Serious? Fun? or Serious Fun?

[Rob Person]

 

What category do you fall in?

as a casual golf enthusiast, I play for Fun!

when i do get to play, it's mainly a stress reliever from my job (LEO field).

while I tend to play solo, or maybe with 1 or 2 others now, I am enjoying myself the entire time. sure I get frustrated with the sloppy shots, but no matter what I score, its still enjoyable for me.

a few friends who are also beginners, go way too serious and tend to take it to the extreme though. They act as if it's a tour championship, and just stay frustrated the entire round, everytime!!!. I've had to shy away from playing with them because of this, as it just doesn't seen enjoyable after the 3rd hole.

I enjoy playing in charity events though the most when i can.  the team I generally play with takes it serious, but have fun during the events and there's absolutely no pressure. we're there for the host cause.

 

(I should say, I do respect the game and take course etiquette seriously though )

[MattF]

I'd say serious fun.

I'm serious about my play but I like to have fun.

[cnosil]

Depends on the day and situation.  Generally it is for fun but I play in a league so it is also serious fun.  One day I’d like to get more serious.

[Josh Parker]

This is a tough one for me these days... it's all about fun but I would say I fall into serious fun. I used to have a single digit handicap and am no longer there after a handful of years away from the game other than the occasional round.  Knowing that I had played at that level makes the game frustrating at times when I don't play well these days. It has become a personal challenge to get back to that game.  I still go out there and enjoy the round with friends and being outdoors but I would say I have a different focus as well. 

[StrokerAce]

are both okay? the amount of time it takes from addressing your ball to finishing your shot can't be more than about 30-45 seconds. I'll be serious during that time and have fun the rest of the time.

I constantly am amazed at the number of people who get ***MAD*** at themself/everything on the golf course and their temper goes up and up and up. what other activity would you PAY nearly 100 dollars to be mad and angry for 4 hours? haha

 

[Hacker60521]

If you don’t enjoy the game then don’t play. Life is too short for things you don’t enjoy.

I play for fun and a bit of serious. But I’m also aware that I’m an amateur, so I don’t expect to par or birdie every hole, sink every three footer, and never miss a fairway. We’ve all seen the data that shows how well PGA players and amateurs actually perform so I manage my expectations. I think for newbies they’re so focused on what we see on TV that they haven’t had time to realize golf is actually hard. This year I’ve focused a lot more on course management and mental state and it’s helped my game tremendously.

[Rob Person]

2 hours ago, MattF said:

I'd say serious fun.

I'm serious about my play but I like to have fun.

I suppose that I will eventually fall into this category.   im still learning about how I play, swing,  etc.  I see myself taking it more seriously though the further I dive into this sport.  I'm not out there playing goofy or being ridiculous or anything,  just moving forward and developing my skills a little at a time, with what little time I have to devote to it.

[Brooky03]

Mostly fun but if I’m really struggling to just make basic contact, I’ll get frustrated.

For example, if I’m at least hitting shots with decent contact but missing greens or coming up short or in the rough, woods, hazards, etc., I’ll be having a good time.  If I’m hitting ground balls, shanks, pop-ups, I will not be having a good time.

I’m fine with my score being bad.

Edited September 27, 2023 by Brooky03

[GolfSpy_APH]

Am I allowed to day it depends on the day? In the end I just enjoy golfing and being out with good people and hopefully decent weather. So most of the time fun, but I do take it seriously.

[Girldad18]

I do not get to play as much as I would like.  It sucks to get frustrated when I do get to play.  The last few years I have tried to have fun playing and accepting whatever results from it.  I played earlier in the year at Trump National in LA with some buddies.  Played horribly.  They wanted me to play the back tees, which was a tall order considering how little I play.  Didn't score well at all.  Most approach shots were 200+ yards.  Accepted it early and tried to have as much fun as possible.  At least I got to see the whole course!  And beautiful views.  And shot the worst score I have shot in years.  It's all about outlook/expectations.  If you don't play much, then don't set the expectations too high.  Just accept it.  Golf is hard.  For everyone.  TV makes it look easy, but they do that all day, every day.  It should look easier for them.

[Jim Shaw]

I would say at this point in my journey, seriously. Oh and winning is fun, so a little fun. 

 

[Big moose]

I play golf to have fun, what makes it fun are the people you play with. Of course we all want to do good but this game is hard. If I could be as good at this game as I was at bowling I would be really happy. The last year I bowled I averaged 220 with 2 300 games, not even close to that in golf. I'm not good enough to get mad so I play to have fun.

[Fred Mitchell]

35 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Am I allowed to day it depends on the day? In the end I just enjoy golfing and being out with good people and hopefully decent weather. So most of the time fun, but I do take it seriously.

DEF depends on the day, last Friday scramble we had a shot [ I putted out of my head lol ]we took it serious but if we were not in running we would have been goof balls enjoying the day as long as we were not holding up play, tommorow going out just me and wife she doesnt play just drives cart and we enjoy the afternoon on a quieter course. I used to be the guy that was mad and miserable if I didnt play like I thought I should WHY, I am never going pro at best I might win a prize once in a blue moon at a scramble for closest to the pin or something so I refuse to pay money anymore to be mad and unhappy.

[chisag]

... I have never really liked "Fun" as a description for any competitive sport. I prefer "Enjoyable" and my golf is a mix of enjoyable and deadly serious. I am laser focused for the few seconds it takes to evaluate my shot and then execute it. As soon as the ball is gone I am out of the dead serious zone. I don't think I have ever yelled at my ball in the air to SIT! or GO! simply because I know it is out of my hands at that point. Probably a result of playing QB through college and keeping a level emotional attitude because you can't force things and you have to accept the good with the bad.

... That said I really enjoy being out communing with nature, talking and walking with friends and of course enjoying good shots while accepting bad shots. Fun? Maybe semantics but not so much. Enjoyable? Every single time I play.   

[Stuka44]

6 hours ago, Rob Person said:

when i do get to play, it's mainly a stress reliever from my job (LEO field).

Well done! I retired at the end of 2018 with 30 years on the street.  It took me a while to realize, the job extracts a toll from everyone.  I hope yours has not been too great. Far too many of our brothers in blue succumb to the stress, and fail to find enjoyment in anything. Protecting ourselves is just as important as protecting others!!!!  I now let NOTHING detract from enjoying every second of every day!!!

[Rob Person]

37 minutes ago, Stuka44 said:

Well done! I retired at the end of 2018 with 30 years on the street.  It took me a while to realize, the job extracts a toll from everyone.  I hope yours has not been too great. Far too many of our brothers in blue succumb to the stress, and fail to find enjoyment in anything. Protecting ourselves is just as important as protecting others!!!!  I now let NOTHING detract from enjoying every second of every day!!!

thanks for your career dedication. got roughly 11 years left until I have to pinch pennies to play..lol

alot of us started attending LEAPS seminars the last couple years. it really does help.

 

[Rob Person]

45 minutes ago, chisag said:

... I have never really liked "Fun" as a description for any competitive sport. I prefer "Enjoyable" and my golf is a mix of enjoyable and deadly serious. I am laser focused for the few seconds it takes to evaluate my shot and then execute it. As soon as the ball is gone I am out of the dead serious zone. I don't think I have ever yelled at my ball in the air to SIT! or GO! simply because I know it is out of my hands at that point. Probably a result of playing QB through college and keeping a level emotional attitude because you can't force things and you have to accept the good with the bad.

... That said I really enjoy being out communing with nature, talking and walking with friends and of course enjoying good shots while accepting bad shots. Fun? Maybe semantics but not so much. Enjoyable? Every single time I play.   

I understand your perspectice, and I do find it enjoyable, even on bad days. but even then, I have fun doing it

 

[Dead Solid Bogey]

Golf is a continuing “ fluid “ ( so many balls in the water ) situation. 
  I started playing golf as an opportunity to try many a different venue to drink alcohol at, as well as a activity to partake in as I refined my trash talking talent. Scoring and playing ability had a minimal importance in my golf game
    Fast forward many decades and between the totalitarianism of the monarch of the family and her phalanx of so-called medical experts; alcohol usage is fast becoming a fading memory. The vast majority of Ancient Agers that I play golf with are hard of hearing, so my trash talking falls on mostly deaf ears. 
   This has forced me to learn to game a somewhat respectfully looking golf game. I have broken 80 more times since I turned 70 ( now almost 72 years old ) years of age than I ever did the 54 years before getting to the 70 year old mark. 
   Golf is what we each make of it. May we all find a way to find some fun in our golf

[Preeway]

I have more fun when I take my game seriously as I play. I actually struggle to enjoy scrambles unless I'm in a real competitive group. Maybe one day I'll learn to just have fun and be less serious but that day is likely many years away.

[jbern]

I would say that I fall under fun, but similar to @cnosil , I take my strategy and shots seriously, and outside of that, it’s pure enjoyment!

[cksurfdude]

I get the original question and trying to make a distinction between, let's call it, a casual round with friends (and maybe some adult beverages) vs a round where you're working to make a score (like for your handicap).

But I'm in the hybrid camp - I'm serious when I'm hitting the ball but I loosen up and enjoy everything else during all the times in-between shots. 

There were several seasons where I was one of those guys that got down on himself when there was a not so great shot .. and it took me a long while to fully realize that not only was I being UN-fun to play with .. and also just how hard this game really is! .. but I wasn't really making progress in my game line I wanted (self fulfilling negative feedback loop ) and bottom line I wasn't really enjoying being out there like I thought I should.

So I 100% agree with everything this smart guy said...

6 hours ago, Hacker60521 said:

But I’m also aware that I’m an amateur, so I don’t expect to par or birdie every hole, sink every three footer, and never miss a fairway. We’ve all seen the data that shows how well PGA players and amateurs actually perform so I manage my expectations. I think for newbies they’re so focused on what we see on TV that they haven’t had time to realize golf is actually hard. This year I’ve focused a lot more on course management and mental state and it’s helped my game tremendously.

... Especially including:

"This year I’ve focused a lot more on course management and mental state and it’s helped my game tremendously."

[Dweed]

For sure I'm more in the serious fun side. I do enjoy the game immensely, and if I'm not in league play, I still take my rounds seriously as I try to do the best I can. As we all run into it, some rounds are just ugly so before I find myself in that depression I stop with score and for the rest of the time just try some oddball shot combinations just to see how they come out. Never anything weird on greens. They are too precious an area.  Instead of a SW out of a bunker I'll try my 8 or in a divot in the fairway I'll try to hit it thin on purpose to see how it reacts. As Rob stated there are times when it is a pure stress relief, I'll usually head to the range for that session. Many times I have put an imaginary face on the ball and let it sail>