What do you like about golf

[tony@CIC]

As somewhat of a counterpoint to being "bored at golf". I thought it'd be interesting to see what keeps you from getting bored or what do you really like about it. 

For me, outside of the constant challenges that makes it interesting, it's how long you can participate in the game. I mentioned earlier this year we have a Tuskegee Airman who plays in our League - he's 95 and still takes lessons. Then at last weeks QBE Shootout they featured  the oldest living veteran from D Day - he's 99 and had played 54 holes last week. Not something you can say about a lot of sports out there. 

 

[Mr. 82]

Variety in golf courses.  It's exciting to play a new course, and try and figure out where to hit it and how best to score low on somewhere you've never played before.  I guess that morphs into travel as well.  Spend a weekend in another city, and you've got a purpose for going there.  That's why I went to Orlando last weekend, to play some new golf courses.

You also grow a group of friends that play golf as well, so you have a common interest with a group of guys.  Just like MGS here, we can have our differences off of the course, such as politics, religion, or whatever, but we all have golf in common in 10,000 different ways.  And just like last weekend, I showed up on the first tee and got paired with total strangers.  But even as strangers, everyone you are paired with knows golf, and we have an immediate bond over the game, whether we are playing good or bad.  They totally get your frustration when you say, "I suck so bad at this game." and they embrace the great moments, like when you drain a 25 footer for birdie, or when someone in your group holes out from the fairway to save par, after dunking one in the water.  Everyone knows the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in golf, as we've all been there in some way, shape or form.

But like you said, you can play golf your entire life, if you remain healthy.  My Dad is turning 84 and his biggest frustration now is that he is unable to play golf, at least that he can enjoy it at.  He's physically unable to get around the course anymore, and it makes him, and me, very sad.  But for most of us, as long as we are healthy, we can still tee it up, well into our later years.  In fact, a lot of people retire just to play golf every day.  There are entire cities, and golf courses that exist solely for this category of people.

It's also great memories from my childhood and growing up, sharing golf with my Dad and brothers.  It's hard to do what you do with golf with very many other sports.  Baseball, football and basketball you have to be in a league on some sort of team, and are limited by age, or skill.  They have adult softball leagues, but again, you have to join a league and a team to participate.  I can't even do the same with tennis, as you need another person to play tennis.  But with golf I can grab my clubs and show up at any golf course, and I can play, if I can't find anyone else around to play with me.  That is what is great about golf, and one of the main reasons I still play.  I mean, I'm socially awkward anyway, so having an activity I can do alone if need be makes golf the greatest sport ever invented.

[RickyBobby_PR]

Gear, being on the course, desire to get better and socializing with friends or random golfers.

[GB13]

For me, I relish the challenge of always being able to do better. Your potential in golf is limitless. You can always be better at something. 

I get genuinely excited to play new courses and enjoy the beauty of 300+ acres with no housing devlopments or malls. I love being out in a (controlled) nature setting.

Finally, I love the camaraderie, that comes along with the game. The ability to come to places like MGS to talk about the game or anything else while not boring, someone who is uninterested, half to death talking about the bend profile of a golf shaft is really what the game is about.

[GolfSpy MPR]

What I like about golf is  that there are so many ways to enjoy it. Like @GB13 said, the allure of getting better is always there. Even when Furyk shot his 58, there were putts that could have dropped for him.

But there's more than just scoring. There's the social side, as some have mentioned. For me, that's chiefly about spending time with my son.

There's equipment. There's gadgets. There's nature. There's course architecture. There's history—so much history. There's business. There's being a fan of professional golf, both the skill and the soap opera of personalities.

What I like about golf is that is a game capable of being liked for so many reasons. You might be drawn by some of these reasons and be utterly apathetic to others. But the variety of the appeal is itself a draw for me.

___________________________________________

Unrelated to anything: one of you guys needs to change your profile picture

[GB13]

12 minutes ago, mpatrickriley said:

What I like about golf is  that there are so many ways to enjoy it. Like @GB13 said, the allure of getting better is always there. Even when Furyk shot his 58, there were putts that could have dropped for him.

But there's more than just scoring. There's the social side, as some have mentioned. For me, that's chiefly about spending time with my son.

There's equipment. There's gadgets. There's nature. There's course architecture. There's history—so much history. There's business. There's being a fan of professional golf, both the skill and the soap opera of personalities.

What I like about golf is that is a game capable of being liked for so many reasons. You might be drawn by some of these reasons and be utterly apathetic to others. But the variety of the appeal is itself a draw for me.

___________________________________________

Unrelated to anything: one of you guys needs to change your profile picture

Haha! I would have a different profile picture but I can't find a picture that is below 0.1mb. 

[cnosil]

Not much that can be added to this thread. I think everything has been covered.

[TheWahoo]

5 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Not much that can be added to this thread. I think everything has been covered.

Agreed and I endorse the comments of others.    But golf also provides an additional helpful factor for me at my age.   Its a means to check my prostate.   If I can play 18 holes without needing to pee, I figure my prostate is OK.   It avoids having to endure that rather unpleasant test.  The one where you hope to never see two hands on your shoulders.

[Mr. 82]

1 hour ago, GB13 said:

Haha! I would have a different profile picture but I can't find a picture that is below 0.1mb. 

You can get any picture below whatever size you need by simply editing it in a basic photo editing program and reducing the file size.  If you can't figure it out, PM me and send me the pic, and I'll get you squared away with whatever you want.

[GB13]

11 minutes ago, GSwag said:

You can get any picture below whatever size you need by simply editing it in a basic photo editing program and reducing the file size.  If you can't figure it out, PM me and send me the pic, and I'll get you squared away with whatever you want.

Thanks. I'll look at it tonight when I'm on a desktop. 

[Shankster]

Blue Skies, fresh cut grass, birds chirping.

It’s the ultimate chess game. You against the course, you win some and you lose some.

[bens197]

30 years ago my grandpa built me my first set of clubs. He taught me how to assemble them and I now have his old handmade workbench in my own home.

Golf has been a part of my life for a majority of my years. I have more quality stories and life spent on the course than I ever could have imagined.

Family and friends and some good walks spoiled.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[fixyurdivot]

It has many of the same elements of fly fishing.  

[LeftyHawk]

Like so many have said here, the challenge, even if you play the same course day to day, it's never the same. Being outside on a sunny day, friendship and common interest, have you ever tried to explain to a non golfer how great a 20 foot bridie is!! And the thrill at the possibilities of the next shot!!!!

Chris

[perseveringgolfer]

The Challenge!

Every time you play, every hole and every shot is a challenge to improve.

[sixcat]

Golf seems to have always been therapy for me.  I mostly play after leaving the office in the afternoons when my home club is virtually empty.  I have grown to love that quiet, alone time to just decompress.

  

[PlaidJacket]

Other than what's already been said.... I have a new reason for liking golf.

I've managed to get The First Tee started in our city. Been at it for almost 2 years. So, for me I'm thrilled our organization is now introducing this wonderful game to thousands of kids. Most of these kids would have never had an opportunity to give golf a try. But now they can. And they are! If you think making a hole-in-one or shooting a low score is an achievement or rewarding.... try working with kids by introducing them to golf. Just watching their faces and expressions as they are starting to experience everything that we take for granted about this great game is priceless.

[tony@CIC]

1 hour ago, PlaidJacket said:

Other than what's already been said.... I have a somewhat new reason for liking golf.

I've managed to get The First Tee started in our city. Been at it for almost 2 years. So, for me I'm thrilled our organization is now introducing this wonderful game to thousands of kids. Most of these kids would have never had an opportunity to give golf a try. But now they can. And they are! If you think making a hole-in-one or shooting a low score is an achievement or rewarding.... try working with kids by introducing them to golf. Just watching their faces and expressions as they are starting to experience everything that we take for granted about this great game is priceless.

PJ congrats on getting 1st Tee started. It's volunteer work like this that grows the game! 

[TR1PTIK]

I've always enjoyed the challenge of the game. If it were easy, I wouldn't play and thanks to the diversity of golf equipment I can basically make it as easy or as difficult as I want. I love being outside on an early morning with dew on the grass and sun breaking through the trees while I walk with few reminders that the rest of the world is still out there. I love the thrill of a well struck shot and even the opportunities presented by poorly struck shots. I like playing with friends or by myself in isolation. It's my exercise (part of it at least) and my therapy. I like to geek out on stats and equipment and the golf swing. I pretty much like everything about golf.

[Charli]

What i like about golf is the same reason as what I like about racing cars. When your there everything else is erased from your brain. Now I don’t race cars anymore but I’m happy golf has taken its place. I don’t worry about a single thing and life is good. FroM waking up early to seeing friends, drinking beers, smoking cigars to even sitting at the bar after having lunch and talking crap. The entire experience is just great. So to answer your question it’s the fact it becomes a paradise for me. My little escape if you will