Today, golf paid me back…

[LeftDaddy]

I know we’ve had some posts on how much we put in to golf without getting much back. I think I’ve even started a thread or two on that myself in the past. And believe me, I often question why I invest so much time and money on this crazy game. 
 

Well, today, I shot the round of my life. Golf paid me back. I’m a 10 handicap. I’ve broken 80 a few times in my life (4 I think). The first time I shot 79 it could have been 75 easily. The other 79s “should have been” 79s. 
 

Anyway, I shot 77 today, and it very easily could have been 73. I felt confident with basically any club in my hand. I drove it well. Hit my irons well. And putted well also. I made two very silly mistakes early in the round, and lipped out 2 birdie putts. But it was one of those “boring” rounds I used to admire where the ball was just going where I was aiming it, mostly. I had a little stress on the last 3 holes trying to close it out, but I withstood my nerves etc to get the job done. 
 

And come to think of it, golf has paid me back most of this year. Got my first HIO this year. Broke 80 twice. Won a club event. About the only goal I have remaining for the year is to get back to single digit handicap and stay there a while (I think I’ll be there after this round posts but just need to stay there!). 

[kdphan]

This is why we all keep coming back to the game even though it beats us up half of the time 

[Roody]

Congrats! It’s such a great feeling when you have rounds like that. Where the swing feels effortless, and you can’t miss. 

[sevenfourate]

Many congrats on the 77 - Great golf !

 

 

I'm a scratch player, and usually very consistent. Not overly flash....but often mid to low 70's on a 6500 yard'ish course here in the UK.

 

I spent the weekend away with my Son. Saturday i managed a 69 (-3); with pretty much only two shots that were kinda bad enough to be called anything like 'destructive'.

 

Followed that up Sunday with the most abysmal ball-striking day i've had in ages. Fairways ? What are they for. Greens in Reg. That what's other people tally up 👍

Culmination was a big fat 82 and the worst round this season.

 

Welcome to the game we love: called Golf.

 

 

Edited August 4, 2021 by sevenfourate

[ZacR88]

1 hour ago, sevenfourate said:

Many congrats on the 77 - Great golf !

 

 

I'm a scratch player, and usually very consistent. Not overly flash....but often mid to low 70's on a 6500 yard'ish course here in the UK.

 

I spent the weekend away with my Son. Saturday i managed a 69 (-3); with pretty much only two shots that were kinda bad enough to be called anything like 'destructive'.

 

Followed that up Sunday with the most abysmal ball-striking day i've had in ages. Fairways ? What are they for. Greens in Reg. That what's other people tally up 👍

Culmination was a big fat 82 and the worst round this season.

 

Welcome to the game we love: called Golf.

 

 

 

Funny how golf works like that.

 

I am a 1 HCP and my last three rounds were a 71,71 and an 80 yesterday lol. 

 

I find that sometimes I just cant focus the way I need to in order to score well for whatever reasons. Mental fatigue from golfing 9 days in a row probably plays a part. 

[sevenfourate]

22 minutes ago, ZacR88 said:

 

Funny how golf works like that.

 

I am a 1 HCP and my last three rounds were a 71,71 and an 80 yesterday lol. 

 

I find that sometimes I just cant focus the way I need to in order to score well for whatever reasons. Mental fatigue from golfing 9 days in a row probably plays a part. 

 

'Funny'.......wasn't how i felt walking off 18.

 

Oh; i was focused in the most part. It was just the connections between my brain and muscles that completely failed me 😆

 

 

9 days in a row. Man - that's tough.

[Moonlightgrm]

Congratulations on a good round.

[tatertot]

Congrats man ... love to hear "milestone" stories.

 

It's funny ... as I've aged, golf has become a lot like life. It used to be about single shots. And then about rounds. Then tournaments. Then handicaps. That turned into "seasons."

 

Now, scores are still important ... but it's the moments I remember more (when I can remember anything!) And it has less and less to do with the game itself. The friends, the laughs, the bonds, the twilight rounds. Trying to get in "one more hole." Playing a tight match ... for a $1. Finishing a round with iPhone flashlights out. Getting paired up with terrific people - and no so terrific. These are things that have become "important." 

 

But I'll still take a personal best round any day of the week 🙂

[ZacR88]

1 hour ago, sevenfourate said:

 

'Funny'.......wasn't how i felt walking off 18.

 

Oh; i was focused in the most part. It was just the connections between my brain and muscles that completely failed me 😆

 

 

9 days in a row. Man - that's tough.

 

haha yeah first world problems. Too much golf! 

 

Hope your next round is stellar!

[LeftDaddy]

Thanks all. I don’t know about you, but I put in so much time, money and mental energy into getting better at this game. I spend time away from my family (granted, it is personal “mental health” time I need for myself, but it is still “selfish” time).  I’ll probably look back when my kids leave home and wish I had played less golf, not more. But we all also need “our” time and need something besides work and family commitments to put our energy into, and for me that has been golf over about the last 10 years or so. 
 

And for that investment, I’d like to get something in return. And I’ll be frank and say that the vast majority of the time, I don’t get all that much in return. That’s probably not entirely fair because I wouldn’t keep doing it if I got nothing out of it. But oftentimes it seems to chew me up and spit me out…play poorly with money on the line, play poorly in a club competition, miss something at home while I’m away playing golf, hit it so well on the range and then fall apart on the course, etc etc. 

 

But, every now and then, the game seems to do just enough to keep you coming back. The breaks go your way. You enjoy time with good company. You get a hole in one or break a personal milestone. I just wanted to post that, this past weekend was one of those times where the game makes all of that other stuff worth it!

Edited August 4, 2021 by LeftDaddy

[Murphy76]

 

Congrats! 

 

Golf is like an abusive husband who takes you out to dinner once a month....

 

[Ric0485]

Congrats I'm in the same boat as you, broken 80 a few times but keep chasing that dragon.  I've shot an 80 and an 81 this year but haven't quite reached the 70s since '19