Handicaps and happiness.

haplesshacker

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I often read on here that someone describes themselves as hacking around off 10 or whatever. And that we all want a better handicap, but moan that certain formats seem to prefer higher handicaps.

So are we all just grumpy unsatisfied gits, or over optimistic about our own abilities, or are we just so competitive that we're never happy and could've done better?

Is anyone out there actually just happy to be out playing golf, and what'll be will be?

Sadly, I fall into the 'I could've done better and I want to lower my h'cap ' brigade. Though occasionally I am just happy to be out and what'll be will be.
 
I often read on here that someone describes themselves as hacking around off 10 or whatever. And that we all want a better handicap, but moan that certain formats seem to prefer higher handicaps.

So are we all just grumpy unsatisfied gits, or over optimistic about our own abilities, or are we just so competitive that we're never happy and could've done better?

Is anyone out there actually just happy to be out playing golf, and what'll be will be?

Sadly, I fall into the 'I could've done better and I want to lower my h'cap ' brigade. Though occasionally I am just happy to be out and what'll be will be.
go out to do my very best & shoot below my handicap everytime same as yourself, but end result is IM HAPPY TO BE PLAYING GOLF & WHAT WILL B WILL B , lota sick people in hospital would give anything to be out playing golf of any standard , sign the card & forget it mate thats me , all the family healthy & happy & even tho i moan about it, im lucky to still have a job so feck it . golf is a past time , never be more than that so !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I don't think I'll ever be happy with my h'cap, I'll always believe I can be better, it's what drives me. It's not in my nature to accept I can't get any better at anything, golf is no different.
 
I'm happy playing golf and happy chasing my handicap, it's your only real way of judging progress. However some people become way to focused on their handicap, and need to enjoy golf more often for what it isp
 
I always want to better myself and being new to the game it has been nice seeing my scores drop quite quickly.

However I realise that from now on I will probably find it harder to beat my best scores as often & I need to make sure that when I play I should still enjoy it even if I mess up sometimes.
 
I'd love to get back down to Single figures, but I'm realistic, and realise that at 48, I'm hardly likely to threaten Cat1, but it would be nice to perhaps have a couple of seasons off 8/9.
However, I dont bust a gut about it, and rarely get frustrated when things dont happen, it doesnt pay the bills so whats the point.

I know I can play some awesome Golf from time to time, ie my level Par 16 holes 2 weeks ago, including my 1st ever Eagle, so those occasions are what keep me motivated.

A couple of beers on the Club Balcony after a game with mates, watching the dusk settle over the course is simply the best, regardless of how I've played.
 
I'm grumpy cos my h/c is too low :mad:

I'd really like to be playing off 5 or so and then i'd be a happy camper and could just go out and enjoy things a little more. Its too much of a slog off 3
 
Is anyone out there actually just happy to be out playing golf, and what'll be will be?

I'm alot better than I used to be and am enjoying golf more for the time away from the everyday mania. The fact that I'm getting better al the time is simply a bonus
 
Would love to lower my handicap and am trying. I play rounds that are far better than my handicap suggests just not hit one in a comp recently. Take last weekend, 11 points on the front 9 then 24 points on the back. Really suggests that I should be lower than I am.
 
While I would always like to continue improving and reduce the handicap for me its the enjoyment of the game.

If I have a cr*p round I tend not to let it phase me , otherwise I may start to miss out on the enjoyment. I just think to myself if you were that good you would be doing it for a living.
 
My best buddy is playing as much golf as he wants nowadays, on quite possibly the best course anywhere, where the beer is free too, but he was taken from us aged 45.

That puts everything in perspective for me, and I make sure I enjoy every chance I get to play.
 
I fall into the 'want to lower my handicap' brigade too. If I really thought I could not lower my playing handicap, I would give up golf.

I can relate to this, my enthusiasm for the game would seriously diminish if I thought I couldn't get better.
 
My best buddy is playing as much golf as he wants nowadays, on quite possibly the best course anywhere, where the beer is free too, but he was taken from us aged 45.

That puts everything in perspective for me, and I make sure I enjoy every chance I get to play.

does indeed put it into perspective!
 
I often read on here that someone describes themselves as hacking around off 10 or whatever. And that we all want a better handicap, but moan that certain formats seem to prefer higher handicaps.

So are we all just grumpy unsatisfied gits, or over optimistic about our own abilities, or are we just so competitive that we're never happy and could've done better?

Is anyone out there actually just happy to be out playing golf, and what'll be will be?

Sadly, I fall into the 'I could've done better and I want to lower my h'cap ' brigade. Though occasionally I am just happy to be out and what'll be will be.

What a great thread!!

I'd love a lower handicap - I feel a bit embarrassed saying my handicap is 9 considering the length of time I've been playing. Plus, loads of people at my club have told me that I should be off a handicap ranging from 1 to 5!! :rolleyes:

BUT....

I don't practice and I only play once a week so I'm fairly philosophical about my golf. I'll take whatever comes my way on a Sunday morning. If I play well - lovely jubbly - if I don't then no great shakes. I NR'd this weekend - it just wasn't my day. There's always the next time....

I put nothing into golf so it owes me nothing.

I guess I just love being out there....
 
I play Golf.

Yes the intention is to get the handicap as low as possible but there will come a day when it will begin that steady rise to cat3 again....

That's life. I'm not going to give it up just because the handicap is going the wrong way - I play Golf.
 
I used to be a lot lower than I am currently having just got back into the game. Almost feel embarassed with the current handicap and am desperate to get it back down back to cat 1 or very close again asap
 
Perspective is what alot of us need I think. The pros play sub par golf, they practice all day, when not practicing they're in a tournament, so on and so forth. They have people to do everything for them even down to carrying their bag and tell them yardages! This is their job and livleyhood. Its our hobby. We should enjoy ourselves more, now I know that playing pants is not enjoyable but even I'm learning to take the positives out of each round, learn from the bad, I want to improve but not to the detriment of enjoying the GAME.
 
I am similar Fundy, I joined my club after a 6 year lay off and went in straight to 6, over 3 years I went up and touched 10 for a week and am now back down to 8, I wont be happy til its back to 6, anything after that will be an honest bonus but I also know how competitive I am and will still quietly hanker after lower.
 
For me, as I have many years ahead of me. All the big national level tournaments I enter require a certain h/c. Therefore I want to lower it. But if i ever get a h/c in the plus numbers i would pretty much be able to enter anything, so I wouldn't be too bothered about it then.
 
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