Is there anyone here who has actually given up?

[JustOne]

I quit for 7yrs and didn't miss it. Currently having a break but will likely play 6/7 rounds this year (2 so far). Injury has really done me in for the past 4½yrs, I'm made of very soft play-doh

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Not given up but cut back massively. Do a lot of cycling these days which I really enjoy. If I don't get my short game back soon I probably will pack up for good.

 

[bluewolf]

Not given up but cut back massively. Do a lot of cycling these days which I really enjoy. If I don't get my short game back soon I probably will pack up for good.

Strangely enough, it's the cycling that's got my attention at the moment. Nothing better than a MTB trail or 30 miles through the lakes on the road bike.

 

[Smiffy]

Smiffy quit a while ago, but I'm not sure how much fun he's had since!

Having great fun thanks Simon!
Have played twice this year (Blackmoor & Hayling) and enjoyed both games. Little "ring rusty" at first but it soon clicked back into place. I most probably enjoyed it more because it was a "rare treat". Bit like steak. I love a nice steak but would get fed up eating it every night.
Have got Bearwood Lakes lined up for Sunday 15th and Cooden in July. Then off to Gainsborough in August for a week-end away. Really looking forward to those, but other than a return to Bearwood early in August I've got nothing else planned other than fishing. Off to France at the end of this month with my daughter, my best mate and his nephew for a weeks carp fishing at a lovely lake down in the Mayenne region, about a 5 hour drive from Calais. Can't come quick enough.

 

[davidy233]

Never actually quit but I only played a few rounds each year between 2005 when I started doing sports photography and 2013, that stopped me playing on Saturdays and Sunday mornings, Can't say I missed it at the time. Four days golfing with the missus (who has always played twice a week) in Portugal last September got me back into it big time.

Always said I didn't have the time but, although I'm still always busy, decided to make time and have played at least once a week since September - in fact there's rarely a day when I don't hit some balls - loving my golf at the moment.

 

[need_my_wedge]

I gave up for about 10 years. Not because I was playing badly or hated the game, but circumstances and life took over meaning that I didn't have room for golf. During that time I never really gave golf much thought and I don't remember really missing it. About 6 or 7 years ago I suddenly had the urge to play again, had some time available and dived back in. Soon I found I was playing 3 or 4 times a week, albeit quite badly and nowhere near the level I was playing 10 years previous. As a result I found myself getting quite irate on the course at times because it seemed I'd never played the game before, which after 10 years is probably close to true...... I did think about jacking it again, but despite the bad rounds there was always a feeling that I wanted to go out and try again. I joined a club, and 7 years on, I'm still not quite back to where I was, but, I don't get irate on the course anymore (well not often), I know I'm not going to win much, or come down much further handicap wise so I just enjoy being out on the course playing the game. Couldn't give up if I tried, the only way I will quit now is through lack of finance, injury or ill health.

Oh yeah, I now realize how much I did miss those 10 years, and wished I'd found a way to keep playing......

 

[dufferman]

My Dad looks like he is about to. He's getting worse rather than better, he's tried 100 things to improve, including not caring about his scores, but he can't enjoy a game where 125 odd shots is the norm. Shame, but I imagine a few weeks off and he'll be back with a new club to improve with

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I thought you said you gave up for some time when you had a 4 handicap and came back to the game with an 18 handicap.

When I gave up my handicap had gone up to 11 through not entering any competitions. When I started at Blackmoor again years later they generously let me play off 11 again.

Indeed I did. However since coming back to it again, it has become an all consuming passion to get back to single figures. I am a golfaholic and just have to get some kind of daily fix, either playing practicing or just ruminating about it on here. Can't see me giving up again anytime I'm still capable of playing the game physically (mentally arguably went years ago!)

 

[Hobbit]

I gave up, or was distracted, for a few years when I found out about beer and women and went off to uni. Still drink the beer and returned to golf... I guess the wife is in 3rd place.

Also had a few months off, about 30yrs ago, when I developed an horrendous slice. Had 2 months totally away from the game, then a month at the range a couple of nights a week - stayed away from the course. The slice was gone.

 

[19thagain]

I was playing in the club championship with a four handicapper as one of my playing partners.

We came to the uphill, 180yard, par three 16th - he was circa 4 over at that point- and he hit the green and span off the putting surface.

We walked to the hole and he lifted his ball, handed over the card he was marking, said he was walking in and do either of you want my clubs or bag or shoes etc. We treated this as a joke but by the time we came into the clubhouse he had offloaded all his gear!

At no time did his tone or body language infer annoyance with his game and this is maybe why I remember it so well.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I almost stopped for 8 yrs - played only once or twice a year. Young family, new job, moved house, no time, busy, busy, busy. Didn't really miss it to be honest. Only started again as my wife thought it would be good idea for me to join a club with my lad (then age 11).

 

[chris661]

I started doing a degree last September and have been kinda forced to give up as from then until May I am just flat out with course work etc. That tied into having 4 horses and a 6 year old girl meant something had to give and it was golf. I am beginning to think about renewing my sub but for effectively three months of the year cant really justify it. I haven't played a game since October but have hit some balls (although not many!). I am looking at getting a few games in over the summer to keep me happy then heading to the Irish meet in July as well. After that its back to course work and 18 hour days come September though

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Strangely enough, it's the cycling that's got my attention at the moment. Nothing better than a MTB trail or 30 miles through the lakes on the road bike.

I'm a road bike man, currently my longest ride is 73 miles with the aim of doing a 100 mile sportive sometime in the near future, maybe this year. Really enjoy the atmosphere of a sportive and cycled with some really nice people.

 

[jack1]

I was playing in the club championship with a four handicapper as one of my playing partners.

We came to the uphill, 180yard, par three 16th - he was circa 4 over at that point- and he hit the green and span off the putting surface.

We walked to the hole and he lifted his ball, handed over the card he was marking, said he was walking in and do either of you want my clubs or bag or shoes etc. We treated this as a joke but by the time we came into the clubhouse he had offloaded all his gear!

At no time did his tone or body language infer annoyance with his game and this is maybe why I remember it so well.

Excellent! I wonder where he is now? And whether he has any regrets? Probably not doing it sooner i would bet.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I stopped playing in competitions 3 years ago and stopped playing after 55 years this winter.
My last medal round was an 86 with about 12 pars on the trot in the middle section.
There was no average shots with me, they were either very good or very poor. Chipping yips did not help either.

I am pretty active and do voluntary gardening at a school and help refurbishing an old Victorian conservatory.
I also walk a fair bit, nothing over 10 miles now though.
Recently joined the village lawn bowls club and I think I will enjoy playing.

Not missing golf in the slightest, still got the clubs and have promised myself a game if I feel like it.

 

[Imurg]

I had to give up for a year 10 years ago due to shattering my ankle.... Totally enforced lay-off and couldn't wait to start playing again.
Can't ever see me wanting to stop.

 

[User 105]

I came close a few times then in Jan this year I actually quit.

Everything about the game annoyed me, my game was getting worse, lessons that didn't help, spraying it all over the shop on the range, slow play, crap weather, bunkers with no sand etc etc. Pretty much anything would set me off.

I wasn't enjoying playing and I probably wasn't the best company on the course either.

After a couple of months I started to remember why I used to love the game and it really helped me get things into perspective so I started playing again. Glad I kept hold of my kit .

I've stopped having lessons, I only go to the range occasionally (I don't practice, I hit balls for fun like I used to, because I like hitting balls) and I don't take it so seriously. It's supposed to be fun, not a chore.

Now I actually have fun when I'm playing, stupid things don't annoy me anymore. i'm striking the ball way better since stopping having lessons and my scores are starting to get back to where they were a couple of years ago.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

I dont mean think or talk about it but actually put themselves out of the misery? The insanity? The wasting of ones life?
Please speak to me someone who has actually walked away and then said, great, that was the right decision, i have passed my addiction and can now enjoy life again?

Yep, I quit about 4 weeks ago, hadnt been having fun on course for quite a while, on the day I stopped I really hadn't wanted to play, was ahead of my fellow competitors score wise but in my mind i hadn't hit a decent shot in 9 holes, soldiered on to the 15th, hit my tee shot, thanked my PP's and said thats my lot. Resigned my membership that afternoon (after 20+ years as a member) and havnt looked at a club since.

I have committed to 2 charity events later this year so will play in those.

After 4 weeks do I miss golf ? - in truth I think I do, however untill I really feel the need to play again i shall stay away, who knows maybe the bug will bite again very soon and I will develop the ability to laugh at my shots/scores instead of letting them anger me.

Happy golf to all.

 

[big g]

Yup me. 2o years due to degenerate disk disease in back. Went on a 20 yr bender. Just taking it up again and lovin it lovin it

 

[Oddsocks]

Between 94 and now I've given up three or four times :rofl:

Currently playing off the lowest I've even been