Nico
Challenge Tour Pro
I have been pretty much absent from the Forum for the last month while I have been mulling over my golfing future.
Over this last season things on and off the course have gone pretty poorly for me and I have had cause to re evaluate my life and what is most important to me.
On the golfing side, a season which had begun with so much hope and promise for me ended up being one of the worst I have ever experienced.
At the beginning I was playing the golf of my life and my practice tee form held promise of even better to come. On reflection,this led me to place expectations and pressure on myself that no handicap golfer should.
I was just not enjoying myself any more...and it showed to those around me,on the course and at home.
Then I injured my knee again and tried to continue playing though I knew better and I ended up damaging another part of my body due to the compensations I was making.
When I combine the above with things outside golf it was clearly time for me to make some decisions going forward.
To that end I decided not to renew my membership at the club,this was extremely tough as I had served on the committee twice and represented many of the teams. After ten years it is a wrench but,the moment I made the call I knew I had done the right thing.
I actually didnt play or even pick up a club from the end of July until last Saturday and sadly I didnt miss it at all.
Saturday was actually what confirmed the immediate way froward for me. After a bit of persuasion I played with 3 pals at another local club and had a very pleasant time.We actually came off after 15 holes (the 15th green is right next to the clubhouse and the last 3 were chokka)and went for a spot of lunch.
When we ordered our drinks my mate turned to me and said "Did you not realise that you were only 1 over when we finished?", when I said "sure,why?" he said "But you would normally have insisted in playing on to get a score?".
That told me all I needed to know,I had not been as relaxed or happy on the course as that for ages, what I needed is to take a break away from it all and get back to just enjoying the game and the company of my friends.
So now my golfing life will be confined to the odd pick up game on a weekend and a couple of society days that I have already comitted to.That includes not being around the Forum.
I would like to thank the rest of the GM family for all the chat and banter I have read and been involved in,you really are a special lot.
The future of Golf is in safe hands here,from the level of debate to the welcome that new members of the golfing family recieve and long may it continue.
Nico may appear again in the future but for now goodbye and good luck to you all.
Over this last season things on and off the course have gone pretty poorly for me and I have had cause to re evaluate my life and what is most important to me.
On the golfing side, a season which had begun with so much hope and promise for me ended up being one of the worst I have ever experienced.
At the beginning I was playing the golf of my life and my practice tee form held promise of even better to come. On reflection,this led me to place expectations and pressure on myself that no handicap golfer should.
I was just not enjoying myself any more...and it showed to those around me,on the course and at home.
Then I injured my knee again and tried to continue playing though I knew better and I ended up damaging another part of my body due to the compensations I was making.
When I combine the above with things outside golf it was clearly time for me to make some decisions going forward.
To that end I decided not to renew my membership at the club,this was extremely tough as I had served on the committee twice and represented many of the teams. After ten years it is a wrench but,the moment I made the call I knew I had done the right thing.
I actually didnt play or even pick up a club from the end of July until last Saturday and sadly I didnt miss it at all.
Saturday was actually what confirmed the immediate way froward for me. After a bit of persuasion I played with 3 pals at another local club and had a very pleasant time.We actually came off after 15 holes (the 15th green is right next to the clubhouse and the last 3 were chokka)and went for a spot of lunch.
When we ordered our drinks my mate turned to me and said "Did you not realise that you were only 1 over when we finished?", when I said "sure,why?" he said "But you would normally have insisted in playing on to get a score?".
That told me all I needed to know,I had not been as relaxed or happy on the course as that for ages, what I needed is to take a break away from it all and get back to just enjoying the game and the company of my friends.
So now my golfing life will be confined to the odd pick up game on a weekend and a couple of society days that I have already comitted to.That includes not being around the Forum.
I would like to thank the rest of the GM family for all the chat and banter I have read and been involved in,you really are a special lot.
The future of Golf is in safe hands here,from the level of debate to the welcome that new members of the golfing family recieve and long may it continue.
Nico may appear again in the future but for now goodbye and good luck to you all.
