The most frustrating thing about golf is...

[TheDIYGolfer]

I'm sure we've all gone through it, but I finally got my swing feeling like money, but my putting went down the drain!  I can't explain how frustrating this has been, as I've been working so hard on the swing just to be let down by the flatstick.  I thought instead of venting to the people I normally bother with my golfing woes, I'd bring it to the forum.  

 

So the question:  What frustrates you most about golf? 

 

Aside from my putting woes, here are my top 5:

 

1. Practice sessions that end with me wanting to break every club, and feeling like I got worse

2. Not being able to bring my swing from the range to the course

3. Nagging swing thoughts (don't go in the water, don't go O.B., you're due for a miss, etc.)

4. Bogeys from the middle of the fairway

5. Conflicting golf advice

 

I'm interested to hear everyones!

[revkev]

I'll confine these to my own game -

 

I would go with 1-4 and then throw in these

 

5.  An aging body that can't do what it used to do or even sometimes what it needs to do to produce a good swing.

 

6.  A total lack of consistency.

 

7.  Not enough time to practice or play to keep my game in regular shape.

[hckymeyer]

1. Not being able to play in the winter due to living in MN

 

2. When you finally get everything clicking and have been playing the best golf of the season but now it's mid-late Oct and the season will be ending within weeks

 

3.  3-putt pars

[NiftyNiblick]

Substitute New England for the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," and I'm right there with you on all counts, hckymeyer.

 

Only I'd add being 69 and unable to do everything that I could once do.

 

I used to switch to bowling around this time, but now it's just more recliner naps between stupid simulcast call-in shows with people sharing their "genius" about Belichik and the Patriots. Good thing that I still have to walk my dog.

[Kor.A.Door]

3 putts

 

4 putts

 

And leaving birdie, par, or bogey putts short by 2 inches, when it's directly in the middle of the cup.

 

Having 9 iron in your hand from the middle of the fairway and chunking it into the revine that is. 30 yards in from of you, so instead of an easy par you walk away with a Double.

 

I could go on with what frustrates me in a round, but I could be here all day.

By the way, everything I described above happened to me on Today, in 1 round of golf.

[Kenny B]

Hitting a shot pure... just the way you envisioned it, then can't hit it that way again the rest of the round.     

[wbealsd]

 An aging body that can't do what it used to do or even sometimes what it needs to do to produce a good swing.

 

A total lack of consistency.

 

Not being able to play in the winter due to living in S. Dakota

 

When you finally get everything clicking and have been playing the best golf of the season but now it's mid-late Oct and the season will be ending within weeks

[silver & black]

How consistently inconsistent my whole game is.

[Kenny B]

 

 An aging body that can't do what it used to do or even sometimes what it needs to do to produce a good swing.

 

A total lack of consistency.

 

Not being able to play in the winter due to living in S. Dakota

 

When you finally get everything clicking and have been playing the best golf of the season but now it's mid-late Oct and the season will be ending within weeks

 

 

 

Sorry Bill.  I am not "Liking" your post because of your aging body, lack of consistency, and no play in winter.  I wish that on nobody!  I just think it pretty much sums up golf at our age in the north.  The only difference between us is that I can play all year which is good that I can get out of the house, but bad because playing at temperatures below freezing with lots of clothes cause swing flaws that have to be fixed come spring.  Each year it seems to take longer to fix them!

 

I see a trend here in this thread... lack of consistency.  We all would like to be more consistent.  It's what defines us amateurs.  If there is any consistency, it's our lack of consistency!      When we can, we all like to get out and play, but how much time do we spend practicing the shots we need to practice to develop consistency?  Not much, if I am reading the posts correctly.  

 

I have made a commitment to myself for this winter (call it an early New Year's resolution).  Sure, this winter I will play but not like I used to.  I will be working on recovering my game just to see if this old body is capable of better scores.  Being retired now, I should have no excuses, right?  This is sounding like the subject of a new post; I need a plan so I will be developing one.  Enjoy the winter everyone!!

[joen]

My favorite is when I am striping it on the range hitting every shot just like I want to because that kind of ball striking never carries over to the course.

[jaxbeachpackerfan]

Hearing people from my old stomping grounds up north (who are of the age to complain about getting old) complaining about not being able to golf in the winter, when there's golfing Mecca they could move to down here in Florida.  

[revkev]

Hey from my perspective it's even too cold where you live Jax.

[Kor.A.Door]

PUTTING

[jaxbeachpackerfan]

Hey from my perspective it's even too cold where you live Jax.

Rarely much more than a 5 degree difference.  But that difference is key in keeping the snowbirds away!  How's traffic over there?

[revkev]

Rarely much more than a 5 degree difference.  But that difference is key in keeping the snowbirds away!  How's traffic over there?

Got me there counsellor.

[dru_]

For me, it is the unsolicited advice. I play most of my rounds in a group where I am the youngest regular player (by close to 20 years). There is something that just forces some of them to offer up lots of unsolicited advice, and it is the single most annoying thing people do. 

All the rest of it? that is why we play. Those the just the challenges that keep us coming back.

[HighFade]

No matter how well I strike it during a round, I only remember that one bad shot. 

[iLikeGolf]

Putting.

 

Also, groups of 6 or so that want to take their sweet time and not let anyone through. No matter how close the group behind is staying. The same group of guys that will give you dirty looks and talk bad about you if you pass them anyway because it takes them 20 minutes to finish a part 3.

[Kenny B]

Putting.

 

Also, groups of 6 or so that want to take their sweet time and not let anyone through. No matter how close the group behind is staying. The same group of guys that will give you dirty looks and talk bad about you if you pass them anyway because it takes them 20 minutes to finish a part 3.

 

A group of 6 is bad course management.  The complaint should go to the head pro.  The problem is that once a course allows a 5some, then it grows to a 6some or larger.  It happens a lot here too.  We have a group that plays every morning.  A large group may form depending on the number of players that show up.  If it is close to a number of players divisible by 4. then all is good.  Teams are formed; sometimes a 5some is formed because one player is not that good and is thrown on a team.  They move along OK, but when only 6 players show up, they would rather play as a 6some rather than two 3somes.  Then play slows down.  

 

Even if the large group plays fairly fast, the problem doesn't end.  Other players see a 6some on the course and think they can get their buddies and do the same thing.  They book two tee times, but when on the course, they join up.  That's when it's chaos.  The head pro has to put a stop to all large groups whether they play quickly or not.  It's up to the course if they want to allow 5somes, but if they do, 6somes will eventually occur.

[iLikeGolf]

A group of 6 is bad course management.  The complaint should go to the head pro.  The problem is that once a course allows a 5some, then it grows to a 6some or larger.  It happens a lot here too.  We have a group that plays every morning.  A large group may form depending on the number of players that show up.  If it is close to a number of players divisible by 4. then all is good.  Teams are formed; sometimes a 5some is formed because one player is not that good and is thrown on a team.  They move along OK, but when only 6 players show up, they would rather play as a 6some rather than two 3somes.  Then play slows down.  

 

Even if the large group plays fairly fast, the problem doesn't end.  Other players see a 6some on the course and think they can get their buddies and do the same thing.  They book two tee times, but when on the course, they join up.  That's when it's chaos.  The head pro has to put a stop to all large groups whether they play quickly or not.  It's up to the course if they want to allow 5somes, but if they do, 6somes will eventually occur.

 

Last time I played it was terrible. The guys that were ahead of us last time were each dropping 2-3 balls if they were playing bad shots and wouldn't budge.

 

The owner of the course (a locally owned, small 9 hole course) is pretty bad at letting anyone and everyone play. I totally understand going out and trying to have a little fun, but if you're holding up 3 groups behind you, move on.