Golf is a beautiful game that is incredibly calming and frustrating all at the same time. The rules are fairly simple and the goal of getting the ball in the hole seems straightforward right? My favorite aspects of the game are likely the exact reason some players dislike the sport. The variability, unpredictability, and sheer difficulty of completing a golf swing drives many away from the sport. But if you can learn to enjoy the process and make some memories you will be hooked.
Being out in Nature
Although I do enjoy a good simulator or TopGolf session, being on a golf course out in nature. Away from the hustle and bustle of today’s world is calming. There are few noises or distractions that allow you to focus on what you’re there for. On course, you may have acres all to yourself, or seeing an animal run across the fairway helps to promote this secluded feeling.
Like a good hike golf courses can provide some jaw-dropping views. Gazing over mountains, ocean coastline, or whatever scenery you may gives you a moment to take in what has been carved out for you to enjoy.
Challenge vs Myself
Few other sports allow participants to play and compete in every scenario. Be it, a high-pressure tournament vs professionals or all alone on a municipal course. Golf is a game oriented around competing with yourself on the course. You cannot influence your opponent’s score (legally). You can’t change the course while you play. All you can do is learn, adapt, and execute.
When you arrive at the course you show up with all the equipment and ability you have for the day. Hitting the range or putting green will help you understand how you’re swinging and give information on green speed, but all you can do from there is adapt. Maybe you are playing a draw today instead of the usual fade, or you are coming up 15 yards short on your irons. If you don’t observe and learn what’s happening you will struggle. You are in a fight and it is with your mind and ability.
Variety of Courses
No two courses are the same.
Even if golf courses were all the same or you only ever play one course, every round, and every shot will be different. Be it that day’s weather, the fact that, the rough has grown out, or your back pain is flaring up. You play from new spots, situations, and new challenges every swing.
The beauty and difficulty a new course can bring is exhilarating and infuriating. One of my biggest pet peeves is blind tee shots with water or hazards without warning. Although, standing on a tee box, trying to imagine how the designer intended the hole to be played. What hazards are intended to scare or punish the golfer? Why did they leave a huge tree in the middle of the fairway? What does the designer know that I don’t? Knowing or imagining these things should help you diagnose the course and the intended strategy.
The Views, the layout, and the level of maintenance, all play into how the designer and greenskeeper want you to enjoy and interact with their creation.
Variety of Shots
If you want consistency with the sport you can’t be a one-trick pony (Happy Gilmore learned that the hard way). You can be great at driving the ball but if you can’t get the little white ball in the hole you will be frustrated. With 4ish types of clubs (woods, irons, wedges, putter) that have their shot style and the countless number of shots that can be delivered with each one. Needing to hit a ¾ knockdown Pitching Wedge with a cut, to keep it under a tree but clear the bunker, is one shot of hundreds that you may encounter on any random round of golf.
You never know what you will have to face one shot from now.
Planning and Executing
As mentioned above golf is unpredictable but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go in with a plan. You may not know how your swing will behave or green conditions, but you can plan for success. Doing some initial course prep can give you knowledge and strategy that few take advantage of. Planning out a line to aim at or knowing where the hazards are on each particular hole allows you to make more informed decisions on course. Knowing it’s a tight fairway with water hazard at driver distance, allows you to make good decisions at the start.
The execution of the plan is the rewarding part. When you can call your shot and succeed that’s a wonderful feeling. Reading a green and planning for 6 inches of break on a 15-foot putt is the plan. Making that putt, and celebrating, is the execution.
Bonding Time
This seems fairly simple but going golfing for 2-4 hours. Few distractions, no TV, no kids, no work, and usually no phones, this is time to relax and enjoy. So if you are golfing with others it’s a good time to get to know them or at least talk about what is happening on the course.
I grew up playing with my dad, grandpa, brother, cousins, and friends. Being the slower-paced game there is plenty of time to talk, joke, poke fun, or laugh with others. These times are rarely available in other activities. How many opportunities do you get hours to spend with a friend or loved one to share some time and build memories?
Easy to Build Memories
I’m sure everyone has golf moments good and bad that come to mind immediately. Be it a chip-in on 18, your first Birdie, or Acing a 143yrd par 3 with your friends (even if it was with a 5iron). Golf has a way of engraining in one’s brain. I believe, since golf is a relatively slow-paced activity you get several minutes to relive (or overthink) the moment before you hit your next shot. It also is easy to share these stories with others and relate to their situations and celebrations.
Having golfed for two-thirds of my life it is easy to say that I have my fair share of golf memories. The smell of freshly cut grass on a cool dewy morning brings back enough memories of standing on the 1st tee, makes me want to ditch work and go straight to the course.
Equipment Technology
Surprise a guy who decided to write a golf blog is intrigued by the golf equipment. This also tickles my engineering and product design side. Golf is one of few sports where there is so much ability to innovate and develop new technologies. Be it around the equipment used on the course, a new training aid, or technology that helps you decide what equipment is best for you.
The best kicker with golf equipment technology is that it is purely optional. I can go out with a niblick and feathery and enjoy the game just as much as someone playing the newest, shiniest clubs. As an example, I believe my great uncle who plays nearly every day has been playing the same 3 wood for 30+ years….. and he bought it used.
Any Age Any Ability / Lifelong Sport
This is one of the best indirect benefits of this amazing game. If you can walk and swing a club, no matter what it looks like, you can enjoy this game. I have seen 3-year-olds on the course and heard stories of people in their 100s knocking the ball around.
Watching 80-year-old “Steady Eddy” knock the ball 150 yards on each shot to be on the green 3 or 4 strokes and at most 2 putts. He walks away with a bogie or better with nothing spectacular. He is enjoying the game and that’s what’s important.
This is why I encourage anyone to get into the game. It opens the door for a lifelong activity. You may not be a good golfer or just beginning but breaking 100 can be just as empowering as breaking par. Practice and patients goes a long way in this sport but enjoyment brings people back to golf.
