How serious do you take your golf

[need_my_wedge]

Too seriously sometimes, especially in comps where I'm just trying to get cut. Hasn't worked out well this year at all, am back a full 1.0.....

Playing in a knock or a roll up is a different kettle of fish, tend to not worry about those at all, just enjoy the golf, and invariably perform a lot better than I do in the comps.. I know I should keep the same mindset in the comps, but I just want that cut.... Interesting to see that many of the low handicappers don't seem to take it too seriously....

Guess that means a 9 for me.

 

[Slab]

Serious enough that I plan to play golf (insofar as making sure I have everything I need for that game) and want to do PB score every time, so say about a 7

Played with a 9 h/cap last week who finds the 'club to ball' part of the game easy but is so ill-prepared in terms of balls, tee's gloves, hats etc that I couldn't rate him as a serious golfer

 

[jp15g08]

I have recently started playing golf again after 4 years so I'm taking it pretty seriously (7-8) as I want to bring my handicap down. I'm also getting lesson therefore feel that I must improve on each outing.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

For me its about a 1 or 2 - whilst i like scoring well and enjoy playing well and feel chuffed when i do play well

Its not my real aim in golf - as a few on here will testify - for me its all about the enjoyment of playing the game with great people and having a real good laugh both on the course and after.

I have taken my previous sports too seriously and whilst reached high levels prob didnt enjoy it as much as i do golf.

Im loving it at the moment and already cant wait for the various meets arranged for next year

 

[dewsweeper]

Surprised and pleased so many stress the social side of golf.
I am definately on the "back nine" of my golfing career but remember being too uptight about my game when I first became a club member 30 odd years ago.
I struggle now with a very stiff back and my game has gone into orbit but I still look forward to every game, more for the craic and the pot of tea for 4, l am a wrinklie after all.
Dewsweeper

 

[Pin-seeker]

Probably a 2/3. I like to play to the best of my ability,but as I don't play comps or have an official H/C I don't take it too serious.
We usually play £1 a man nearest pin on par 3s.
£5 a man for the winning score.
That's about as serious as it gets.

 

[guest100718]

If you join a club play in comps and maintain a handicap then you are taking it seriously.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Probably 7. I always want to score well and no matter how much I enjoy the day/company, not playing well takes the edge off of the day. I always make sure my clubs and shoes are cleaned after every round and will make sure everything I need is ready the night before I play. I can't really give myself more than 7 as I rarely practice any more.

 

[User20205]

7

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Thread tidied up

 

[Snelly]

2 at best. Having played for so long and historically, had some success, I really don't mind too much if I am good or rubbish on a given day. Plus the limited amount of golf I play means that I cannot get too stressed about performance as it is difficult to play to my current society handicap (1) anyway without regular golf.

As an example, in May, I had a poor round this year at Hankley Common in an event I have played in for the last 12 years. A mate said aren't you disappointed? I said no, my name is on the trophy twice already so I couldn't care less. It was a gorgeous late Spring day, the company was good, the course was magnificent, I saw several Goldcrests and a Dartford Warbler, three Roebucks made an appearance, two beautiful girls on horses galloped past, lunch was a delight and they had Hogs Back TEA on draft. It was blissful. The fact that I missed a 1 foot birdie putt on the 7th was academic.

All that said, if I have a bad day and am playing with a partner then I do feel bad for letting them down and I would want to take the game more seriously then. 5/10 I would say.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

In terms of maximizing the time I have (2 x 30 mins practice, 18 holes hopefully in a week) I'd score myself a 8 or 9. Doesn't preclude me from enjoying the social side, which I do, and being a pleasant playing partner whilst trying to eke out the very best from a round. In the general context of my (luckily) busy life, there's plenty of things that come in the pecking order WAY above golf.

The very fact we take the time to post online about our golfing experiences, all the ups and downs, indicates that we take it seriously to a degree. There does seem to be a good sense of balance and perspective however which is to folks credit. Golf will drive you nuts if this is not maintained methinks.

 

[Tiger]

My golf enjoyment equation is:

Company x 4 iron launch angle
__________________________________

Number of balls used

Generally speaking if I'm having a good laugh, getting a good strike with my long irons and complete my round with the same ball I started with I'm a very happy bunny

So based on the original question I'd guess about 3 out of 10

 

[Rooter]

I stand on the first tee box with a 10, then i hit my first drive (usually right, toward the practice green) and already have slipped to an 8.

Depending on how the 2nd hole goes, very short par 4 which is an eagle opportunity, most times a birdie opp, but it can bite you and leave you with double or worse. If i play that hole well, it stays at 7-8 if i ruin my card early, its dropped to sub 5 and i just enjoy the bants.

 

[CMAC]

2 at best. Having played for so long and historically, had some success, I really don't mind too much if I am good or rubbish on a given day. Plus the limited amount of golf I play means that I cannot get too stressed about performance as it is difficult to play to my current society handicap (1) anyway without regular golf.

As an example, in May, I had a poor round this year at Hankley Common in an event I have played in for the last 12 years. A mate said aren't you disappointed? I said no, my name is on the trophy twice already so I couldn't care less. It was a gorgeous late Spring day, the company was good, the course was magnificent, I saw several Goldcrests and a Dartford Warbler, three Roebucks made an appearance, two beautiful girls on horses galloped past, lunch was a delight and they had Hogs Back TEA on draft. It was blissful. The fact that I missed a 1 foot birdie putt on the 7th was academic.

All that said, if I have a bad day and am playing with a partner then I do feel bad for letting them down and I would want to take the game more seriously then. 5/10 I would say.

#humblebrag post of the month

 

[Tongo]

7

Reasonably serious. I've calmed down in recent years, have learnt to accept bad shots etc. But i'm still a little peeved if i've not played well or ruined a decent chance of shooting my handicap.

 

[Curls]

10.

God help me.

That's not to say I don't enjoy the company, I love it, it's the most enjoyable and long-lasting thing about golf for me, its lovely to feel part of a club and have friends there and even just folk you know to say a friendly hello to. There should be more places like that in the world. I love the being outdoors and getting a walk in and excitement of match play etc etc. Doesn't make it any less than 10.

Every time I tee it up I want to play well and score well and ultimately win the comp I'm in. When I play in our knock out I'm a very jovial pleasant opponent, but inside I'm trying my very hardest to beat you into the ground.

No offense. I just love healthy competition and sportsmanship. No idea if I'll always feel this way I'm only playing a few years.

 

[Val]

4 - I play a lot, I want my handicap down but if it doesn't come down then I'll live, I've also no desire to practice.

Firstly I play because I enjoy it and don't put pressure on myself as that would make it less enjoyable

 

[One Planer]

On a scale of 1-to-10...





... A healthy 13

 

[GB72]

In all honesty, not that seriously. I practice very infrequently, I only get to play once or twice a week and I invariably have a hangover on the first tee. I am not one for a long warm up (or any warm up most weeks) and I go out there and do the best with the swing that I have on any given day. Golf is there purely for fun, the get out in the fresh air and relax for a few hours and, in part, to scratch the itch left when I had to stop playing rugby. My handicap is already lower than I thought it ever would be, I really do not have the time to put in the effort to push for single figures and so golf will remain a social activity, a hobby, a relaxation that, on a good day, I can be competitive at.