Why Golf

[Screwback]

I was thinking about why and when i started to play golf. I started playing when i was very young but i didnt really get the bug if you like until i was in my teens and since then i have been totally bitten.

What made you start the game and why also why is so addictive or do you just play it now and again and dont find it addictive???

 

[USER1999]

I used to go on holiday to Exmouth every summer as a kid. My familly used to rent a house for 6 weeks. My Dad and I used to go the the pitch and putt course there a couple of times a week, play 18, and pick up fish and chips on the way home for the girls. Did this for about 10 years, then started stopping off for a beer before the fish supper. Kind of thought, if this is sport, it's the one for me.

Joined my Dad's club aged 21 (he paid the joining fee too, top Dad), and have pretty much played since (with the odd gap). First handicap was 18. Only taken 23 years to halve it. 1 year to get to 12, 21 and 3/4 years off 12, and 3 months more to get to 9. Got a bit plateau'ed for a while there.

 

[stevek1969]

My dad and brother played so felt a bit left out as they played every weekend started when i was 10 and played till i was 13,as i played football. I restarted playing again when i was 26 after giving up football due to injury and got the bug right away.
I think its being out in the fresh air and having a craic with your mates that makes it for me ,plus playing different tracks is also good to test your game out

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I started playing when I was 4. I played because my Dad played and I wanted to be just like him. I was quite good and look back with regret that I didn't push myself but then I found football when I was about 11 so golf took a back seat.
I took it up again at 14 - I joined a local club and played an awful lot of golf until I gave it up again when I was about 17. This time I discovered booze.....
I had a brief period in my early twenties but it's always been a sport that I've come back to, if you will.
I got the bug though back in Nov 08. I played Foxhills with a very good friend of mine and it made me realise that it's the sport for me. I've tried football and cricket but the sport I'm best at is golf. I'm now planning to realise some of my potential (too late I know but one last shot) and see how low I can get.
My other target is to get the wife and kids involved. I'd love to be able to spend a few hours, just the four of us, walking a fairway. I'd try and teach them but it'd probably be best to see a pro.....
I will say that it's amazing how much your surroundings influence you without you realising. The club I joined as a youngster wasn't the nicest place in terms of the members. I often recollect some of the incidents that occurred and realise that, as juniors, we were treated fairly badly at times. Unfortunately, back then, I was under the impression that being a member of a club was something to be cherished - regardless of what happens to you as an individual and it took me a long time to work that out. Stupidly, I still see golf clubs as places where I'll get chastised rather than praised. I wouldn't mind but I'm 35!!!
I'm a member now of a friendly club and I'm looking to get fully involved both socially and on the course.
I also think that this superb forum has gone some way to exorcise many of my golfing ghosts.

Writing that has made me quite sad - opportunities lost and all that.

I've walked away many times from this great game - never again.

 

[pokerjoke]

I only started playing 14 months ago after being into athletics and football as a youngster,even though my dad has been playing for 30+ years.I am totally addicted and cant get golf out of my head it is on my mind 24?7 only last night i had a dream about finding golf balls[madness]i only wish i had found this great game years ago.

 

[percy_layer]

I started when i was 12, we moved into a house that backed onto a golf course. I became friends with other kids my age that also played the game, i had a good first 18 months and when my handicap got to 6 i joined the adult competitions. I prefer to compete rather than just play, just a pity that i can only fit in 4 or 5 competitions a year these days. When i do play with friends i enjoy 9 holes, i only play 18 if its a day away.

 

[SamZeMuel]

I have hit a few balls as a child and looking back im surprised I didn't start as a nipper to be honest. My dad grew up in Norfolk playing golf all the time with his dad, currently plays off 16 but was down at 10 my Grandad used to be off 2 in his hay day. I always went along but didnt really start until summer 09, im so glad I did. I wanted a way to see my dad more and go out and actually do something with him which we now do. I constantly challenge myself and love it. Last year got down to 24 and bought a new set of irons yesterday from American Golf @ Topgolf (Watford), Ben Hogan Colonials. Im ready for the weather to improve now and get out there again. Loving it

 

[TRS30]

Played on and off for as long as I can remember. Like many my Dad played and he initialy got me into it.

Have really got back into it in the last couple of years.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It was pre-destined, my Grandad was captain at Dalmahoy back in the day, played off 3 I think. He died when I was pretty young so didn't get the chance to learn much from him. My Dad plays and it was probably him more than anyone that got me playing when I was a nipper. I stopped in my teens when I found girls and cider more interesting and only started again properly in September last year. Now looking to join Prestonfield in the spring and get myself properly involved

 

[drawboy]

Same as most, my dad got me started although our clubs is offering free membership to under 18's who have a full paying member as a parent/guardian and I cannot get my 16 yr old son to take up the offer. He doesn't think golf is as cool as trying to be a metal god for some reason.

 

[Steviebhoy]

I only took up golf nearly 3 years ago.

Used to only be interested in football, Rugby and Fishing. Used to play football the most as was playing on YTS until had very bad knee injury which finished it! Was kicking about for few years doing nothing but fishing and got asked to play round of golf with few mates who are right into it!

First round was nightmare to say least and a complete joke but a real laugh for my mates as couldn't hit it what so ever!! Not one to give up easy I gave it another try with them few weeks later but with some help and tips from them. Really enjoyed it and the game started to get a real grip of me! Ended up buying a cheap set of clubs from cash and carry (lol) as was now starting to go alot with them for rounds plus getting better all the time, I enjoyed it more than I could have ever expected and now a golf addict!

This year I decided that because I love it that much now to buy myself a new set of irons and other bits and pieces plus now joining a club! Just wish I found this game years ago when I was still in school and took it up instead of everything else. Would loved to have known what level I could have been playing at now had I done it

What a game!!!

 

[jammydodger]

Was a good standard footie player when I joined the Army at 18. Played for full Army side then moved to Germany but got a long term injury in my ankle due to the first Gulf War. Got posted back to UK but couldnt run about so my mate said come golfing , so I did. Being the competetive sod that I was/am I was looking for another sport to play while my leg got better (never did btw).

Got bitten by the amazing feeling of trying to play something that wasnt a team based game. Out there battling with your own demons and not relying on some other incompetent idiots was a great thing.

Anyhow I played sporadically for a few years when I was back from tours/exercises etc. I then joined the Fire Service and could finally settle down to play some proper golf and here I am.

I'm into the competetive side of golf mostly , I would prefer to play comps every time I went out. Social golf is ok but I see it as only something to be done between comps to keep the swing going. The thoughts that I can/will get better is what keeps me coming back to this game

 

[BrianDamage]

Started playing with my dad in oz when I was about 12 years old after my aunty gave me an old half set of hers. Played about half a dozen times each summer till I was 15.

Took it up again when I was 18, buying second hand set of clubs and had about two years as a summer member playing comps, when I'd fallen out of love with cricket. After that it was back to cricket and the odd social round with mates in the summer.

Moved to England and after 10 years without picking up a club played a round with my dad which changed my life. Played absolutely rubbish but those couple of decent irons to the green I did hit wouldn't leave my mind. A month later I found myself in American Golf buying a set of clubs (which was 18 months ago) and have been consumed by the game since. Cannot get enough of it now!! Learning all the time.

 

[viscount17]

I was a <u>very</u> late starter, but it was a very quick fix.
It took one afternoon in Malaysia, 9-holes, half-a dozen halfway decent shots - got back home, bought the clubs.

I did try it once before (about 30 odd years before - at St Andrews!) but it didn't take - the guys I was out with weren't into encouragement.

 

[Sneds]

Ruptured my ACL playing football about a year and a half ago and didn't have anything else to do x

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Gave me something to do when most of my friends were on holidays

 

[Guns]

I started with my mate in the summer months when there was no football. We had a season ticket at Wolves for 9 years. Now its 12 months of golf and I onlyt watch Wolves on the box.

Golf never lets me down like Wolves do...... I let golf down.

 

[The_Squire]

I took it up when I was still playing football, as you do, but as the legs started going I found that in football when you lost the ball you had to run after it and in golf you just took another one out of the bag. Simples.

Can't get enough of it now.

 

[Sponge1980]

I started when I was 14. My family had a connection to the club as my Grandad was the greenkeeper at the time and his house was right next to the 1st tee. When my Mum asked me if I fancied having a go I said no at first as I had no interest in golf even though a lot of my friends played. My uncle took me out for a game and that was it I was hooked and I have been a member ever since.

 

[Smiffy]

Didn't pick up a golf club until I was 31. Started working in a car showroom as a "junior" salesman, and was introduced to the finance rep. He was a keen golfer, and suggested we go out for a game. I borrowed an old set of clubs my Father in law had kicking around in his garage, horrible things they were...the grips were rock hard, they were mismatched blades and must have been made in the early 60's.
Went out to a municipal course and had a bash, enjoyed it despite playing like an absolute prat, and decided to keep at it. Played a few more times with the old clubs and decided that if I was going to get serious I had to buy some decent sticks. Bought myself a brand new set of Ram "Tom Watson" woods and irons with a matching Ram bag and trolley, and I was off.
Carried on hacking around the local muni's and 9 hole courses for another year or two and then decided that I wanted to join a club. Had a couple of lessons with Dennis Newnham the pro at Crowborough Beacon and joined there in 1989. Struggled for a good few years off of a 23 handicap, carried on having lessons....bought myself some new metal woods (Big Bertha copies) and things just seemed to click once I had them in my hands and came down to 10 handicap quite quickly after that.
Left Crowborough in 2000 as I moved down to the coast and was a "nomad" golfer for about 8 years just playing socially and society days, sometimes only playing about 6 or 7 times a year as I got back into motorbiking.
Gave up the bikes early last year, joined a club again and got my official handicap of 12.
I still love my golf, have always had a weakness for playing different courses and have played on some lovely tracks both here and abroad.
I still get a buzz out of playing but not as avid a player as I was during my time at Crowborough. Then, I would almost be in tears if the course was closed for any reason, and would play on frozen ground, peeing rain, whatever.
Nowadays I would rather tuck myself up watching telly than venture out in the freezing cold. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who can pick up a club after 3 or 4 months of not playing and not really be affected too much by a layoff.