
OS it looks like (fingers crossed) the Uhthoffs is subsiding. Effectively after the chemo some patients see a little myelin healing (that's the stuff that MS eats away that protects your nerves) and also sometimes the brain uses different nerve paths :)
 
Tiger said:
For those into tame gangsta rap I'm not going to bust into a rendition of the Bone Thugs N Harmony hit and for those of an older persuasion this isn't about Benny either....

Some of you are familiar with my story of why I took up golf but for those who aren't... About five and a half years ago I was diagnosed with MS. I suffer from something called Uhthoff's phenomenon which means when I get hot my symptoms come back. In my case issues with fatigue, coordination and numbness from the chest down.

Well fast forward to today and after some pretty aggressive treatment I'm back running consistently (three times a week) and for the first time in 5.5 years played football last week. Now physically I'm no where near how I was but I'm gradually improving.

So here's the thing. I've missed football massively and golf will still be there in a few years. I'm also hopeless at golf despite grooving a 'pretty swing' so when membership renewal comes in do I save the cash and try and get back on a footy pitch next season... thoughts welcome but particularly interested in hearing from anyone else that turned to golf when they could no longer play another sport

Cheers
Click to expand...

Try and get back on the pitch. Obviously it is your first love and you should give it a shot. As you say the golf will be something to fall back on.

Personally I've never been heavily into other sports but I have enjoyed playing nearly every Thursday night with a group of guys for the last 7 years. I started outfield but now play goals after a knock damaged my knee and all the twisting and impact from running associated with out field made step back into goals. Been playing that position for the last 3 years and enjoy it but even there is causes my knee issues. Since June last year I now play very little football and refuse to play if I a planned round within 7 days of the match. Played more over the winter but prioritise golf. The reason being, it is my preferred sport.
 
Last edited:
sorry tiger didnt realise you were 35!
think long and hard about going back to football, as has been pointed out injury is far more difficult to recover from at our age. a friend of mine tried to play again after a few years out, was playing of 9 at the time too. he lasted 45 mins, snapped his achillies ended up off work for 3 months, couldnt play golf for close to 4 months, is up to 12 now lol and is still getting grief from it 2 years on.
 
I played hockey to a decent level and then took up marathon running and, when that got more serious, gave up hockey as long runs on a Sunday after a tough hockey match wasn't conducive to good running. Really missed the camaraderie and crack with the girls so after about 2 years off I went back to it. Not for long though as I'd lost "something" - mainly speed of thought and reaction times - and I got hurt. Only bashes on my legs but caused by slow reactions and not getting out of the way fast enough. So, I retired again and focussed on the running, which broke my leg, which made me turn to triathlon and finally golf!!

I miss the girls and team element still and love it when we play Mail on Sunday, Jean Wilkinson and Grace Norman which are genuine team events at golf.

What helps though is that I was pretty good at hockey, better at running and better still at golf (relative to my peers). If I wasn't then for sure I'd return to hockey or running - probably the latter!

You're only 35 - give it a try for a few more seasons or you'll always wonder "what if".
 
As an option, if you want to get back into footie but are concerned about fitness etc, have you thought about coaching? Still gives you a degree of involvement, a chance to get fitter at training sessions and something to look forward to at the weekends
 
It only gets harder as you get older unfortunately. I played foortball and rugby into my twenty's without major injury. Damaged the AC joint in my shoulder at 28 and the injuries just seemed to keep coming, culminating in torn knee ligaments. I still play a bit of 5-a-side now and again but you never truly feel 100%.

If you really miss the footy then maybe you should think about helping with coaching rather than playing. If you love the game it can be just as rewarding.
 
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