Playing for fun?

[hovis]

Ok, so your standing on the 18th tee 8 shots below your handicap when you duck hook one ob. Then you reload and slice it into a lake. Can someone explain how this is fun!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

All about enjoyment for me - lots of fun in society matches as well

 

[Jack_bfc]

Ok, so your standing on the 18th tee 8 shots below your handicap when you duck hook one ob. Then you reload and slice it into a lake. Can someone explain how this is fun!!!!!

I never know how many I am Under/over or points on the 18th tee as I don't check until I finish. I know approx obviously but that's all..

 

[3565]

Well since I've been called on this forum a Pro in an Amateur body........... It's all serious for me...........

 

[London mike 61]

I enjoy playing and I enjoy the challenge of learning to play better, I don't need the edge that some people need to play in comps but I understand the feeling they would get from testing their ability in a competitive way.

There have been times when learning to play that I thought to myself ; am I enjoying this when I'm playing with people better than me and my game is so poor in comparison? The answer is always the same, everyone has to start some where and learn as they go and improve gradually so my game will improve over time .

If one day I don't enjoy the fresh air and banter and the so so golf then I will pack it in and find something else to do.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Sort of. I can only enjoy the game if playing well...I don't see any fun whatsoever in going out and playing badly. Because of this..I hate the game at the moment!!

 

[LIG]

Three questions I asked myself when I was mentally beating myself up about how I played.
1 Do I play as a hobby? Yes.
2 Will I ever turn pro? No
3 Do I go out to have fun?
This was the critical question for me as if I play for fun then why on earth am I crucifying myself ever time I have a bad shot/hole/round.
Now I only play for fun whether it be a bounce game, a club comp or even a team match. Don't get me wrong I still want to be as competitive as I can and to try my best to win but most of all I go out and have fun. It's also improved my scores as I now put far less pressure on myself.

Only asked myself question three :lol: but my answer was exactly the same - especially the last sentence. :thup:

 

[gripitripit]

A comment on another thread mentioned that people shouldn't be playing golf for fun, which had me thinking; am I the only one who plays for fun?

As I don't have an offical HC and not a member of a club I only play for fun. I might join a club in a bout 10 years when my boy is 15/16 so we could join together or if he not interested in the game join alone.

 

[Hacker Khan]

What a load of codswollop. I though there may be something in this thinking thing but not now.
I play every game be it with mates or a comp, for fun/enjoyment call it what you will. But also strive to play each shot to the best of my ability.

I may not have explained it very well. The thinking is that some people do not properly focus on what they are trying to achieve when playing a game. There are basically 3 modes, 1 is achievement/scores, one is fun and one is trying things out. And the theory goes that if you start with one mindset (usually achievement) then switch to trying things out and may be just playing purely for fun then this will not improve your game and lower your scores, which is what the book is all about.

In a comp I would argue very few people go into it just thinking 'I will have some fun and what I achieve is completely irrelevant', everyone will start wanting to achieve and shoot a low score. The problem arises if people then switch into 'fun mode' if things are not going too well, or they just lose concentration.

Also it is not the case as if your primary aim is not just to have fun but achievement, then it means you have to take it deadly seriously, sulk if you hit a bad shot, spend 5 minutes lining up every put and generally become the playing partner from hell. It is more the overall focus of the round, not individual behaviour on the course. And if you happen to shoot below your handicap focussing on achieving something on every shot then I am willing to bet you will have found the round 'fun'.

This resonated a lot with me as like others on here I am not a member of a club so every round I play is a friendly game usually with the same mates, who generally beat me. So I start in achievement mode and very easily go into 'fun mode' if I cock a hole up at the start. I have been playing for a few years and my handicap has not really come down, and I am convinced that some of the reason for this is my focus on what I am trying to achieve. And of course some is technical and the amount of practice, I am not saying it is all in the mind as of course it is not.

And as I have said in other threads this is one technique for one of the 7 areas the book deals with, one which was very pertinent to me. It may not be a problem for other, if so then don't worry about it. And if I have inferred that the book says that you can't have fun on the golf course then I am sorry as it does not say that, of course you can.

 

[Slab]

Maybe it depends how would you answer this question...

If they scrapped the handicap system tomorrow would you still play the same amount of golf?

So comps still exist but everyone is off scratch

If you answer yes then you're either very very good or you play for fun (even in comps)

 

[HawkeyeMS]

A comment on another thread mentioned that people shouldn't be playing golf for fun, which had me thinking; am I the only one who plays for fun?

I think that comment may have been tongue in cheek. I don't believe anyone would play golf if they didn't enjoy it.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Maybe it depends how would you answer this question...

If they scrapped the handicap system tomorrow would you still play the same amount of golf?

So comps still exist but everyone is off scratch

If you answer yes then you're either very very good or you play for fun (even in comps)

That would be perfect, where do I sign up?

 

[patricks148]

Maybe it depends how would you answer this question...

If they scrapped the handicap system tomorrow would you still play the same amount of golf?

So comps still exist but everyone is off scratch

If you answer yes then you're either very very good or you play for fun (even in comps)

That would be perfect, where do I sign up?

I have to say i would, all my social games are scratch usually against lower guys.

And im the worst 6 handicap in scotland

 

[19thagain]

Like Patrick we all play off scratch for the side bets but always enjoy the round.

I played in a weekly group where they were all low - a total handicap of three for the five of them - and believe me, they enjoyed every game. You need to be intense to shoot low scores? I know that is not the case as they were shooting sub par rounds every week.
They also did not see themselves as anything other than normal guys within the club. Summer night few holes and they would ask to join you and encourage your less than perfect game.
Why? Because they enjoyed it and the sport was fun.