Bloody hell
The old fart talking sense
That new job, it's turned him.
He's almost human again.
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PGA Pro Q+A: Ask Our Expert For Advice On Improving Your Golf Game ⛳
On the verge of giving up again
- Thread starter HomerJSimpson
- Start date
Bloody hell
The old fart talking sense
That new job, it's turned him.
He's almost human again.
LanDog
Journeyman Pro
Isn't going through bad patches the beauty of golf you now have a chance to re-invent yourself, but maybe just cool yourself for a while and play for fun, friendly matches can help just as much as club competitions if you are worried about what others are thinking just say that you are changing your swing
Leftie
Tour Winner
Homer, my old mucker.
You need to re-assess WHY you play golf.
Reading your OP, I get the impression that you are doing everything you can to reduce your handicap rather than to make your game more enjoyable.
Whether or not I practice, I'm still rubbish. But the practice helps improve the rubbish a bit. The main thing for me is that I ENJOY my golf - being out for a nice walk in the fresh air and (usually) in pleasant company. OK I'm competitive and want to win but, if I don't, it doesn't matter. It's not the end of the world. Win or lose, handicap increasing or decreasing, I'm out there to enjoy myself and not beat myself up over bad shots.
Get out there and enjoy it mate. Life's too short and we only come this way once.
Check out my sig. The older you get, the truer it becomes.
You need to re-assess WHY you play golf.
Reading your OP, I get the impression that you are doing everything you can to reduce your handicap rather than to make your game more enjoyable.
Whether or not I practice, I'm still rubbish. But the practice helps improve the rubbish a bit. The main thing for me is that I ENJOY my golf - being out for a nice walk in the fresh air and (usually) in pleasant company. OK I'm competitive and want to win but, if I don't, it doesn't matter. It's not the end of the world. Win or lose, handicap increasing or decreasing, I'm out there to enjoy myself and not beat myself up over bad shots.
Get out there and enjoy it mate. Life's too short and we only come this way once.
Check out my sig. The older you get, the truer it becomes.
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
There is a HUGE amount of talk on here about reducing your handicaps, it seems to be what everyone strives for, more than anything else at all. Now, that may not be the actual case, but thats how it comes across when reading it. It wouldnt be unusual to see something like "played crap today, but got my handicap down".. WHY?
Why is that the be all and end all? (and again, thats just how it comes across as a newbie on here).
I took the game up recently and really enjoy it. Yes its hard and can quite often be fricking annoying and frustrating, but I dont really care what my handicap is. I play to play the game and become better and because I enjoy it. I dont play to reduce my handicap!
I want to play better each time, and whilst this may not be possible, as long as I gradually improve I will be happy. I want to beat the people im playing with, whether thats friends or club members in comp's or friendly rounds.
I fully appreciate that my handicap will come down as I get better, but thats a byproduct of getting better. I dont want a low handicap for the sake of having a low handicap. I want to get better at the game, and the more i play, the better i will become. My handicap will probably come down too, but thats just what happens, i'm not going to beat myself up if I dont get a "cut". I dont play for anyone else, I play for myself.
Maybe start looking at it a little more like that? Who cares if youre a 12 or 13 handicap? I dont. So just play for the enjoyment and if you get better, your handicap will drop anyway.
Relax and enjoy, it's the only way to play
Why is that the be all and end all? (and again, thats just how it comes across as a newbie on here).
I took the game up recently and really enjoy it. Yes its hard and can quite often be fricking annoying and frustrating, but I dont really care what my handicap is. I play to play the game and become better and because I enjoy it. I dont play to reduce my handicap!
I want to play better each time, and whilst this may not be possible, as long as I gradually improve I will be happy. I want to beat the people im playing with, whether thats friends or club members in comp's or friendly rounds.
I fully appreciate that my handicap will come down as I get better, but thats a byproduct of getting better. I dont want a low handicap for the sake of having a low handicap. I want to get better at the game, and the more i play, the better i will become. My handicap will probably come down too, but thats just what happens, i'm not going to beat myself up if I dont get a "cut". I dont play for anyone else, I play for myself.
Maybe start looking at it a little more like that? Who cares if youre a 12 or 13 handicap? I dont. So just play for the enjoyment and if you get better, your handicap will drop anyway.
Relax and enjoy, it's the only way to play
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
That's good, because the one sure thing in golf is that you don't get a single figure h'cap if you're not good enough
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
That's good, because the one sure thing in golf is that you don't get a single figure h'cap if you're not good enough
Exactly, so dont worry about it. If youre good enough you'll get there
Bigfoot
Tour Rookie
I'd love to be bad at present. I'm only going to be able to do some putting for the next couple of weeks.
Make the most of your health and think of those who can't even get out and that will make it easier to enjoy. I used to beat myself up over bad shots but now laugh if I play a bad one.
I have developed some very deep creases in my face now !!
Make the most of your health and think of those who can't even get out and that will make it easier to enjoy. I used to beat myself up over bad shots but now laugh if I play a bad one.
I have developed some very deep creases in my face now !!
Andy
Tour Winner
Go out and get wrecked. Forget the blood sugar issues. Get ur hole and enjoy it.
Start a fresh and live life to enjoy it. Lighten up ffs wrg to golf.
Andy
Start a fresh and live life to enjoy it. Lighten up ffs wrg to golf.
Andy
colint
Tour Rookie
Homer if golf made me as miserable as it makes you I'd just stop, you seem to only play to try and reduce your handicap, not just for the enjoyment that comes from playing. I play off a similar handicap as you, and like you I can play better than my handicap or much much worse. N the bad days I just relax and enjoy being out and the company of my playing partners. If you can't do that and are going to be continually beating yourself up after every bad hole then what's the point ?
OK lets clear a few things up. Yes there was a lot of practice in the blog diary this week due fundamentally to a busy schedule and knowing I'd feel too tired to play well if I went out but wanting to do something constructive rather than going home and watching dross on the TV. In fact on Monday I only putted for 10 minutes and played a few holes as they had hollow tined the putting green so putting was a waste of time.
As for not enjoying it, its ridiculous. I think you only need to speak to Mike, HTL or any of the others that have seen my creativty at making double bogey from a birdie position to know I get frustrated but NEVER become one of those petulant golfers we all get drawn with sometimes. I always encourage my partners and believe it or not always try and grind whatever remnant of a score from the ashes I can.
The point is I can't make a score the work I've put in deserves. Golf is a passion but only in the same way as say angling is for others and makes them get up at 3.00am to spend all day on the bank in the sometimes vain hope of getting a decent catch. If I don't practice I'm not good enough to not play for a few weeks, turn up and play even half decently. I've constructed a swing that needs regular maintenance to make it even tick over. That's the way it is and I accept that I need to hit balls to keep it at the level it's at. It's the getting better, or just for once being competitive I'm after. For 14 holes yesterday was probably the first time in comps in well over 6 months that I was close to playing or beating my handicap.
It's nothing to do with trying too hard. I scored the same number of points today as I did yesterday and was better off after three holes. I then lost a ball on 4 from 90 yards, had a wobble but played the back nine more consistantly. I hit the ball as well and more consistent than yesterday with no improvement. Therein is my big issue.
Homer,I aint getting at you honestly but have you ever thought that you are just not talented/good enough to play off single figures and in reality a handicap of say 15 is where your skills are at?
I can't play off 1,did do for about 3 weeks,have played off 2 for a long time and I am currently 3 but I am playing like a *** mostly due in my opinion to not wanting to play as often as I did say 2 years back as I now work at a golf club so prefer to spend more of my off time away from golf now.If I were to go to 4 I know I would cause some damage with that handicap though.
You can only piss with the cock you have.
I can't play off 1,did do for about 3 weeks,have played off 2 for a long time and I am currently 3 but I am playing like a *** mostly due in my opinion to not wanting to play as often as I did say 2 years back as I now work at a golf club so prefer to spend more of my off time away from golf now.If I were to go to 4 I know I would cause some damage with that handicap though.
You can only piss with the cock you have.
richart
Major Champion
Sorry i am confused. Are you saying you do enjoy playing, because if so, why are you talking of giving up.
To be honest there is nothing in the above to suggest you are enjoying the game. That is all about good sportsmanship.
kid2
Money List Winner
Homer im not agreeing with Dodger here...
But that's a priceless phrase
quinn
Q-School Graduate
in the few games ive had this year have played like a total t**t , but have still had a laugh and enjoyed them, even won the beers with a 20 footer ( ish) on the 18th last week, ok i know i can play better and probably will after a few more lessons but until then il enjoy the good shots and forget the bad ones.Really pleased that my level of crapness has peaked perfectly just before the luton game next week
on the 18th last week, ok i know i can play better and probably will after a few more lessons but until then il enjoy the good shots and forget the bad ones.Really pleased that my level of crapness has peaked perfectly just before the luton game next week 
jammydodger
Tour Winner
Dodgers' way with words usually gets to the heart of the matter a lot faster than we do. The best bit of advice has been delivered it's time to end the thread right now.
I always enjoy the anticipation that this might be the day. I enjoy the playing as well up until the point every single round then implodes. It can't all be down to playing badly. It's about the feeling of not getting ANY reward for the effort. The trouble is the implosion will come at any point. Before anyone says you're a beaten man before you start - DON'T it isn't the case. I started well yesterday, was even quicker out the blocks today and in both rounds going along in a comfort zone. It is the fact I can't stop imploding - it kills the round from a competitive perspective and once I stop the bleeding, normal service is resumed and I hit it well again.
That is what I'm getting at. I'm utterly at the end of the road in terms of frustration that I can't score. Social rounds at the weekends are the same so it isn't about wilting under pressure or worrying about handicap cuts. I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy the game but I can't endure or tolerate not playing ANY round with a level of consistency. I'd be happy to shoot 90 every time at the moment and play 18 holes a) with the same ball and b) with a modicum of comfort and without any meltdown.
NWJocko
Tour Winner
Do you think you're using the/a "wrong" wwing if you need so much time just to hang onto it by your fingernails?
Not trying to be nasty but the "piss with the cock u have" is spot on. Is the swing you need to maintain unnatural so to speak?
Ever thought of just swinging without any thoughts or maintenance and see what happens?
Not trying to be nasty but the "piss with the cock u have" is spot on. Is the swing you need to maintain unnatural so to speak?
Ever thought of just swinging without any thoughts or maintenance and see what happens?
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
I'm aware of the 'Dodger / Homer' history, but Dodger makes a lot of sense in his last post. A lot of us have aspirations in this game, and just sometimes, well everytime, we hit hit our own ceiling. Be that off 24 or 4.
The secret is to realise that ceiling, and enjoy what you have got.
I spent years becoming good at what I do on yachts, but for many different reasons I got as good as I was going to get. With the golf, personally, I feel that I could of got as good as Dodger on here, but I know that I started to late.
No one's judging you by your h'cap Homer. Perhaps though, just by your own reaction to your own game. I doubt if there is truly one person on here that is happy with their game or h'cap. It's just how we react to our own games that makes us what we are, or at least perceived to be.
The secret is to realise that ceiling, and enjoy what you have got.
I spent years becoming good at what I do on yachts, but for many different reasons I got as good as I was going to get. With the golf, personally, I feel that I could of got as good as Dodger on here, but I know that I started to late.
No one's judging you by your h'cap Homer. Perhaps though, just by your own reaction to your own game. I doubt if there is truly one person on here that is happy with their game or h'cap. It's just how we react to our own games that makes us what we are, or at least perceived to be.
richart
Major Champion
I haven't shot a competitive round in the buffer zone,let alone to handicap, since last year. 20 stableford points yesterday was my nadir. Every time i play my shoulder kills me the next day, but for some reason i can't wait to play again.
Years ago i didn't get this feeling and i gave up. If the enjoyment doesn't out weigh the pain and frustration there is only one option.
Years ago i didn't get this feeling and i gave up. If the enjoyment doesn't out weigh the pain and frustration there is only one option.
Robobum
Money List Winner
Why oh why does everyone get sucked in by this rubbish which seems to come on (at least) a monthly basis.
If you mean it, just give up. I still struggle to believe that anyone can go from being pro to hitting it like a tit which you (comprehensively) describe on a regular basis. So perhaps you aren't designed for golf?! Instead of torturing yourself (and everyone else) JACK IT IN.
You remind me of a story an old mate told me..never be scared of anyone who keeps on threatening to hit you as they are all talk, if they are really going to smash they'll do it without the intro!!
Put up or shut up, or do what the rest of us do and play for the fun if it
If you mean it, just give up. I still struggle to believe that anyone can go from being pro to hitting it like a tit which you (comprehensively) describe on a regular basis. So perhaps you aren't designed for golf?! Instead of torturing yourself (and everyone else) JACK IT IN.
You remind me of a story an old mate told me..never be scared of anyone who keeps on threatening to hit you as they are all talk, if they are really going to smash they'll do it without the intro!!
Put up or shut up, or do what the rest of us do and play for the fun if it
