Play for fun or to win

[jim8flog]

Your club comp has a prize of say somewhere near £75,

Do you play for a bit of fun or do you play to win?

 

[fundy]

why cant you do both?

 

[HampshireHog]

Play to win, the money is of no consequence. Regardless of winning you should be having fun as an amateur or what is the point?

 

[MendieGK]

‘Taking part is a losers attitude’

 

[Curls]

Both, but there’s nothing more fun than playing great for a big win ?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I aim to play as low as I can, and to get my handicap down. Hopefully if I do that, I have a chance of winning as well.
Also, as it’s my hobby, I try to enjoy it, whilst trying to do my best!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I always play to win. Lose with good grace and if you should be lucky enough to win, do it with humility.

I always try and shoot as low as I can whether that's a monthly medal, club major or casual knock at the weekends or on my own and good bad or indifferent I try to enjoy it

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Fun.

 

[IanM]

It's more fun if you win!!

 

[Sats]

Both for me, I love golf but who doesn't like winning.

 

[Orikoru]

I don't really see the difference? Whenever I play golf I want to get the best score I can, which fulfils both aims doesn't it?

 

[Ethan]

I play to get my handicap down. If I won a comp or get a voucher on the way, great, but I'd rather come third in a comp where I got cut 0.8 (in old money) than win one where I got cut 0.4.

 

[Imurg]

I don't really see the difference? Whenever I play golf I want to get the best score I can, which fulfils both aims doesn't it?

Not necessarily
To get your best score you may have to play conservatively, not going for shots, playing safe.
Good for scoring, not always good fun though..

 

[Orikoru]

Not necessarily
To get your best score you may have to play conservatively, not going for shots, playing safe.
Good for scoring, not always good fun though..

That's how I play all the time to be honest. So no distinction for me. I only ever 'go for' a shot if I think there's like a 90% chance of me pulling it off. That goes for comps or non-comp. For me just playing well and getting a good score is fun, I don't need to be smashing driver off the deck over a lake and whatnot.

 

[patricks148]

why cant you do both?

this

 

[TheJezster]

Winning isn't the main reason to play.
It's the only reason..

?

 

[hovis]

Not necessarily
To get your best score you may have to play conservatively, not going for shots, playing safe.
Good for scoring, not always good fun though..

I'm not sure about this one. I always play to score my best. Being in a comp wouldn't make me change my strategy.
Apart from match play that is

 

[ScienceBoy]

Golf is strange, you can shoot a winning score but if a high handicapper has a blinding round your 40+ points won’t win.

Just get out there, play your game plan, have fun and the rest will take care of itself, if you win you know you were the best golfer against their handicap that day.

Of course all of the above is irrelevant if it’s scratch or matchplay. Except the game plan of course.

 

[pmgolfer99]

Generally play better the more I am enjoying it and not thinking of putting together a score!

 

[louise_a]

I always go out with the hope of beating my handicap, I may not win even if I do, but on the other hand I may not beat my handicap but may still win