JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
When you first started playing golf what did you....
...want to get from it? And have you achieved that?
...want to get from it? And have you achieved that?
When you first started playing golf what did you....
- Thread starter JustOne
- Start date
GB72
Money List Winner
I started playing when I was forced to retire from playing rugby. I needed some form of competitive sport and a way to get the weeks stress out of my system and golf seemed to fit the bill.
I have got that out of the game and more and wish I had taken it up earlier rather than keep on with rugby for a couple of years when my game was getting worse and the injuries were more frequent.
I have got that out of the game and more and wish I had taken it up earlier rather than keep on with rugby for a couple of years when my game was getting worse and the injuries were more frequent.
Screwback
Tour Rookie
When i first started playing seriously i wanted to get to scratch and i managed to acheive that goal.
jammydodger
Tour Winner
I needed a competitive sport after my leg was fecked after first Gulf War. This provided it but its different/better cos its you against the course so you live or die by your own capabilities on the day. Much better than relying on 2nd rate players in a team sport.
So , yes , it has given me much more than I expected
So , yes , it has given me much more than I expected
Robobum
Money List Winner
There wasn't any goal behind me starting golf, I am sport minded and liked the challenge of whacking a ball about and into a hole.
When I got to grips with how to do it, my goal became to hit the ball well enough to keep on enjoying it. Goal achieved so far.
When I got to grips with how to do it, my goal became to hit the ball well enough to keep on enjoying it. Goal achieved so far.
The_LHC
Head Pro
I wanted to go and play in the sand*.
*I was 4 when a golf club was first put in my hand and I used to spend most of my time in the practice bunker when my dad went to the driving range.
*I was 4 when a golf club was first put in my hand and I used to spend most of my time in the practice bunker when my dad went to the driving range.
A
Alex1975
Guest
Started to spend more time with the lads... they all quit cos they got too stressed about it. Now I play to get better so sometimes I take from the game and sometimes the game takes from me.
percy_layer
Challenge Tour Pro
I started when i was 12 and had just moved to the area, the house backed onto a golf course so i started to play, my first friends in the area were through golf.
forefortheday
Tour Rookie
I started just becasue a few mates decided to go the driving range for a laugh.
Started to take it seriously last year and have got nowhere near any of my "ambitions"
Started to take it seriously last year and have got nowhere near any of my "ambitions"
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
My dad had been a keen golfer and got me started. I had dreams of being a pro like all kids do with any sport I suppose but I remember my dad (who had played most sports) told me it was the best sport because
It's the most sociable, as you talk with your opponents/ partners, but you can also play on you're own.
The h/c system means you can play with anyone and make a game of it.
You're always in the game. You don't have to wait for a pass or a turn to bat or bowl.
You're the master of your own destiny. No one can nick the ball off you or end your afternoon with a jaffa.
You join a great community. Meet another golfer and you'll always have something to talk about even if you have nothing else in common.
You can play (even to a high level) til you're past playing almost any other outdoor game.
You play on the most amazing playing areas and every one is different.
Well, I reckon he was spot on. They've all been true.
I would add
No one's trying to hurt you while you're playing (bad experiences on various football, rugby and cricket pitches)
Also I was rubbish at every other sport.
Not really an answer the OP but there you go.
It's the most sociable, as you talk with your opponents/ partners, but you can also play on you're own.
The h/c system means you can play with anyone and make a game of it.
You're always in the game. You don't have to wait for a pass or a turn to bat or bowl.
You're the master of your own destiny. No one can nick the ball off you or end your afternoon with a jaffa.
You join a great community. Meet another golfer and you'll always have something to talk about even if you have nothing else in common.
You can play (even to a high level) til you're past playing almost any other outdoor game.
You play on the most amazing playing areas and every one is different.
Well, I reckon he was spot on. They've all been true.
I would add
No one's trying to hurt you while you're playing (bad experiences on various football, rugby and cricket pitches)
Also I was rubbish at every other sport.
Not really an answer the OP but there you go.
Tommo21
Tour Winner
Want to get from it......dont know I was always pi$$ed at that time. It was just a muck about.
Achieved....cat 1 after 36 odd years...always wanted that.
john0
Journeyman Pro
I wanted to get some piece from the Mrs & kids
Did I achieve it? Yes and No. 'Yes' cos I do get 4 hours of peace once or twice a week, and 'No' cos I get nagged at for feckin off out for 4 hours without her
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I used to be a decent Club Cricketer but knackered my knee bowling. Had to miss almost a whole season and when I finally came back I felt I couldn't play to the standard I expected and my interest waned.
I needed a Sport of some description to play "seriously" and most others involved running, which the knackered knee ruled me out of.
I'd hacked around with Fragger a few years before so decided that Golf was going to be the one for me. And basically I wanted to be as good as I can be given limitations - time, finances, knackered body etc etc.
I've got better at it, I'm now as good as I have ever been at it, and there's every indication that I'm going to continue to get better at it. That and the fact I enjoy it almost every time I go out mean I've got out of it what I wanted to and hopefully I'll get a whole heap more.
I needed a Sport of some description to play "seriously" and most others involved running, which the knackered knee ruled me out of.
I'd hacked around with Fragger a few years before so decided that Golf was going to be the one for me. And basically I wanted to be as good as I can be given limitations - time, finances, knackered body etc etc.
I've got better at it, I'm now as good as I have ever been at it, and there's every indication that I'm going to continue to get better at it. That and the fact I enjoy it almost every time I go out mean I've got out of it what I wanted to and hopefully I'll get a whole heap more.
As a teenager I wanted to be a pro and earn millions of squillions of money, and be famous, and pull lots of georgeous women.
Nope, I haven't quite achieved all that.....
yet.
Nope, I haven't quite achieved all that.....
yet.
Bratty
Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
I wanted to do better than the 7 on every hole at the local pitch and putt! So no, I haven't achieved it, before you say anything, James!
Have achieved the following in some 14 years of golf:
Shot under 100
Shot under 90
Shot under 82 (still can't put "under 80"!)
Hole in 1
Chip in (took 12 years that one!)
Join a club
Meet a bigger loser than me - cheers for helping me with that one JustOne
Play tournament-quality courses (K Club, Woburn, Blue Canyon and Valderrama to name the key ones)
Left to achieve:
Shoot under 80
Get a consistent swing to get me to low teens or single figures
Have achieved the following in some 14 years of golf:
Shot under 100
Shot under 90
Shot under 82 (still can't put "under 80"!)
Hole in 1
Chip in (took 12 years that one!)
Join a club
Meet a bigger loser than me - cheers for helping me with that one JustOne
Play tournament-quality courses (K Club, Woburn, Blue Canyon and Valderrama to name the key ones)
Left to achieve:
Shoot under 80
Get a consistent swing to get me to low teens or single figures
richart
Major Champion
Played all sports as a kid, and got the chance to have some lessons at Reading golf club.
For a couple of years i was totally hooked and played nearly every day, often 36 holes.
Aim was to get as good as possible, and master the most frustrating game ever imagined. Did get to a reasonable standard, but then we moved, couldn't get straight into a new club, and other things became more important.
Only revived my interest in the game in the last three years, when i struggled to play tennis with tendonitis.
Aim is to get back to old handicap now, and although i can't swing as well as i did as a kid, the current technology makes the game easier than previously. Not that worried if it never happens but you need goals. More of a social than competitive golfer these days.
For a couple of years i was totally hooked and played nearly every day, often 36 holes.
Aim was to get as good as possible, and master the most frustrating game ever imagined. Did get to a reasonable standard, but then we moved, couldn't get straight into a new club, and other things became more important.
Only revived my interest in the game in the last three years, when i struggled to play tennis with tendonitis.
Aim is to get back to old handicap now, and although i can't swing as well as i did as a kid, the current technology makes the game easier than previously. Not that worried if it never happens but you need goals. More of a social than competitive golfer these days.
PhilTheFragger
Provider of Entertainment for the Golfing Gods 🙄
When I first started I was happy to make 2 or 3 good shots a round and it was a big ambition to make a pitchmark that I could then repair.
Ive moved on from there and now want to slaughter my little brother whenever we play
Sometimes I get my way
Fragger
Ive moved on from there and now want to slaughter my little brother whenever we play
Sometimes I get my way
Fragger
clivea
Hacker
I'd "dabbled" with golf before, but my main sports were cricket and hockey. Gave up the former because of the rubbish politics involved at my level (thought I am meant to look forward to this rather than dread the thought on the Friday night). Gave up the latter because of injury.
Then my late wife became ill so I looked after her until she died. Then I found myself with lots of time on my hands - so golf it was - mainly because I'd enjoyed when I had played years before and I also found that I had a lot of friends that played.
Haven't looked back, and despite finding love again, golf is still up their in my priorities and Saturday's are "protected" unless there is a very good reason for me to do something else.
Then my late wife became ill so I looked after her until she died. Then I found myself with lots of time on my hands - so golf it was - mainly because I'd enjoyed when I had played years before and I also found that I had a lot of friends that played.
Haven't looked back, and despite finding love again, golf is still up their in my priorities and Saturday's are "protected" unless there is a very good reason for me to do something else.
RGDave
Money List Winner
I watched Opens/Ryder cups/Masters etc. and also played Video golf games (SEGA).
My granddad loved playing and tried to get me into it, but I never caught the bug. But one day I just wanted to try it for real.
The early games were a disaster, so my aim was to get good enough to play socially and get round without total embarrassment.
In a way, I've achieved that.
B
birdieman
Guest
When I started I just loved it and wanted to play, no goals at that stage. After a couple of years the handicap had really tumbled and I wondered in a dopey teenager kid of way if I could get somewhere with it. I however started to plateau at the 6 handicap mark (aged 17) and then Uni came along and I lost interest in golf.
Roll on 15 years (serious surfing and skiing behind me) I found a new job beside golf courses and the golfing fires were rekindled. Restarted off 8 handicap but it soon became apparent that techology had moved on and once I embraced that I got down to a 4 handicap 5 years ago and that's where I've stayed.
My aim on retsarting was to try and score as low as possible and chip away at the handicap, no other goal except to get low.
Have never quite reached my perhaps unrealistic golf goals both times I've played seriously but does anyone?
Moving next week to East Lothian, a whole new ball game in terms of courses so have a fresh impetus to play new courses, join a new club. This time the goal is to put in more range time and less course time, with a young family it's too easy to be away for a half day at the course so if a half hour at the range lets me hit more balls than 4 hours at the course that's how it's got to be.
Roll on 15 years (serious surfing and skiing behind me) I found a new job beside golf courses and the golfing fires were rekindled. Restarted off 8 handicap but it soon became apparent that techology had moved on and once I embraced that I got down to a 4 handicap 5 years ago and that's where I've stayed.
My aim on retsarting was to try and score as low as possible and chip away at the handicap, no other goal except to get low.
Have never quite reached my perhaps unrealistic golf goals both times I've played seriously but does anyone?
Moving next week to East Lothian, a whole new ball game in terms of courses so have a fresh impetus to play new courses, join a new club. This time the goal is to put in more range time and less course time, with a young family it's too easy to be away for a half day at the course so if a half hour at the range lets me hit more balls than 4 hours at the course that's how it's got to be.
