Lost Interest....?

Alex1975

Alex1975

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I am a little concerned that I have lost interest in playing golf.

I am still practicing every night (until my knee collapsed last night) and still enjoying hitting the ball but I just have absolutely no interest in playing golf. Last time I played before this weekend was many weeks back for a pairs match. On Saturday I got dressed for golf at 11 o'clock but then changed my mind and went and hit some balls in the garden. In the end I forced myself to go to the club at about 3 o'clock and knocked two balls round 9 holes. I made par or bogey with both balls on each hole but just could not have cared less about being there.

I spent most of Friday looking for something golf like to buy and most of the weekend hitting balls.... so its a really strange situation.

I really really hope things change soon, I miss that feeling of excitement about hitting the course and how it feels walking down the first into an adventure.
 
Sounds like you need to stop all this "hitting balls" and just go and play a match or comp instead.

Only you will know why you have got into this situation.
 
I'm falling into a similar state of mind. Just about to play my 4th round in 4 days and the only one I enjoyed was the Open at Silloth yesterday, and that was only because of the great company on the course (and in the bar after).. I feel that I need a break from the game for a week.. My game is getting progressively worse as I just can't concentrate..

Oh well, at least I won't have the scratch cup to worry about anymore after tonight...:D
 
Alex1975 said:
I am a little concerned that I have lost interest in playing golf.

I am still practicing every night (until my knee collapsed last night) and still enjoying hitting the ball but I just have absolutely no interest in playing golf. Last time I played before this weekend was many weeks back for a pairs match. On Saturday I got dressed for golf at 11 o'clock but then changed my mind and went and hit some balls in the garden. In the end I forced myself to go to the club at about 3 o'clock and knocked two balls round 9 holes. I made par or bogey with both balls on each hole but just could not have cared less about being there.

I spent most of Friday looking for something golf like to buy and most of the weekend hitting balls.... so its a really strange situation.

I really really hope things change soon, I miss that feeling of excitement about hitting the course and how it feels walking down the first into an adventure.
Click to expand...

It's just a hobby! If you're not enjoying it, do something else. Then, if you get the urge, go and play.
 
bluewolf said:
I'm falling into a similar state of mind. Just about to play my 4th round in 4 days and the only one I enjoyed was the Open at Silloth yesterday, and that was only because of the great company on the course (and in the bar after).. I feel that I need a break from the game for a week.. My game is getting progressively worse as I just can't concentrate..

Oh well, at least I won't have the scratch cup to worry about anymore after tonight...:D
Click to expand...

Sounds very familiar, although I'm not even playing that much. I got more enjoyment out of walking the dog on the beach with the wife than I did playing yesterday. Retiring from the game has been a big discussion at home for a number of weeks now...
 
Hobbit said:
Sounds very familiar, although I'm not even playing that much. I got more enjoyment out of walking the dog on the beach with the wife than I did playing yesterday. Retiring from the game has been a big discussion at home for a number of weeks now...
Click to expand...

I've thought about it a few times, but the amount of time and effort I've put in over the last 2 years just to come back from injury makes me want to just push through.. Sometimes a rest is all that's needed. Just a few days ignoring the clubs and doing something different..
I've got a round planned with NWJocko at my place on Friday and that is always a good laugh.. After that I might have a week off and head up to the Lakes with the dog..
 
I think most will go through this phase at some point or another. I've gone to the course teed it up and by the 3rd I've picked my ball up and gone home. Take a break for a week now before the major comps kick in, put the clubs away don't touch them, do something else then after a week go to the course and play a round of golf.
 
Get out on the course more instead of hitting ball after ball on a range
 
Perhaps you just need a break from any golf and see how you feel. I'm feeling a bit jaded golf-wise but then I play 5-6 times a week! Took Saturday off and we wandered around Cambridge and I really enjoyed the day. Played yesterday but on the way to the club felt like I couldn't really be bothered which is very unlike me. No play today which is usual so will be interested to see how motivated I am tomorrow morning.

My driver has been misbehaving for weeks and have practiced very hard to try and find the magic again - think I've just overdone it and it's become hard work rather than fun at times.
 
Been through this a few times recently. For me at least, and this is a harsh thing to say, but it is partly down to my playing partners. My group at my old course were close to my age, enjoyed a great deal of banter, a few quid on the round etc and it was good, competitive fun. My current group are a bit older, tend to just play to knock it around outside of comps and whilst they are very nice people in the main, I miss the banter and the competitive edge. There was also a bit of a sour taste left with the one member I fell out with who still plays in the group. Sadly, with the lack of drawn comps and roll ups and with most people in long established weekend groups I sometimes just cannot be bothered at the weekend. It is unfortunate that, at my club in particular, all of the roll ups and good chances to mix it up a bit are during the week with the weekends set aside for comps or team matches.
 
I feel the exact same as yourself! Been practicing a good bit over the last couple of months, have had a couple of lessons and enjoyed working on my game but have no motivation to compete! Have played in two comps, in one of which I lasted 7 holes. Got a team match on wednesday, so hopefully the bug returns!!
 
GB72 said:
Been through this a few times recently. For me at least, and this is a harsh thing to say, but it is partly down to my playing partners. My group at my old course were close to my age, enjoyed a great deal of banter, a few quid on the round etc and it was good, competitive fun. My current group are a bit older, tend to just play to knock it around outside of comps and whilst they are very nice people in the main, I miss the banter and the competitive edge. There was also a bit of a sour taste left with the one member I fell out with who still plays in the group. Sadly, with the lack of drawn comps and roll ups and with most people in long established weekend groups I sometimes just cannot be bothered at the weekend. It is unfortunate that, at my club in particular, all of the roll ups and good chances to mix it up a bit are during the week with the weekends set aside for comps or team matches.
Click to expand...

You saying its my fault Greg lol

Imho Al, its all just part of the mid life crisis haha. Same advice Ive given you in the past for me, play some comps, some matchplay, some different courses etc and hit less balls at home. Try and get the enjoyment you used to get in hitting balls into the short game and putting and spend time there if you have to practise
 
Alex1975 said:
I am a little concerned that I have lost interest in playing golf.

I am still practicing every night (until my knee collapsed last night) and still enjoying hitting the ball but I just have absolutely no interest in playing golf. Last time I played before this weekend was many weeks back for a pairs match. On Saturday I got dressed for golf at 11 o'clock but then changed my mind and went and hit some balls in the garden. In the end I forced myself to go to the club at about 3 o'clock and knocked two balls round 9 holes. I made par or bogey with both balls on each hole but just could not have cared less about being there.

I spent most of Friday looking for something golf like to buy and most of the weekend hitting balls.... so its a really strange situation.

I really really hope things change soon, I miss that feeling of excitement about hitting the course and how it feels walking down the first into an adventure.
Click to expand...

glad its not just me.

I've played since I was a teenager- Saturday was a beautiful day, roll up beckoned and I just could not be bothered with a 3hr 45 mins bounce game with 'possible' strangers

I'm on ebay most days looking to buy, like the range as its satisfying and when finished my car is 20 yds away and home 2 minutes.

I do however like summer evening golf for a few holes (when summer appears as I've not done that either this year)

I'm loathe to give up membership as I've paid all my life and recently paid a £2000 entrance fee to a new club.

I'm hoping this will pass especially when the UK tour and summer gets into full swing
 
There's a solid trend in the posts here that shouldn't be ignored.

If you are only playing to win or improve then you are always going to go through blue periods when expectations or capability are reset.

The more you play and practice the more you expect to improve either capability or consistency - but it simply doesn't work like that (and that's before the negative influence that increased expectation will have on your play!).

Personally I'm trying to keep things down at 3/4 events a week - which with over 30 club matches to play I'm pretty much locked into 2 club matches a week and a mixture of club events, invitationals, and the occasional competition .... the winter diet of social golf/roll ups/swindles etc is long gone by May.
There are certainly times I don't look forward to heading off for yet another match (minimum 8 hours door to door) or event but there's nearly always something to enjoy about the day when it gets going. If the enjoyment parameter was based on playing my best all the time I would have given up long ago 😂
 
I think my issues are slightly different in that playing golf had/has become a bit 'routine'. Turn up at the club on the same day at the same time to play golf with the same people be it in a medal or a friendly knockabout all becomes a bit, well, 'samey'. Not alot that I can do about it with the set ups at the clubs near me and I have ofset that with playing with a couple of my old group over at Stapleford Park every few weeks. My ideal would be a club that mixes it up a bit.
 
OP: Don't go anywhere near a bike shop while you are in this vulnerable state, or we could lose another golfer to the MAMILs! Seriously, I get a bit like this during the winter due to hitting balls rather than playing. Remedy is to cut back on the practice and play. Failing that, take a week off.
 
fundy said:
You saying its my fault Greg lol

Imho Al, its all just part of the mid life crisis haha. Same advice Ive given you in the past for me, play some comps, some matchplay, some different courses etc and hit less balls at home. Try and get the enjoyment you used to get in hitting balls into the short game and putting and spend time there if you have to practise
Click to expand...

No playing with you wanted me to give up for good and not just take a break :)
 
Get yourself around some courses you've not played before. New scenery, new challenge, usually does it for me.
 
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