Do you really, honestly, 100% want to get better at golf?

[Oddsocks]

its not in the human nature to be content.

if your good you want to be better,
if your wealthy you want to be richer,
if your wifes hot your still look at a hotter one,
If your drive a fast car you wont a faster one.

I want to progress as im a competitive sod.... simple.

 

[chrisd]

Golf has an absolute measure of how good you are and how good others think you are - the handicap. I have had to work hard at everything I do in sport and getting to a single figure after starting golf at 46 would, for me, be a measure of the result for the effort that I have made.


Chris

 

[Region3]

Yes, but not so much that I want to work hard at it.

If I dedicated lots of time to practice and got better, I'd then have to keep practicing to maintain that level because I HATE getting worse at things.

I'll play as much as I can, I'll go to the range every now and then, but I can't see me ever spending a couple of hours on the practice green or chipping area.

 

[Achilles]

Yes, without a shadow of a doubt. Why? Achievement.

Getting better and better is all about progressing towards the ultimate goal of perfection. It is impossible, but the buzz I get from trying to get as close as possible to being the best I can be is what does it for me. I know I'll never turn pro, and probably never get to scratch but having the challenge in front of me is why I love this sport. Yet I can play crap and if the company is right, still have a great few hours.

A cut, a medal win, a club honours board win....all achievements, all attainable and all bloody addictive! I love working towards a goal, and a lower handicap is my ultimate goal.

 

[lobthewedge]

Why wouldnt you want to get better? If someone offered you a tip that was guaranteed to improve your game why would you not listen/accept it?

"Straighter drives and more greens in regulation anyone? No thanks mate, I'm happy over here in the rough getting my new Footjoys muddy and wet. Think I might try the trees on the next hole, I like the feeling of pine needles going down the back of my neck!"

Daft bloody question!

 

[pbrown7582]

Its purely for personal achievement, we all set goals and aspirations for ourselves and feel good if we achieve or exceed them.

well said that man sums it up nicely!

 

[Deleted member 1418]

To be honest, no - I'd rather get worse and therefore be able to play at the same level and standard as JustOne...............!!!

 

[JustOne]

To be honest, no - I'd rather get worse and therefore be able to play at the same level and standard as JustOne...............!!!

I reckon you'd reach my level if you played blindfolded :thup:

 

[garyinderry]

Why wouldnt you want to get better? If someone offered you a tip that was guaranteed to improve your game why would you not listen/accept it?

"Straighter drives and more greens in regulation anyone? No thanks mate, I'm happy over here in the rough getting my new Footjoys muddy and wet. Think I might try the trees on the next hole, I like the feeling of pine needles going down the back of my neck!"

Daft bloody question!

lol @ this post. you had me at muddy footjoys ! :rofl:

 

[Deleted member 1418]

I reckon you'd reach my level if you played blindfolded :thup:

No chance - I play like Ty Webb when I'm blindfolded!!

 

[DaveyG]

Win silverware and play well against my peers. I would love to be the best to ever grace this forum but just to sit somewhere where people say, he's a decent player isn't he.

 

[Bash]

It would be a sad world if nobody wanted to get better (and make for a boring game). I remember first going out on a 'proper' golf course and going round in 140+. What a great sport it would be if we were all content with that (not). Anyone who seriously doesn't want to improve their game should take up knitting

 

[need_my_wedge]

Because I know I can do better.

As a kid I was a quitter at pretty much anything I ever tried. The only two things I've ever stuck at are Aikido and golf. Aikido is a personal path about self development, I've been doing it for 20 years and still find enough to keep me improving. Golf I've been playing off and on since I was about 17. Had a 10 year hiatus after marriage but have been back playing for about 5 years now. I love being out on the course despite the frustrations it brings me, I play as often as I can but my ability sucks frequently. I know that if I apply myself to the level I do for my Aikido, I can improve a lot, and make it enjoyable to be on the course with less frustration. That's my aim.

 

[Hobbit]

Mmm, I don't like this question because it makes me question my motivation for the game. I like to play well, and I like to post a good score. Ideally, I'd like to get my handicap down too. But in all honesty I can't be bothered putting in the effort to achieve that.

I've been on or about my current handicap for donkey's years and its getting to be a chore... maybe I need to retire

 

[Imurg]

I'd like to get better as long as getting better doesn't diminish my enjoyment of the game.
I played off around 8-10 for quite a few years before being sliced down to 5.
Although I have played to it, having so few shots makes scoring tricky, especally in Winter.
So a drop to 4, 3 or even less would be nice.
But if it means a drop in the enjoyment I'll stick or even go a shot or 2 higher.

 

[kinhell]

'I wanna be able to live a little' and not face the shame of losing week in week out to my playing partners

 

[EIW1219]

It is an entirely personal, selfish, burning passion. I want to own golf, you know what... Even if it were just for one day, I want it so bad.

You can't just for one day. The stableford officers will be up in arms about it!

 

[JustOne]

Mmm, I don't like this question because it makes me question my motivation for the game. I like to play well, and I like to post a good score. Ideally, I'd like to get my handicap down too. But in all honesty I can't be bothered putting in the effort to achieve that.

I've been on or about my current handicap for donkey's years and its getting to be a chore... maybe I need to retire

I completely agree.. hence the thread, the thread title could easily have been "Do I really, honestly, 100%......" however reading some of the replies like "I want to own the game" help a lot. I don't think h/cap comes into it as much as playing to the ball striking standard you want to be. I always wanted to be 'better' at golf but never really worried about my h/cap. At the low end so much comes down to basics like making a 3ft putt or chipping close... I just want to get my ball striking/control to a place I want it to be... and take it from there, and hopefully let the h/cap look after itself.

 

[Alex1975]

I completely agree.. hence the thread, the thread title could easily have been "Do I really, honestly, 100%......" however reading some of the replies like "I want to own the game" help a lot. I don't think h/cap comes into it as much as playing to the ball striking standard you want to be. I always wanted to be 'better' at golf but never really worried about my h/cap. At the low end so much comes down to basics like making a 3ft putt or chipping close... I just want to get my ball striking/control to a place I want it to be... and take it from there, and hopefully let the h/cap look after itself.

I totally get this, I have been in this situation with many hobbies and It can mean the beginning of the end. It may well not in your case of course but for me you are far closer to the finish line than I am and the closer you get the easier it is to say to yourself " ye I am good at this, I am as good as I need to be". You have then let yourself off the hook and its down hill from there.

If you want to want it more you need to break things down into small parts, I cant say in what form you need to do this as I dont know you or your game.

I was talking to Fundy about you the other day and I am a bit of an armature psychologist so I was asking specific questions to try and get an idea of your personality (btw this was just a friendly chat while playing and he happened to mention he had played with you a few days before). He gave me the impression that you almost lit up or changed gear when the topic of coaching came up, or maybe he insinuated that for the most part it was light hearted non golf chatter and that you changed gear when asking Stevie what he wanted from his game.

Maybe this is a way of keeping the passion for the game you love without having to push your own self!?


Me, I would break you game down and get on and push the thing across the line! there are people who would KILL to play one game in your shoes...


Alex

 

[Hobbit]

I completely agree.. hence the thread, the thread title could easily have been "Do I really, honestly, 100%......" however reading some of the replies like "I want to own the game" help a lot. I don't think h/cap comes into it as much as playing to the ball striking standard you want to be. I always wanted to be 'better' at golf but never really worried about my h/cap. At the low end so much comes down to basics like making a 3ft putt or chipping close... I just want to get my ball striking/control to a place I want it to be... and take it from there, and hopefully let the h/cap look after itself.

You could be onto something here. I love a crisply struck shot into the green, and dropping a long putt. I like shotmaking, and I guess more so than the score.