By: Fred Altvater
As a devoted and unrepentant golfer for over 50 years, it has been my contention that it is impossible to have fun and play golf at the same time. That’s not entirely true, but in my younger days I took my scores, or my inability to lower them, much to seriously and it often affected my overall enjoyment of the game. It probably affected my playing partners adversely, as well. For that I apologize.
As I matured, my scores became less of an issue. Today I simply enjoy playing with my wife, kids, grandchildren and friends.
Here are a few tips to help you gain a bit more enjoyment from the game and reduce the frustration factor.
- You are not a professional. You will still be able to put food on the table and your kids through college if you lose that $5.00 bet to your buddy.
- It is not the end of the world if you miss a two-foot putt on the 18th green to finally break par, or post your best-ever career round. It simply means you are improving and is just another part of the golfing process.
- That last shot you hit in the water at the difficult par three will only cost you the price of the ball. Yeah, it slightly increases your score, but you were going to make a double, or triple bogey during your round anyway, so deal with it.
- Think about how your behavior on the course is affecting your playing companions. No one wants to be on the golf course for four plus hours with someone that is constantly slamming clubs, cursing and being an a**.
The gist of all of this is to change your attitude. You are an amateur, you don’t hit 500 balls every day and your livelihood does not depend on you breaking par, or even 90. Lighten up, get a life, look around. Most golf courses are pristine gardens of Eden. Stop and smell the roses, ragweed, or pine needles, whatever is available. Enjoy the company of your playing partners and try to be someone that you would like to be playing alongside.
Side note: If playing with small children, remember they are learning from watching your behavior. Don’t throw a tantrum, or a club, when you miss that three-foot birdie putt. The sun will still come up tomorrow.
Golf should be healthy exercise, a walk through a green oasis and provide a calm interlude from life’s travails. It shouldn’t require a doctor’s visit to renew your blood pressure prescription.
I enjoy the hours spent on a golf course much more today. Even though, I still give myself the occasional mental lashing after missed birdies, or pars, I get over it much more quickly, plus I don’t want to be that guy, who is talked about in 19th hole as a bad playing companion.
Hope this helps you have more FUN on the course and maybe I’ll see you on the Back 9.
