Hooked On Golf Blog

Golf, We Have a Problem

Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, February 10th, 2017
Categories: Golf

Temperatures here in northern Utah have increased and the snow has melted. Well, not in the mountains above x-thousand feet though. Still plenty of great skiing snow there. But down below mountain level we are now seeing two things we haven’t seen in months, grass and dirt. Some golf courses are now open.

It is at this point in time that I typically post about my excitement for the upcoming golf season. Typically when these conditions happen I’ll even get out and play golf on the soggy and sometimes frozen courses. By this point in any winter over the last 15-20 years, I will have been lamenting the cold and dying to get out and golf.

This winter is different. I don’t miss golf. I don’t have that ache to return to golf.

When winter fell upon us here at the end of 2016 I welcomed it, unlike previous years where I hoped it would never come. I was somewhat relieved when winter came; to not “have to” golf, spend the money, spend the time, experience the frustration, and feel like I’m not being productive.

It’s a weird feeling. I almost feel like I’m obligated to golf or obligated to like golf. Right now I’m quite apathetic toward it. I’m not sure what to say at this point, other than I’ll just see how things pan out as spring approaches.

4 responses to “Golf, We Have a Problem”

golf4me says:

February 13, 2017 at 7:02 am

Tony, I totally understand your situation. 5 years ago, due to injury, apathy, and the ability to find good matches (see your previous posts on handicaps/sandbaggers), I took a sabbatical. In the past 5 years, I played maybe 15 rounds, with 10 of them at an old buddies Member-Guest in my old home town of Fort Collins. I realized it wasn’t golf that I missed, but the friendships, camaraderie, and laughs that gold brought me. Do I miss the game? Absolutely. But I don’t have the time to commit to the practice I need to put in to enjoy the game at the level I know I can play. What’s the answer? If you figure it out, let me know
- Tony Korologos says:
  
  February 15, 2017 at 7:25 am
  
  “..to enjoy the game at the level I know I can play.” That’s the key. If I can’t play at a certain level, I don’t want to play at all. Sounds snooty, but that’s a big part of it. I know I’m not a PGA pro but if I can’t hit shots and execute what I’m trying to do I have no interest. And I’m not just talking about numbers or scores. I’m talking more about the quality of shots. At this point I’m beyond even caring about that anymore. To get any better as a low single-digit, it would take hours and hours of practice, lessons, bla bla bla. And how much better would I get? A handicap point or two maybe? At the end of the day golf is something I can’t perfect. Nobody can. My brain loves to overcome challenges. But this is one I’ll never overcome. It will always be exponentially more difficult the better I get. It will always be expensive. It will always be frustrating (and rewarding at times), and it will always take time. It will be the same this week as it is next year and so on. The repetitiveness of the game, and playing it every week expecting to do much different than before, is insanity defined. It’s not going to change, other than as I get older my skills will diminish. Bla.
golf4me says:

February 15, 2017 at 8:52 am

This is exactly why I enjoyed practicing more than playing. It was just a perfect ending to a long day to hit some balls, accomplish a task I wanted to get better at, play 1 or 2 holes alone, then have a cold one or 2 to end the day. Matches or playing became less important…just being on the course was the imp[important thing. I wish you well on your venture
- Tony Korologos says:
  
  February 15, 2017 at 6:45 pm
  
  Unfortunately my back and my tennis elbow(s) can’t take ball pounding or constant leaning over, or that might be a more viable option. It sounds like a good release for you. That used to be playing the drums for me, bashing the shit out of stuff.