Played 18 today in 97 degree heat. Hit maybe three shots that did what I wanted them to.

And I am discouraged when I see how upset pros get when they hit bad shots. It is disconcerting because if they're great players and yet still get mad when things don't go right, what hope is there for me? I kind of thought that once you got to a certain place that things became enjoyable.

There cant be up without down, light without dark, big without small. Those three shots are the reason you play. The feeling you get from the three shots can outweigh the feeling you got with all the mis-hits if you let it. Trying to turn those three shots into five, then ten, etc, and the feelings behind them is the reason I play. If you can get the thrill of the good hits while keeping in mind that it is only a game when the ball goes astray, the game will be enjoyable. If you are not getting any joy out of the game, you have three choices, change your outlook, stop playing, or keep on being miserable. No matter how bad I am playing on a particular day, it is always in my mind that I am getting exercise, I'm enjoying being outside in nature, and I could be at work instead.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: gasdoc,

Well, the pros tend to get upset when they miss by 10 yards . With the amount of time they spend honing their skills I can sometimes see why they get mad though. Just keep playing, you'll gradually get better. Sometimes it's shots like those three good ones that you hit that keep you coming back.

The biggest breakthrough I ever made in my golf game was "acceptance" of the odd bad shot or hole. One bad hole or a couple of consecutive bad shots used to be enough to throw me off for the rest of the round. I'd get mad and frustrated (to the point of throwing a club) and things would just get worse.

A couple of years ago I just realized that hey, I'm never going to be a pro, why am I getting so upset about this game? I am playing golf because I "like" to play am I not? People were even starting to steer away from playing with me because of my "helicopter" driver toss. I decided to start enjoying myself or give it up. I just let the bad holes and shots go without giving them a second thought. Eventually I noticed my scores getting much better and more consistent. I hardly even swear anymore if I make a bad swing.

If you relax and try to enjoy yourself you will make better swings. Your muscles tense up when you get angry and you can't make a decent swing.

No word of a lie... I also notice a marked improvement in my scoring if I am smoking a cigar while I play. Must have something to do with relaxation. Just keep at it, you'll get better. It's definitely a game that takes a long time to get good at.

I think about quitting all the time. I could find something cheaper and easier to do in a heart beat. I think I'll stick to it for a while more but if I can't get down to a single digit handy cap I might stop. I want to improve ever year and if I can't get better I just don't find it enjoyable.

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Just keep playing, you'll gradually get better.

I was pretty good when I was in high school and college. Then I got married; then I had kids, then I started graduate school . . . no more time for golf. But I would like to think that if I hit the ball perfectly every time, then it would be fun. Guess not.

MM, I have sort of quit by default. Too many other, more important things to do. But if my body is still in decent enough shape to play once I have more time, then I might try to invest in becoming better.

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I was pretty good when I was in high school and college.

Ah, now I understand why you were frustrated. When you know that you are capable of playing much better a bad round isn't a lot of fun. At least it's an excuse to smoke a cigar or two in one of the few remaining "acceptable" public places.

wauds11 seems to have figured it out..your not a pro and your not playing to make a living,once you realize this things will get better and your game will improve.although were all human and to get a little ticked off once in a while is normal,just dont let it last to long.i know when i started of bogey/bogey/bogey my round was pretty much over(trying to break 80)now my mindset is i need to make a birdie to make one of those bogeys into a par.the games much more fun.

When I left home and joined the Armed Forces, I was shooting a consistent 74, that was when I could go every day. Every shot that I made seemed like the ball knew what I wanted it to do. Now, 7 years later I can honestly say that I have been golfing under 30 times and shooting the high 80's. I have no time for it anymore so I feel what your saying....no fricken time! Why you play this game is another question in itself. Is it relaxing? Can you feel yourself just let go everything that is going on? Is the beer cart lady hot?
That is why we love to play this game!

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Why you play this game is another question in itself. Is it relaxing? Can you feel yourself just let go everything that is going on? Is the beer cart lady hot?

Honestly, the things I usually enjoy the most now are the camaraderie, the cigars, and being outdoors (unless it's 97 degrees).

Unless you're a pro you should definitely be playing this game for the fun. Don't worry about your score, or how many good or bad shots you make, just have fun with it. Light up a cigar and let 'em fly.

My friends and I try to go golfing as much as possible, not because we're good or even getting that much better, but because it's a time for us to get away from everything and just be around each other for 3 or 4 hours. I'll even go alone sometimes just to be by myself, doing what I want to do, and not worrying about anything.

The more you relax the more comfortable you will be over the ball, and when that happens the good shots will start to flow. Don't pay attention to the pros getting mad at a bad shot, to them a bad shot means the potential for a smaller pay day. To the every day player, a bad shot should just mean a little more time searching for your ball and being able to use a wider array of clubs.

Golf is the only time I will ever say it's more about the fun than the winning.

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then I started graduate school

If you put as much time into golf as you did into education, you'd be an excellent golfer. To be proficient at anything takes work. And for some, if you put in that much work, the 'game' ceases to be fun.

Quit your complaining, get in, shut up, hang on and give me a beer from the cooler while we go look for you ball in the trees!!