How Stressfull Is Golf For You?

[London mike 61]

I was stressed when I first took up the game but a lot of that was due to me not understanding why I made some bad shots and poor course management . But now I have realised that to get a lower handicap and therefore enjoy the game more I have to practice wether I like doing so or not and to concentrate on the short game as long as I've got a reasonable long game. After all it's only a game :cheers:

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I'm stressed now. I didn't get to play as much as I would have liked over Christmas because the weather was awful, the rain is still coming down, only the front nine of the course is Open and with more rain forecast tomorrow Sunday's comp has just been cancelled. The only hope is that the front nine is open on Sunday morning as that looks like being the only break in the rain until the end of next week so hopefully I get to play. If I don't I'll be really stressed

 

[Alex1975]

Get stressed when I don't play golf.... Wife kicks me out the house and makes me play if I dont.

 

[Which tree did that hit]

I'm not competitive at all when it comes to golf, I play purely because I enjoy it, I know I'm rubbish, I accept that, it's just fun.

I do play football and pool competitively though so my frustration is usually directed at those two!

 

[Marshy77]

Stressed?? No, frustrated - hell yes. Even on a terrible round I can pick out the positives. I try to not let it affect me but you can't help but want to play better.

 

[mcbroon]

I had exactly this issue until a few years back, a few bad holes would get me frustrated and I would never recover. Then one day in a comp I double bogeyed the 1st hole and hit my tee shot OOB on the 2nd. I had been playing well in the weeks before and just thought to myself "just forget it and see if you can make buffer". I birdied my 2nd ball on the 2nd for a bogey 6 and ended up shooting 77 (+7) and getting cut 0.6. From that day on I've had absolute faith in my ability regardless of how I start or a few bad holes, my scores have improved and my handicap has dropped. I still have a swear at myself after a bad shot or hole but I leave it all on the previous green and just get on with it.

I had a similar turning point last winter. 5-putted the first for a triple bogey 7 and immediately gave up trying to make a score. Ended up shooting 75 (+6). Now, no matter how much I foul up a hole, or two or even three holes, I know that I can still make a score. I just don't chase after it.

If I make mistakes, or hit bad shots, then sometimes I get a bit narked with myself but it never lasts more than half a minute. I might be a bit annoyed if I miss the buffer but again, it doesn't last. And it certainly doesn't affect the rest of my day or anything.

It not worth getting stressed about golf. However badly I'm playing, I'm always happy to be playing.

 

[shivas irons]

Can I ask.....
Where do you drop your shots?

I think I can honestly say that I drop most of my shots between my ears, ive been 2 over for 9 on a few occasions and then just blown up.It seems to be that when a good score is on I tense up shorten my swing dont think properly and it all goes pear shaped.Its like my mind thinks its comfort zone is in the mid 80's.
For the younger higher handicapers on here you may not feel it now but years of trying to improve without results can be very grating.
I just need to go back and enjoy the game whatever I score.