Why do people give up Golf..?

[Imurg]

Recently we've heard of a few Guys who've given up playing this wonderful game. JammyDodger is the one that instantly springs to mind. I think he played off 3 or something like that, lost interest in trying to maintain his handicap and just gave up.

Is this the main reason people give up any sport? That they struggle to maintain the level they once performed at? Obviously Family life, job, money etc have an effect too but is the drop in performance level the clincher..?
It happened to me with my Cricket. I was a decent club player in my time, loved bowling and would happily bowl 20 overs straight if asked. Also couldn't wait to get out to bat and loved fielding too. Then a couple of injuries took my knees and I found I couldn't run properly or play the game to the same level as before. After a season I packed it in.
Now having reached a decent level of Golf I hope it doesn't happen again. Maintaining a low handicap is hard work and I'm fully aware that the body will/has begun to go South. I have a feeling though that I'll be playing this game until I drop regardless of how high the handicap eventually goes.
Has anyone given up through a drop in performance and come back to the game, rather than the usual Family,job, money, girls reasons that many of us have endured..?

 

[DaveM]

Use to be a match angler. Full sponsership the lot. But the pressure to get the job done week in week out, got to much. It was no fun anymore. So it had to go.

 

[SocketRocket]

It is certainly frustrating for golfers whos playing performance drops, particullarly as they get older. You can see this with the top tour players.

The largest sections in most clubs tend the be the Seniors and many play on well into their 80's. Unlike most sports we have the handicap system that allows people to continue in the sport if their ability falls. I think most of us have been through times when we feel like throwing our clubs in the lake and taking up speed dating.

Golf is a great teaser and tester of determination though, it sometimes lets us know what our true potential is and then chops our legs away just before we achieve it.

 

[Khamelion]

I'm 42, actually closer to 43, i'm pretty strong and enjoy flinging the weights around, fitness wise though, running to the end of the driveway has me panting like a brocken winded cuddy.

I like to think that with me throwing the weights around my joints and bones will hang on in there a little longer and allow me to play golf regularly.

I know I'm going to have to warm up better so as not to pull or strain myself and I will endeavour to get better cardio fitness.

Family wise I'm lucky in that my daughter is 15 and pretty much independant, so no nappy changing, just taxiing which my other half looks after. Speaking of which she is very tolerant of my golfing, in fact there's a fair to middling chance she may take it up next year, probably workling on the principle if you can't beat em join em

here's hoping
Dave

 

[Evesdad]

I suppose with golf taking at least half of the day you have to enjoy it. Once that's gone youre screwed!

 

[fundy]

Ive had 2 breaks from the game. The first was when at University, just didnt have the time or inclination to practise and maintain the level I was at with too much else going on, and felt my time (and limited funds) were best spent elsewhere. The second time was caused by knee injuries, whic are hopefully behind me for now.

 

[Evesdad]

I also play with some seniors on Saturday mornings, one was 78 recently and plays off 14 I think. He hit his drive the other week and was complaining to me about how far it had gone, or rather how far it hadn't! This was while I'm looking in the rough for my ball that is prob about 50 yds in front of where his was sat in the middle of the fairway!! He has over 40 years on me and kicks my arse every time!

 

[Khamelion]

I know exactly what you mean Evesdad, I sometimes play with my dad and two other seniors, my dad is 75 next month, the other two are both in their 80's, While i'm scrambling most of the time their shots are shorter, but they are straight and always on the short stuff.

All three provide a good lesson in patience and the two 80 year old have taught me a few new swear words. Never heard an 80 old swear before.

On trying to get his ball on the tee, it kept falling off, one of the auld fella's proclaimed "Git on there yer little F****r", He realised I heard, he looked up and said "And yes that is a f***ing golfing term", his pierce de resistance came when I hit a long drive down the middle, he looked to my dad and ask "I lost it in the sun, where did it go?", my dad told him straight down the middle just short of the green, the reply from the sweary 80 year old was, "F***ing clever c***"

Very bizarre

 

[Smiffy]

On trying to get his ball on the tee, it kept falling off, one of the auld fella's proclaimed "Git on there yer little F****r", He realised I heard, he looked up and said "And yes that is a f***ing golfing term", his pierce de resistance came when I hit a long drive down the middle, he looked to my dad and ask "I lost it in the sun, where did it go?", my dad told him straight down the middle just short of the green, the reply from the sweary 80 year old was, "F***ing clever c***"

Very bizarre

Sounds like my kinda fourball!!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I stopped playing football when my knees stopped me competing at the same level I'd been used to, unfortunately that meant stopping when I was 22 (but on the plus side that's when I started taking golf seriously). I still enjoyed it but I couldn't last 90 minutes and felt I was letting everyone down. I started playing again in my early thirties, had my knees operated on which sorted them out but then I started having trouble with my quads through lack of fitness. I was going to the gym every morning and working with a physio to build them up but every time I played I'd stretch for a tackle and it would go. It got to the point where I knew I wasn't fit enough but I couldn't get match fit because I kept getting injured which would put me out for a couple of weeks so I gave up again.

I often wonder what will happen when I get to the point with golf that I can't get any better (or god forbid start to get worse) or that maintaing my h'cap becomes a struggle. I hope that I will love the game enough to continue to play anyway but I really wonder whether that will be the case. At the moment, I know I can get better and that there are a couple of shots still to come off my h'cap and I don't think shooting under par is out of the question even if I only do it once. Will I still have the same desire when breaking 80 is a great round?

 

[DCB]

Having played this great game since I was 11 years old, the thought of having to give it up at some stage fills me with dread. Back in 2005 I had an operation on my neck to remove what turned out to be a non malignant tumour. At the time, I had no thought that this would affect my golf. Give it a good rest and recuperation period and I'll be back ready and raring to go. Well, my handicap and playing record show a different story. My handicap has steadily increased since then. Do I consider giving up... No. Its a game that I still get enjoyment out of, so, it's not going onto the back burner just yet. Some day it will come, I'm sure of that, but or the moment, it's still my main leisure activity. There's always that thought that I might just find that missing 'something' and get back to where I was..... one can only dream

 

[USER1999]

I suspect my handicap has bottomed out, and is on the way back up. It is disappointing. But, I love the game. The banter, meeting up with my mates, and having a beer afterwards is as much a part of playing as the actual game. As long as I enjoy this, and can have a competitive match (off what ever handicap) I'll continue playing.

 

[chrisd]

I am due to have my second hip replaced over Xmas and I'm already trying to work out how long I shall be off golf and what practice I can do - 59 soon and still in love with the game


Chris

 

[DaveM]

Funny in away. I've come back to golf after injury and poor fitness. I'm using the game to try and get fit again. At the moment I cant play a full round. But slowly getting there. I hope.

 

[Monty_Brown]

I've had a couple of breaks from the game, but not as conscious declarations of "giving it up". Both were just having to resign club memberships because with first proper jobs after leaving Uni, I couldn't justify the expense for playing once a week if I was lucky.

Now on my third phase of being seriously into the game, basically because my current job means I don't work silly long hours and can devote some time to playing or practicing after work in the summer.

I definitely empathise with those who've given up other sports due to decline in performance. Three years ago I was still playing good standard club rugby in the London League, but the writing was on the wall when the younger blood was being pushed through the club ranks (and rightly so) and those of us over 30 were looking at a slide down the ranks into the Second XV. Many people enjoy the easier life of being out of the Firsts, but for me I would rather go out at my peak, as it were, so called it a day.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Will I still have the same desire when breaking 80 is a great round?

Welcome to my world. I know I am probably a couple of shots better than my handicap suggests and will continue to work hard at improving but it is no longer the be all and end all to get down as low as I can and single figures although a nice goal isn't a driving force.

I can be relatively competitive where I am as the Forest of Arden proved and IF my short game ever returns then shaving those extra few shots should be achievable. I gave it up as a teenager when I couldn't afford to do my PGA's and didn't pick a club up for a few years and bitterly regret it now especially as I could have had more golf with my dad and sadly its way too late for that.

I'm happy as a rank and file club member who will have his odd moment in the sun and really love mixing it with the guys on here at forum meets so even if the handicap climbs this time I'm in for the long haul until I go to the great 19th in the sky and HID is forced to flog my vast collection of gear

 

[G1BB0]

very well put Homer and agree 100%

I only took it up this year and seriously regret not doing it when I was younger but kids, work and a very controlling EX missus stopped me having any hobbies really.

Retired from football at 29 due to dodgy ankles, the highlight of which was a short stint semi-pro when I was 21, unfortunately I was in the forces at the same time and couldnt commit to it proper.

I want to get my h/c down to somewhere in the teens and then aslong as I can enjoy and play around that mark for a few years then that will do for me

Already I feel fitter and 18 holes is a breeze where a month or 2 into playing I was hobbling and cream crackered after 14 lol. So for me it gets me out, exercise, banter and occasionally the odd shot that puts a great big smile on my face. Sitting at home watching tv doesn't give me any of that.

I work to live not live to work

 

[Oddsocks]

Ive always been torn between 2 sports, this lovely game we call golf and mx. golf has always been my out when ive had long injuries at mx, but now my body is shot golf is here to stay. we all go through purple patches and complete slumps, but thats what keeps me coming back. if it was easy we'd all be off scratch and shanking like bobmac which would be no fun

i have to admit this summer i got frustrated and put the clubs away for a few weeks, thats when i went missing off the forum, but now im back with another winter swing rebuilt program, i want single figures or cat2 at worst next year.

 

[coolhand]

I really don't get the thinking at the heart of this thread. To me golf is something I do for pleasure that just happens to be a sport - being good or bad at it is irrlevant to my overall enjoyment. Obvously there is pleasure on a good shot/score but any frustation at a bad one is far outweighed by the joy of being outside in like minded company.
Can't think of any reason I'd stop playing as long as I physicaly can.


That said the above might just be a subconciosu protection technique due to being c**p.

 

[granters]

I gave it up at 18, was a pretty good junior but got down to 5 and then couldn't be bothered with it any more. Took it up again seriously 2 years ago and started getting back to being good again, although have found it very frustrating. I can't seem to get the time to play often enough due to the usual reasons. Looks like i'll be going back to purely social golf again next year, for at least a few years.

Too much going on work and family wise just now to really concentrate on golf, but i hope in a few years i can really get back to it and get down to low Cat 1 again