Would you play without competition?

[Joff]

With any luck, you'll be back next year Tony. We have a Stableford every friday now... 4 comps a week!

 

[Tiger]

Interesting question this one. I started playing golf because I had to give up football so it was primarily for competition. What I've noticed is that I need comps more in the winter when conditions are poor to keep me motivated. In the summer I just like being out in the sun with my mates enjoying the course and the game.

 

[duncan mackie]

What I've noticed is that I need comps more in the winter when conditions are poor to keep me motivated. In the summer I just like being out in the sun with my mates enjoying the course and the game.

there's a lot to that!

when I started I played at 1002h every Sat with the same 4ball, if there was a competition on we entered, but fundamentally it was still the same 4ball! I thought it was great.

then I played a club match, then league matches, then opens as well as being fortunate enough to play some 'business golf' as well - and I could never envisage playing at the same time with the same people again (nothing against the individuals!).

there's the people you are playing with
there's the course you are playing
there's the nature of the competition
there's the weather conditions

whilst there have been times I've wished for a little wind to spice things up (although for the last couple of years we seem to have a lot more of that even in the summer) I'm certainly starting to appreciate better weather for playing in.

a good mix of matches, courses and competition makes for an enjoyable golfing year :thup:

 

[Sweep]

I love competition play. When I was having lessons last year, my pro asked me when was the last time I played a round of golf where each shot and my total score didn't really matter, where something wasn't on the line, even if it was just my handicap. I had to reply that I couldn't remember. He suggested I go out the following weekend and play on my own and play just for the fun of it. The result was a net 66 that could easily have been a 62. I hadn't played like that for years.

 

[cookelad]

I love competition play. When I was having lessons last year, my pro asked me when was the last time I played a round of golf where each shot and my total score didn't really matter, where something wasn't on the line, even if it was just my handicap. I had to reply that I couldn't remember. He suggested I go out the following weekend and play on my own and play just for the fun of it. The result was a net 66 that could easily have been a 62. I hadn't played like that for years.

We had similar a couple of years ago in September a couple of mates and I walked to the yellows on the 1st and couldn't believe how foreign it looked!

 

[drutz]

I am at a club where we are growing we do not even have official handicaps yet, so no comps. I don't have experience of comps yet but I still play against friends and other members and it is competitive. I do look forward to the day I play in them but I still play golf against others.

 

[nobetterbruv]

I've just joined a club which goals are specifically to introduce people to the game or to get people back into the game who had previously given up for a number of reasons. It is in its infancy and as such the comptitions are not particularly supported, partly due to not having a lot of members and also because people are nervous about playing competitive golf. It suits me from a financial perspective as its essentially pay and play but still holds an official h'cap, but without any real competition I'm definitely going to be playing opens this season. At my previous club there was little need to enter opens as we'd have inter club matches, a fair amount of internal competition and the social games would be competitive in any case - but that's more about the people you play with.

I handed my 3rd card in yesterday and I've got to say I was a bit surprised that the guy marking it was off 2, but he's in a similar position of not being prepared to fork out £1,500 membership for an established club and has made exactly the same choice. We'll both be looking further afield for the competitive stuff.

For me, getting out as often as I can on a muni (not a lot with 2 young kids) will have to do for now, and when I want that competitive buzz then I've got to find it elsewhere but it's not like there aren't opportunities with societies, opens, forum meets etc.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Even if I didn't have to play well to play in the comp' I'd still enter. My main aim is to reduce my handicap and I enter comp's to try and do that. If I do well in the comp' that is a bonus.
Only matchplay events are solely about winning for me.

 

[tiggit10]

Interesting question this one. I started playing golf because I had to give up football so it was primarily for competition. What I've noticed is that I need comps more in the winter when conditions are poor to keep me motivated. In the summer I just like being out in the sun with my mates enjoying the course and the game.

Think I'd have to agree with this. Summer is a great opportunity to get out with your mates and enjoy the weather!