I live near lots of golf courses. The people there look happy. I was thinking about taking it up. But the very last thing I need in my life is aggravation.
I can think of better ways to spend $40 to several hundred dollars and 4 to 6 hours of my time. It's like anything .....when you get good at it it's not as frustrating.
You know why they call it golf? Because F@CK!!!!! was taken.
I tried it for years until I got tired of losing balls and paying expensive green fees. Fishing is far more relaxing, less expensive, and more satisfying. (I catch and release.)
[This message has been edited by Hudini (edited 04-20-2014).]
I had to give it up because I couldn't get the ball between the blades of the windmill. Honestly, I have worked in an office for 14 years now, and I have managed to avoid it so far. Three years to retirement and I intend to keep it that way.
Relaxing to watch. I can never stay awake trying to watch it on TV.
Frustrating to play, you have to play a lot to play well. It's often too pretentious for my liking, due to dress code etc. but that depends on the course.
[This message has been edited by newf (edited 04-20-2014).]
I've enjoyed mini golf and "pitch n putt" which is like a mini version of golf- you carry a driver and a putter. The course is smaller, and you play through rather quickly...
If you have the time and money it is great! You can dress strangely and people won't think you are nearly so weird Betting helps spice it up a bit..... like always. I myself have not played in years but I drive my cart down to my private driving range every now and then. My range is the type where you don't get your balls back though.
My range is the type where you don't get your balls back though.
I've heard of many divorce settlements described that way.
Back on topic... I've played golf two or three times in my entire life. My opinion on it... get a dog and go for walks in the woods. Much more enjoyable. You don't need to impress the dog with your swing.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 04-21-2014).]
Depends how seriously you take it. I enjoy it because I realized playing once a week is not going to make you good at something. Go hit the ball and enjoy the outdoors and your friends your hanging with.
Golf is like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it. I play 4 times a week, am no where "good" (11 handicap). Is it relaxing, yes. Is it frustrating, yes. But then again I see hunting and fishing as being boring sports, and growing up in the adirondaks I do have experience with both. If you do decided to try it boonie, give it a year, buy a set of garage sale clubs (rent them at the course also), be patient the swing is the worst part of the game to master. Remember, golf is the only sport where you police yourself. And yes there are days where Golf is a nice walk spoiled by a little white ball.
I was into golf when I was younger. I never really got any good at it because I didn't have the funds to spend practicing to get better (or to have the 'good' clubs). A couple years ago I was introduced to disc golf and I've never looked back Buy a disc or a handful at your local sporting goods store (for example http://www.dickssportinggoo...?categoryId=12067615 ), then go here http://www.pdga.com/course-directory/advanced and find some courses near you. Many courses are free, and you don't need anything other than a disc and some free time (provided you don't lose it in the woods ). There's all kinds of discs, but if you're just starting out most of them perform the same. In my opinion, it's a much more relaxing experience.
I'll clarify and say "yes" I do golf. I was also somewhat serious about what I said about something to do while drinking. I'm pretty lucky because I live in small town Iowa and my yearly membership for my wife and myself is about $600. That of course does not include cart rental fees (which is where they always get ya). When the weather is nice I will walk the course (9 hole) 3-4 times during the week and again, weather permitting, we almost always go at least once on the weekend.
My country club is pretty laid back, no dress code, etiquette isn't too strictly enforced, the bar is always fully stocked, and the girls running the drink cart are usually pretty easy on the eyes.
I don't do it to become the next TIger, I just enjoy it. When I'm out walking it by myself it's relaxing and I usually don't even keep score. When I'm out on the weekend with friends it's just an all-around good time, usually a wager of some sort involved. We almost always play best-shot with teams, that way if somebody can't drive for crap but has an excellent short game, they can pair up with somebody of opposite skills and just dominate. Again, we don't take it too seriously, that's when things stop being fun.
There are lots of them here I suspect. My niece's daughter married one last year and I spoke to the groom at the reception. He told me in mostly hushed tones that he was a golfer and played every weekend. I just said "Really--why? Does your family know--are you getting any help for it?" He looked at me kind of funny and walked off to seek refuge from behind the skirts of my grand niece..
A leatherly looking guy a little older than me walked up and introduced himself--had the same last name as the groom. "That's my youngest son you were just talking to." (I thought "Oh crap, gonna get a ass chewin or ass beating now").
"Ya know, I've got 40,000 acres of prime Santa Gertrudis cattle down in South Texas and tried my best to get that boy to learn the business and take over the ranch so I could look after my other businesses. Left him with it for 6 or 8 months and went back and realized he didn't even know which end of the cow gets up first. I told him to pack it up and go find something he was good at--he became a salesman and a golfer (he actually called it 'gopher') . He spends more money gophing than he makes at his job and I give this marriage 2 years tops before that gal culls him like a broke dick bull. "
Actually playing golf I find to be frustrating, but there are fw replacements for stress relief than renting a cheap driver and a bucket of balls and just hitting small balls as hard as you can...
Like anything, golf is fine if thats what you like. The good thing I can say about it is its very good exercise for someone who might just spend the day sitting on the patio.
I like playing golf and played often when we lived in Arizona. Since moving I've broken that habit but still enjoy playing a few times during the year. It is neither relaxing nor frustrating to me, just enjoyable. Much better when played with friends in a league (like bowling).
[This message has been edited by spark1 (edited 04-21-2014).]
Golf has always reveled in its standards and rich tradition. But increasingly a victim of its own image and hidebound ways, golf has lost five million players in the last decade, according to the National Golf Foundation, with 20 percent of the existing 25 million golfers apt to quit in the next few years.
People under 35 have especially spurned the game, saying it takes too long to play, is too difficult to learn and has too many tiresome rules.
In the link are some gimmicks different courses are trying to get people to pick their clubs back up. It will be interesting to see what happens.
It would seem that many people think golf is frustrating: http://www.nytimes.com/2014...-wider-one.html?_r=1 In the link are some gimmicks different courses are trying to get people to pick their clubs back up. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Buy a disc or a handful at your local sporting goods store (for example 
