What's your idea of a true golfer ? Are you one of them ?

[release]

I had been around the game of golf for almost 4 decades now, slowing down a bit in recent years.  Used to be,  I must get my fix of golf every week, rain or shine.

Got to thinking a little about the game.  Picked up quite a bit of reading of the subject.  Read everything I could put my hands on with the subject relating to golf.  Thus the question of, who is a "real golfer "  ?   A "traditional golfer " ?    A "modern golfer " ?

I used to believe to get the full enjoyment out of a round of golf, one must walk the round, carry or pull/push a golf cart, or at the top of this category, hire a caddy.  In the past, I was asked many times while golf with friends and associates, Why won't you take a golf cart ?  My answer to that was always this,  "there be time I'll have to take a golf cart on difficult terrain but I rather walk the golf course, while, I still can ! "

Now, the time has come for me to switch from carrying my own golf bag, to pull cart, then to push cart, finally to consider either a powered push cart or a riding cart.  I will resist a riding cart whenever I could.  How should I put it from my own perspective ?   It's like going through a beautiful countryside, driving through it would only give one "some" scenery and little feel for it,  Riding a bicycle will allow one to observe more of the beauty, walking through t it would allow one to soak in the maximum of what it really is by smelling, touching, feeling the environment.

I am one of those who also believe that a golf course will talk to a golfer, if, the golfer allows himself/herself to open to the concept.  The older the golf course, the more history , the more interesting the "feeling" should be.  Then again, not everyone could appreciate the finer things in life.

I'm not trying to tell everyone how to enjoy golf.  It'll be entirely up to the person to decide how one should enjoy a round of golf.  I just thought that if the game is all about hitting the golf balls and rush in the cart to the next spot for the next shot, jump out , swing , jump back in, step on the accelerator to the next spot, repeat. might as well get on a simulator to save the time of traveling to and from the golf course.

What's your take on traditional golfer, vs. modern golfer ?

[revkev]

I love the way you framed the question.  I’ve got an extra decade on you. I got into the game because an elementary school friend spent an academic year in Scotland when his Dad went to St Andrews to teach on loan from Yale. My friend came back on fire for golf and I was the only one foolish enough to take it up with him, along with butterfly hunting - he’s the chief entomologist at Yale today!  Sorry, proud of him.

 

i did not play much in those days because I became a good baseball player and that was my sport until junior year of college when a nasty bit of mono put an end to my budding career as a back up DIII catcher.
 

No sports tgat risked contact for a year was the result there so I dug my golf clubs out on Spring Break, brought them to school, talked my Dad into paying the $75 junior membership, found a night job and played every day - it took about a month for me to start breaking 80 and by the next summer park was always in reach - I also had a new set of very nice clubs.

 

For me then a golfer walked, carried his own bag, shot around par and played munis where the money games were. 
 

Fast forward to my early 30’s, a wife, became a dad, seminary - I preferred to walk but still real golfers at this time we’re defined, in my mind, by score and tees, real golfers shot in the 79’s from the tips.  That’s also when I started to get into equipment - it was the transition from wood to metal, irons with strengthened lofts, lob wedges, gap wedges, I joined a  semi private club for the first time once I settled into my first church and crafted my bag for that course. 
 

Moved to Florida as I turned 50 - that’s when I transitioned from walking as much as possible to riding almost exclusively. It’s hot here, dangerously so.  Over the course of those next 6 or 7 years I played very good golf - got my handicap down to a 1 - index .8 playing from the back tees where ever I went until I could move up a set at age 55.  
 

Not long there after I had heart issues, contracted pneumonia, gained tons of weight and my handicap sky rocketed topping out at just under 10. I was ready to quit playing as I turned 60 - it’s tough to go from threatening par in competitive rounds to struggling to break 85 even when playing for fun.

 

But I loved the social aspects of golf and I was very active here by then and had started to learn from the people on this forum that there are oodles of reasons that people play golf and very few of them have to do with who is shooting the lowest score. It was an eye opener.  

 

At any rate, I joined a fitness program, became a member at a private club with a beautiful course, lost weight, started to work on my game and had fun playing again.  I play most of my rounds at my club, a classic new Florida course designed by Tom Fazio. Sand, water, gators, snakes and other assorted wild life including an eagle dot the landscape. I also play a good deal at my buddy’s club, built in the 20’s an old school Florida course with almost no elevation change and tiny greens that are brutal to hit in our swirling winds.  We have a friend who lives off the 4th tee and another who lives off the 14th green - perfect places to grab a beer which we chip in and stock for them. Some times we don’t make it past 14.
 

The last two seasons I’ve purchased a pull cart and will often walk 9 months out of the year.  I love to walk those courses with my friends and I’ve come to define a golfer in this way - someone who goes to the course to have fun - whatever that love looks like for him.

 

 

[release]

4 hours ago, revkev said:

I love the way you framed the question.  I’ve got an extra decade on you..

 

For me then a golfer walked, carried his own bag, shot around par and played munis where the money games were. 
 

Fast forward to my early 30’s, a wife, became a dad, seminary - I preferred to walk but still real golfers at this time we’re defined, in my mind, by score and tees, real golfers shot in the 79’s from the tips.  That’s also when I started to get into equipment - it was the transition from wood to metal, irons with strengthened lofts, lob wedges, gap wedges, I joined a  semi private club for the first time once I settled into my first church and crafted my bag for that course. 

I agree with your statement of a real golfer are the ones who played Muni courses from the back and shot around par , involved in some type of money games.  

I had never gamble big on the golf course, a word of caution from my father's.  Who told me never to gamble especially on the golf course, because he had seen some extra ordinary examples.  So a 5 dollar Nassau was probably the limit for me in the past.  decades ago, the usual bet was 2 bids per hole, no one got hurt from losing just to keep everyone's attention .

A golfer goes out to the temple of his choice every chance he has, is a real golfer.   
 

Not long there after I had heart issues, contracted pneumonia, gained tons of weight and my handicap sky rocketed topping out at just under 10. I was ready to quit playing as I turned 60 - it’s tough to go from threatening par in competitive rounds to struggling to break 85 even when playing for fun.

 

But I loved the social aspects of golf and I was very active here by then and had started to learn from the people on this forum that there are oodles of reasons that people play golf and very few of them have to do with who is shooting the lowest score. It was an eye opener.  

The last two seasons I’ve purchased a pull cart and will often walk 9 months out of the year.  I love to walk those courses with my friends and I’ve come to define a golfer in this way - someone who goes to the course to have fun - whatever tgat love oks like for him.

 

 

I did not really "golf" until I was in the financial service industry with one of the big three back in the early 80's.  Always went with my father to his golf game in the country club back then and enjoyed the swimming pools and the tennis courts.  My father moved around in Asia with his job so the family followed.  He had membership in several of the countries we stayed .  Enjoyed the driving range when I was a junior but no real golf.

The financial industry was full of the dedicated golfers, my managing broker tried to get the whole office to golf , in order to promote the game and the business.  That's when I picked up my starter set of golf clubs.  I remembered it was from the bargain section of a local brick and mortar golf shop ( obviously, back then, no internet and the pro shops only had the top of the line models, not for the beginning golfers ).  I picked up a mixed set of Powerbilt and Dunlap.  It was the transition time of the first metal woods.  My father suggested for me to get the metal woods instead of the persimmons because of the ease of maintenance for a beginner golfer.   Not until I got hooked on the game and started to make decent income did I buy a nice set of golf clubs.  It was the Ben Hogan irons and the first of the Taylormade Pittsburgh Persimmon, a bullseye putter to complete the bag.

Of course, over the years I had added on many other sets of fine golf clubs.  It was more exciting for me to look for the new golf clubs every 3-4 years ( longer product cycle back then ).  Got into the equipment maintenance/building side of the game in the early 90's .  Starting with re-griping and progressed from there.  I'm the kind of a guy who likes to fix things around the house instead of calling in the repairman.  I still mow my own yard and trim/top all the trees and bushes while all of my neighbors had been using landscapers, except for one another older gentleman down the cul-de-sac; we are the dying breed.

If you ever golfed around the Seattle area, you and I probably have a good chance of being paired up.  Had golfed with many of the Reverend and pastor in the past.  Most of them were visiting the area.  I guess golf is a popular sports anywhere.

 

Edited July 16, 2021 by release

[Shapotomous]

My opinion of a "true golfer" is one that plays by all the rules so the scores they post are true. 

follow up....And also doesn't throw in a sandbag score if they are out of a hole in league play to keep their handicap on the generous side for the next week!  

 

I've had the course talk to me....usually it says...."You idiot....you thought you could really pull off that shot?!?!?! Well here is a nice double bogey for you as a reward! "   

[russtopherb]

A true golfer is someone who hits a golf ball, has fun, and can't wait to get back out there and do it again.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

A true golfer is anyone that enjoys just playing the game. Whether thats by yourself walking 18, having a cigar with your 4some, a good cocktail at the 19th hole after a round or even those that just love watching it on TV or from the 18th. The reason I include this is my grandfather has not been able to play in years, he IMO is the epitome of a golfer even though he cannot play, he loves talking the game with me and I love it just as much as he does.

Me I think I am a mix? Traditional and modern, I love the modern game but the traditional values if that makes sense?

Love the question by the way, going to get alot of different views here.

[Shankster]

Anyone that enjoys teeing up is a golfer.  I have my own opinions on certain things that I would consider a true golfer, but to save a long drawn our argument I will keep them to myself.

 

Enjoy the game, be respectful of other people on the course, fix your divots and pitch marks, keep pace, and enjoy the scenery.

[THEZIPR23]

1 hour ago, Shankster said:

Anyone that enjoys teeing up is a golfer.  I have my own opinions on certain things that I would consider a true golfer, but to save a long drawn our argument I will keep them to myself.

 

Enjoy the game, be respectful of other people on the course, fix your divots and pitch marks, keep pace, and enjoy the scenery.

This!

[release]

3 hours ago, Shapotomous said:

My opinion of a "true golfer" is one that plays by all the rules so the scores they post are true. 

LOL... how true !  When you find a way to enforce the posting of scores, let me know will you ?  We could put something together and retire on it.

Yes, and why do you think there was the rules of playing golf in the first place ?

Golf will bring out the best and the worst in a person.  Since there were gambling involved from day one, a set of rules was needed for fair competition ( so much as it should but not always followed and could be enforced ).

I had known some very well to do golfers who will fudge and "cheat" over a handful of coins.  I'd love to spot those actions because that will give me an advantage if I ever have to get on the business side with those who cheat on the golf course.  Little did they know, that they had shown their hands for future reference of their true characters .

[release]

2 hours ago, Shankster said:

Anyone that enjoys teeing up is a golfer.  I have my own opinions on certain things that I would consider a true golfer, but to save a long drawn our argument I will keep them to myself.

 

Enjoy the game, be respectful of other people on the course, fix your divots and pitch marks, keep pace, and enjoy the scenery.

Aman to this.

[ZenGolfer]

13 hours ago, release said:

I had been around the game of golf for almost 4 decades now, slowing down a bit in recent years.  Used to be,  I must get my fix of golf every week, rain or shine.

Got to thinking a little about the game.  Picked up quite a bit of reading of the subject.  Read everything I could put my hands on with the subject relating to golf.  Thus the question of, who is a "real golfer "  ?   A "traditional golfer " ?    A "modern golfer " ?

I used to believe to get the full enjoyment out of a round of golf, one must walk the round, carry or pull/push a golf cart, or at the top of this category, hire a caddy.  In the past, I was asked many times while golf with friends and associates, Why won't you take a golf cart ?  My answer to that was always this,  "there be time I'll have to take a golf cart on difficult terrain but I rather walk the golf course, while, I still can ! "

Now, the time has come for me to switch from carrying my own golf bag, to pull cart, then to push cart, finally to consider either a powered push cart or a riding cart.  I will resist a riding cart whenever I could.  How should I put it from my own perspective ?   It's like going through a beautiful countryside, driving through it would only give one "some" scenery and little feel for it,  Riding a bicycle will allow one to observe more of the beauty, walking through t it would allow one to soak in the maximum of what it really is by smelling, touching, feeling the environment.

I am one of those who also believe that a golf course will talk to a golfer, if, the golfer allows himself/herself to open to the concept.  The older the golf course, the more history , the more interesting the "feeling" should be.  Then again, not everyone could appreciate the finer things in life.

I'm not trying to tell everyone how to enjoy golf.  It'll be entirely up to the person to decide how one should enjoy a round of golf.  I just thought that if the game is all about hitting the golf balls and rush in the cart to the next spot for the next shot, jump out , swing , jump back in, step on the accelerator to the next spot, repeat. might as well get on a simulator to save the time of traveling to and from the golf course.

What's your take on traditional golfer, vs. modern golfer ?

Im definetly more of a traditional golfer.  I walk and I only carry 7 clubs.  You cant get much more traditional than that unless you start swinging hickories and hitting a gutty.  I personally prefer walking and feel that golf is better when you walk because it affords you moments of reflection and contemplation that you just dont get when you ride in a cart and I feel that walking allows you to much better appreciate the course and the terrain.

For me, as someone who practices Zen Buddhism, golf is very much a meditation for me.  I do believe that everything in life can be meditation if you treat it that way and golf is no different for me.  I just dont feel that I get the same thing when I ride in a cart.  

Im sure that some day I will no longer be able to walk 18 or even 9 and I will have to take a cart but that day is not today and Im going to put it off for as long as I can.

[Shapotomous]

2 hours ago, Shankster said:

Anyone that enjoys teeing up is a golfer.  I have my own opinions on certain things that I would consider a true golfer, but to save a long drawn our argument I will keep them to myself.

 

Enjoy the game, be respectful of other people on the course, fix your divots and pitch marks, keep pace, and enjoy the scenery.

Amen to this!!   A true golfer fixes their ball marks and replaces divots!!    It's a rare league night that I don't fix at least 5 ball marks per green.  And a lot of them are older and not just from league play.

[release]

2 hours ago, Shapotomous said:

A true golfer fixes their ball marks and replaces divots!!    It's a rare league night that I don't fix at least 5 ball marks per green.  And a lot of them are older and not just from league play.

A reflection of the society we're living in right now.  Kind of funny this reflection is from the golf courses.

I remembered my father's generation were much more considerate and kinder to the others.  You'll hardly witness people practice the minimum courtesy to others these days, at least around the metropolitan area close to me.  It used to be a nicer town !  

[release]

I feel that I must share this after knowing it myself.

There is this golfer whom I kept running into at local public golf courses.  I mean, within a 50 miles radius from the metro area.  I play all over the area depending on when and where the discounted green fee is offered.  This way I could squeeze in more round of golf with the same budget.

Anyhow, by the time we ran into each other the 3rd time in one month, we had progressed in the small talk.  He is not a talkative person, kind of to himself most of the time.  But gradually, I learned that he is just retired.  Moved from one County to the other because of golf.  The county farther to the South has more public golf courses at a more reasonable rate for the green fees.  Both him and I don't believe in joining a single private club and play most of our golf at the same place.

Both his wife and he have no children and both were professionals in their field of work, so they have a lot of disposable income/saving.  They do not have a huge mansion, a very respectable place for single family dwelling and they both have nice vehicles but nothing will turn the heads of onlookers.  Where they spent most of their money is to travel and play golf.  They had been to Europe and most accessible golf courses here in the North America.  They had played over 80 of the top 100 public golf courses in this country and looking to expend to Asia and other parts of the world in the near future.

They have plans for retirements but no large portfolio to be left after they're gone.  I looked at them and realized that they know what they want to do before they retired to the rocking chair.  Not many I know would plan to spend most of their lifetime savings with something they love to do.  He has been taking lessons with top teaching pros all over the Nation, entered into local tournaments for the thrill of competition, traveled the world to play golf, moved his primary residence to a place where he could spend more time on the golf courses.

Have not seen him for awhile now, since my injury have sideline me for almost a year.  Funny, he was the one I thought about with golf while I was away from the golf courses.  We were not close friends, only knew each other by our first names....... strange how life story turn out to be.

I would say, he qualify 110% as a true golfer.  Dedicated to the game to another level as an amateur. 

 

Edited July 21, 2021 by release