How Good is Good Enough

[HighFade]

The topic came up the other day with my brother. He said if he could consistently shoot in the 80's he would be happy and not worry about improving. While I admire his ability to smell the roses and just play, I couold never do that. If I break par, or break 70, I only want more. There is no "good enough" for me.

So what is good enough? Under 100? 90? Etc....

 

I think most golfers feel the way I do - always trying to improve. But he has a great point - why do we keep killing ourselves for 5 more yards, or to shave 3 strokes a round?

[hckymeyer]

Golf is weird, it's about the journey, not the destination for me.

 

So there is no "good enough"  I always want to get better.  

 

Plus unless your Kim Jong-Un there is no perfect in golf.  You can always improve.

[Liberty Ball Markers]

I agree - everyone says "I'd be happy if I could just shoot 80's consistently"

 

...then they do, and only want to shoot 70's. And then break par.

 

It's always something, and I think that most folks are like you. Always want to improve.

 

 

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[MmmmmmBuddy]

Golf is weird, it's about the journey, not the destination for me.

 

So there is no "good enough"  I always want to get better.  

 

Plus unless your Kim Jong-Un there is no perfect in golf.  You can always improve.

 

This. Exactly. 

 

There is no perfect. That is why we play this stupid game..

 

I cannot think of any round that I have ever played when I made every shot I attempted. Not even 20%.  It's why I keep coming back..  

[Jmikecpa]

I have stopped really caring about a number and starting to just enjoy the game.  I have little to no time to practice these days so getting better is not an option.  This time every year I start thinking about the Open qualifier and it goes away once I realize it is not worth the time to even try. 

[PlaidJacket]

Same for me mostly. As always... even looking back on some career low rounds. It's always about the ones that got away and my round would have been even better. I'll keep trying.

[JAGolfore]

For me it's an ever changing challenge. As we get older we have to find different ways to score. It's a fun challenge and I am finding that distance although important is not the end all. I've probably lost 10 yards since college but I know more will be lost in the next decade and I look forward to being the guy that can wedge and putt you to death

 

 

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[Jiro]

Agree with the sentiments here, I think it is more about the enjoyment of the game and challenging yourself to improve as you go. There is also a time commitment required to improve that needs to be balanced with other activities and relationships in life. That will cap you on what score is deemed good enough at any given season of life.

 

 

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[tony@CIC]

Wanting to get better and seeing results is what it's about for me

 

 

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[ole gray]

Yea I think we would be lying if we said we didn't want to shot a personal best.   That's the challenge this  game brings us.   With that said I'm one of the old coots who has a body that has been beat up over the years and just getting out with my buds is a treat. 

[JBones]

Every since I shot my career best 65, I have been disappointed with everything that wasn't close to that. So, no, there is no "good enough".

 

 

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[Brjpool]

I always want to improve. My goal right now is to be getting good enough where I consistently shoot in the 80s but I know after I get there I'll want 70s

 

 

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[J.B. TexasEx]

For me, the "Mendoza Line" - to borrow a baseball idiom - is bogey golf. 

 

I'm usually content - if not satisfied - by scoring 90 or better. But, we all remember the shots we throw away during a round. I've broken 80 three times in my life. Those were great days! 

[HighFade]

Every since I shot my career best 65, I have been disappointed with everything that wasn't close to that. So, no, there is no "good enough".

 

 

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Mini-golf doesn't count Bones!

[hckymeyer]

Mini-golf doesn't count Bones!

It could have been a 64 if that stupid windmill hadn't gotten in the way.

[JBones]

Anybody that has seen me putt knows I wouldn't score that well at mini golf

 

 

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[HighFade]

hahahahahahaha

[Kenny B]

As the resident senior citizen here, I can tell you that every time I tee it up, I'm looking to shoot my low round of the year.  Last year, I shot a bunch of rounds in the 70's, but low 80's is more typical. One of those rounds was 73.  This year starting March 1, I have already shot 75, so the rest of this year I will be trying to shoot better than 75.  I know I can do it.  It won't be long before I will be trying to shoot my age!!

[wbealsd]

I'll always try to improve, but as I get older I'm pretty happy just to be able to play well enough not to embarrass myself with my friends.

 

If I'm really lucky, I'll live long enough to play my age sometime in my late 90s

[Yankeefan27]

Under 90 seems like a good goal for the average player. If you play fairly frequently under 80 seems "good enough".

 

 

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[Brian A]

For me its about meeting my goals each summer, this year is break 90, last year was beat my friend who I've never beat (I did ONCE) and break 90, came close a few times. 

 

If i could shoot in the 70's Id be more than happy but just getting out on the course and enjoying time with my dad is what I like the most

[MDGolfHacker]

Everyone pretty much summed it up. Although, if I could consistently break par, I would be more than satisfied with that. Heck, I'd be satisfied if, when I hit my ball, it goes in the general direction I am aiming

 

MDGolfHacker

[downlowkey]

A green jacket would be good enough.

 

 

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[Liberty Ball Markers]

There are lots of guys with green jackets - but they keep going back to get another one...

 

 

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[Sschaffer24]

This is an interesting topic to me.

 

I struggle constantly with taking the game too seriously and not having fun. I don't fall into the trap too often and can typically keep my head on straight, but there are times where it feels like a job. Finding a strong balance of skill/expectations and enjoyment is a priority this year. I genuinely think if I could get into the 70's consistently I would be fine, but then as others have said, you never know...

[cnosil]

While I have fun playing golf the challenge is to always play better I used to be one of the "I'd be happy if I shot in the X's". But when I got there I wanted to get lower. I have been in a plateau for quite a few years, still waiting for that round in the 60's. Once I get the I am sure the goal will be to do it again and to beat the previous low.

[MDGolfHacker]

In any sport good enough is never good enough. That's the drive that pushes athletes to get better and compete. Even casual round with friends, you are putting goals out there to push yourself. Whether limiting the number of flubbed chips, more fairways hit, less three putts or more beer drinking, you are always trying to reach a goal. That's just life

 

MDGolfHacker

[downlowkey]

In my opinion, Fred Shoemaker has most eloquently addressed this very subject in "Extraordinary Golf: The Art of the Possible". I highly recommend it to everyone and have loaned out my dog eared copy many times. Every person who subsequently absorbed it has told me something unique about the renewed perspective on golf and life it presented.

 

 

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[Shankster]

18 would be perfect yeah? I think only Chuck Norris did that.

 

 

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[silver & black]

Interesting topic. Early on, I wanted to be "as good as my brother." Later it was If I could just not score 90 anymore. After that, if I could just not score higher than 85. Now, I score in the high 70's a few times a season. I no longer bother with the "if I could just......" anymore.

 

 These days, enjoying my day on the course is way more important than what I score. No.... I still don't want to shoot 90 but, sometimes it creeps in because, well, you know.... its golf. Right now, I'm good enough to play well enough that the game is fun and enjoyable, other than the occasional round that gets away from me.

 

My other brother ( not the one I want/ed to be as good as) started playing 4 years ago. He is where I was with the "if only" thinking. He rarely scores under 90. But.... he is improving a lot. Every now and again he out drives me and it makes him so happy! Tell you the truth.... I get a kick out of it too! I love being out there with him and seeing his progress. He's become my regular golf partner.... and that is definitely "good enough".