My Golf Game: All About Fun

I’ve been purposely laying low as far as all things golf go since my last round in November. An aching elbow needed some rest and quite honestly I needed a break both physically and mentally from this game that I let consume me.

Winter in the Northeast isn’t conducive to anyone’s golf game and while a trip to the indoor golf simulator appeases many a golf appetite it doesn’t do it for me. So I usually make do with some living room putting, some foam ball chipping, a few golf books and daydreaming about the upcoming season.

I got a gift this Christmas from my daughter that jump started my start back into “golf mode.” And while she thought it was a gag gift it is actually a useful bit of golf instruction with a large dose of reality.

Why You Suck at Golf by Clive Scarrf is the book and while this isn’t a book review I’ll just say that it’s a tongue in cheek look at the average golfer and the reasons we are just that. I laughed at his 50 Common Mistakes of Recreational Golfers, admitted to a majority of them and resolved not to make any of them again in this new ’17 season.

And that is one of the appeals of this damn game. Every season is a new season, every round is a new round, every hole is a new hole and each and every swing in a new swing.

Each time we start a new season our potential is unlimited. This is the year I shoot par, or make an ace or get to a single digit. Each new beginning has no limit on how good our games may become and while it may be a trip into Fantasyland we welcome it and embrace it each time.

So this season I’ll temper my scoring expectations, after all my ‘par shooting’ hopes will be dashed soon enough, and I’ll mix in some resolutions I know I can keep.

Sure, I’ll take Scarff’s advice and put on my sunscreen before I get to the course and watch where my ball goes especially on the bad shots. I’ll strengthen my grip and practice more.

But more importantly I do some things that will make my day and life more enjoyable.

I’ll play more rounds with my brothers and the same for my sons because that never is anything but great.

I’ll spend more time playing with buddies I really like and less with those I rather avoid because life is too short to be dragged down by douche bags.

I’ll play some more new courses and revisit some old favorites because any course is a good course.

I will play more nine hole rounds on some new nine hole courses because fun and quality golf isn’t limited to eighteen holes.

I’ll play with strangers and make some new friends and not hesitate to walk up to a course by myself.

I’ll try and bring a bit of Scottish golf to my rounds by walking more and sharing the contents of my flask.

And if I can do most of these my scores may not improve much but I’ll sure be having a good time.

And that’s what golf has come to mean to me: having a great time among others that want to do the same. It’s not all about the score.

It’s about the game and for me this game means fun, end of story.