Not going to make the Champions Tour

[mddubya]

There was a time in my misguided youth I was pretty damn good at this game. I was told by more than a few people that if I worked at it, I could make money playing the game. Looking back I'm not sure if they meant as a pro, or betting on the course? But regardless of what could have been, I bowed down to peer pressure and threw the clubs into a dark corner of the garage and just quit playing the game. BTW, I'm 48 years old, so this was way before Tiger came along and made golf cool. At the time I was 20 years old, and very few people under the age of 40 were playing golf. Or so it seemed to me at the time anyway. All my friends kidded me about playing an "Old Mans Game", with my Dad and older men. I truly wish I had kept playing anyway, not so much for the sake of my own game, but when I quit I eliminated one of the things me and my Dad did together. And shortly after I quit, he did as well. Perhaps if I, and he had continued playing, maybe, just maybe he would be able to be more active at his now advanced age?

So......, fast forward to a year ago, I moved into this Golfing Community, less than 3 miles from my job and figured, what the hey? Might as well take the game back up, right? I bought some cheapo Acuity knockoffs on Ebay and headed out for the driving range. I didn't really expect much, I hadn't swung a club in over 5 years at all. 5 years ago my oldest Step-Son took the game up and I found a set of old Wilson blades in a yard sale and tried to take the game back up then. A severe car wreck that required extensive repairs to my left shoulder derailed that plan. But to my surprise, when I hit the driving range I was hitting the ball half way decent. I played a few rounds, ok, a lot of rounds, I can play 18 holes here at the house for $8.32, with a cart. And I work nights, so I get off in the morning and hit the links at least 3 times a week, usually more. Anyway, there for a while I was progressing pretty quickly, the game was coming back to me. I joined Shot Talk, hoed some new clubs, then some more, and some more, thanks guys, ya'll have such a great influence on me, . A round of lessons from a instructor who said he could have me down to a 5-7 handicapper by the end of this summer, it isn't happening, , and I had visions of playing on the Champions Tour in a couple more years. Suddenly golf wasn't a fun pastime or game anymore, it was a quest, almost a job. I had to keep improving. And guess what? It quit being fun. Crazy I know, but hey, I've always been hyper competitive and goal oriented. If you knew me it makes perfect sense.

Anyway, I have accepted the fact that I'm not going to be playing on the Champions Tour. I can't afford all the lessons it would take to get down to that single digit handicap anyway,(I think he was blowing smoke up my a$$ anyway). Do I hope I continue to improve, of course. Do I still play 3 or more times a week? Yep, weather permitting. But now I play for the exercise and the enjoyment of the game. I relish the time it gives me to spend with my boys. 2 son's and 2 step-sons, all of whom play the game. I have learned to laugh at my bad shots instead of allowing them to make me furious, and low and behold, I am having a good time again.

There, I feel much better now,

I'm just curious though, anyone else on here gone through this? Did any of you allow yourselves to get that wrapped up in the GAME of golf?

Sorry this post was so long!

[PingZing2]

I played for a while in college and kind of ran into the same thing. I loved the game but I didn't want it to turn into a job. It just got to the point I was no longer looking forward to the practicing, being gone from school, from friends, and from the parties (I know not a good reason).

I don't know why but for 2 or 3 years I just quit playing. I got back into it a few years ago and now I kick myself for not playing through college, but I have to say I enjoy the game now more then I ever had before. And like you said I think it has alot to do with being able to enjoy the other things that go along with the game (friends, family, etc).

[Wi-Golfer]

I have read quite a few posts from folks here who were entirely too obsessed & had dreams of playing pro, they would spend countless hrs each day on the range trying to come up with the perfect swing technique.

I play for the fun of it & slowly am working on getting better, will I ever be a single digit handicapper? I really can't say, it would be nice but if it doesn't happen & I am relegated to being a bogie golfer than so be it.

[ezra76]

I have no delusions of granduer in golf. I'd like to get down to near scratch but it's not going to bother me all that much if I don't. I just enjoy playing, have a few good rounds once in a while and a few good shots as well. I really like the personal challenge the game offers. It feels good to go and practice, work at an area of the game and then see it pay off on the course. I'll probably never be as good at golf as I was relatively at basketball when I was younger. That's where my regrets lie. Not that I could have played pro or anything but Div.1 NCAA was a possibility at one time.

[JEFF4i]

That's an awesome story there bud.

[flomarilius]

Amen to you, if you can deal with the bumps and turbulations of golf and grind through it then you got the will power to be a pro. To be honest I'm not gonna lie my dreams are to make it atleast on the nationwide circuit, while that is not likely I can still dream right? It's just really a pain when you have lack of funding.

[SiberianDVM]

On the very rare occasions where I can put together a sub-80 round, I will have the momentary delusion of grandeur and think about actually making money playing golf.

Then I shoot a 95 and things are back to normal.

Playing in these Amaeur Tour tourneys has been a lot of fun for me and is usually competition enough, thank you. If I want a trouncing, all I have to do is move up a flight.

I'm happy when I work out a problem, like not being able to hit my fairway woods off the deck. I got that cleared up yesterday, but then my driver swing went phooey.

But scoring well comes down to one thing: putting. If you can't make some putts, you cannot score well and have no chance in pro golf or even higher level amateur golf. I'm still working on this part.

[warbirdlover]

Good post!! I never had any reason to play other then to do something with friends and family. That was at a young age. I still had a goal of being better then a bogey golfer but not a real driving urge. And from playing A LOT, getting lessons and help from scratch golfers, getting decent clubs that fit me, etc. my game has dramatically improved over the 40+ years I've been hacking. And I'm enjoying every second of it. Sure I fall back into bad habits but I can't imagine something I'd rather be doing (except maybe sex which doesn't happen much anymore) then golfing.

[gpo]

Back when I was a kid I had dreams of making money at this game. Did not play past HS. I probably could have played at a small school in college, but I had a chance to go to a top notch university. Other than a scramble or two I have not played a tournament in 18 years. Well, I am about to play a state am qualifier on Thursday this week. I dedicated myself to golf this season as the children are a little older.

I know I will never play for money unless I start hitting the ball 30-40 yards longer with the driver.

[xamilo]

Once someone asked Angel Cabrera if he ever played golf for fun. He answered: "Are u crazy? That's like bringing work home!" And I think he is right. I pay for playing because I don't have to worry about the game. I can hit a 121 one day and don't stress too much about it, and rather laugh at how bad I am, or hit 82 (like this past weekend!) and feel incredibly happy about how lucky I get sometimes.

The moment I start worrying too much about a miss shot, or stop laughing at the ball sinking in the pond, that day would be the day to give up golf. I have to much stress to work with at work, to add up some more in the golf field...

[mddubya]

Well I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who lets those crazy thoughts creep into his head. And yes, every so often, I'll pull off a shot that makes me think for a moment, maybe....................... Like the last time I reached the green on the 300 plus yard hole par 4 with my driver. I thought, wow, if I can just get to where I can do this consistently, then on the next hole I topped my drive trying to crush it and it hit the water maybe 75 yards in front of me, , talk about a real quick reality check, oh well, we can always dream can't we?

[VtDivot]

Anyone who wonders if their game is good enough at any sport to play it professionally, isn't good enough. Keep on enjoying the game and get involved in amateur tourneys.

[David Hillman]

Originally Posted by VtDivot

Anyone who wonders if their game is good enough at any sport to play it professionally, isn't good enough.

That is demonstrably false. There are many professional athletes with severe confidence issues who constantly wonder if they really are good enough, yet still compete and in some cases, win. Exhibit A would be Jerry West, who despite being one of the greatest basketball players in history, was wracked with nervous episodes before almost every game, to the point that he required medication.

Exhibit B would be the existance of the "sports psychologist" industry.

[VtDivot]

Perhaps a little hyperbole on my part then.