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Started By
Message
Golf is a humbling game. How do you stop yourself from getting discouraged?
Posted on 6/29/25 at 9:12 am
Posted on 6/29/25 at 9:12 am
I grew up hacking around on the golf course. Never serious but around the game and have a true love for the game. In my late 30s, I have decided for the first time in my life to try to get “serious” about the game, register a handicap, improve my game, etc. I have just been playing 9 hole rounds and I haven’t played enough rounds yet to have an official handicap but I am close.
I am not good but I love being out there and tell myself a bad day in the golf course is still a pretty good day. But my scores have actually been getting progressively worse since I started keeping score and I had a round today that was discouraging. Hit a 75 on 9 holes. You may say this guy should just give up and I would actually agree with you
but I respect the game too much to give it up. I just need some message board therapy baws. How do you stay positive even when the game is really beating you down?
I am not good but I love being out there and tell myself a bad day in the golf course is still a pretty good day. But my scores have actually been getting progressively worse since I started keeping score and I had a round today that was discouraging. Hit a 75 on 9 holes. You may say this guy should just give up and I would actually agree with you
but I respect the game too much to give it up. I just need some message board therapy baws. How do you stay positive even when the game is really beating you down?This post was edited on 6/29/25 at 9:16 am
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Posted on 6/29/25 at 9:15 am to T1gerNate
I hit a perfect shot onto the 18th green, which gives me a simple tap in. And I tell myself "I got this."
Posted on 6/29/25 at 10:08 am to T1gerNate
If you want to get serious and havent already, i would suggest lessons. You could play by yourself for years and not get the gains a series of say 4 lessons might give you. I can personally attest to this.
Posted on 6/29/25 at 10:41 am to T1gerNate
You don’t stop, getting disappointed will be a common theme in this self inflicted torture. But you can reduce it some.
1st - Get fitted. You’re almost certainly using the wrong size grips, wrong length clubs. Getting that right will make step 2 better.
2nd - Get a few lessons.a good foundation will serve you for all the years you play.
1st - Get fitted. You’re almost certainly using the wrong size grips, wrong length clubs. Getting that right will make step 2 better.
2nd - Get a few lessons.a good foundation will serve you for all the years you play.
Posted on 6/29/25 at 10:54 am to T1gerNate
When I was younger, I found that practice made me better. Now that I’m older, beer is the answer…
Posted on 6/29/25 at 10:59 am to T1gerNate
Understand your not any good and to get good you have to learn from your bad shots.
I used to get pissed and when an old man told me I am not good enough to throw clubs. I listened stopped getting made and I started enjoying the game more. I also got a lot better.
I used to get pissed and when an old man told me I am not good enough to throw clubs. I listened stopped getting made and I started enjoying the game more. I also got a lot better.
Posted on 6/29/25 at 2:04 pm to T1gerNate
Alcohol
Posted on 6/29/25 at 2:13 pm to T1gerNate
Lower your expectations. Don’t expect to play as well as what you see in TV. Enjoy the occasional good shot. Don’t obsess over score, but look for improvement with individual shots. Play with people around your skill level. Have a sense of humor and understand that most golfers aren’t very good. Let better/faster players play through, but keep your pace up. Go for a shot you can reasonably make vs one you saw Tiger make one time. Don’t over analyze and replay endless YouTube videos in your mind before & after every shot; instead, take some real lessons from somebody who recognizes where you are.
Posted on 6/29/25 at 4:20 pm to T1gerNate
Put your ego away and play smart golf. Sure, you could stripe it 300 down the middle once in a while, but if you’re losing 8 balls a round off the tee, put your ego in check and make a concerted effort to play a round with 0 penalties off the tee.
If youre 190 out, don’t try to to get on in one….youre not good enough and will inevitably shank it, costing yourself another penalty stroke.
Dedicate yourself to range time and lessons. If you’re shooting 75 over 9 holes, you need not worry about getting your ghin established…skip the course until you improve on the range or practice green.
Watch golf on tv. Watch their pace, how they setup and swing, how the announcers talk about course management/strategy.
If youre 190 out, don’t try to to get on in one….youre not good enough and will inevitably shank it, costing yourself another penalty stroke.
Dedicate yourself to range time and lessons. If you’re shooting 75 over 9 holes, you need not worry about getting your ghin established…skip the course until you improve on the range or practice green.
Watch golf on tv. Watch their pace, how they setup and swing, how the announcers talk about course management/strategy.
Posted on 6/29/25 at 5:23 pm to T1gerNate
Understand just how hard the game is and play within your ability.
For me, i make golf about the conditions. No phone, a few beverages, and 4 hours of sunshine and no cares.
For me, i make golf about the conditions. No phone, a few beverages, and 4 hours of sunshine and no cares.
Posted on 6/29/25 at 6:29 pm to T1gerNate
Have you had a series of basic lessons from a teaching pro?
Grip?
Aim?
Stance?
Posture?
Swing?
Do you truly swing the club?
Golf is a game of “feel”.
Do you “feel” the swing?
Some of the old tropes are actually bad advice.
Get with a pro and learn to truly swing the club.
Grip?
Aim?
Stance?
Posture?
Swing?
Do you truly swing the club?
Golf is a game of “feel”.
Do you “feel” the swing?
Some of the old tropes are actually bad advice.
Get with a pro and learn to truly swing the club.
Posted on 6/30/25 at 3:14 pm to T1gerNate
Golf is one of the few sports you have got to suck at for a long time before you get to a respectable handicap. It requires a financial and time investment that most don't have the budget or time for, and it's a game of details which most people aren't good at, and then the coordination involved adds another layer.
When my game is struggling, I just figure out where I'm losing the most strokes. If it's putting, I spend time hitting practice putts around the green. If it's wedges, I'll hit a second or third chip shot after I hit my scoring ball as long as nobody is waiting. Driver sucks, just figure out which way it's going, and play for where you're missing. If you're slicing slightly, line up left for the day. If you're way off, you really need range time.
Learn to keep your highs and lows close to each other. Don't get too high on a good shot or score, and your lows won't be too low. This game will humble you quickly.
When my game is struggling, I just figure out where I'm losing the most strokes. If it's putting, I spend time hitting practice putts around the green. If it's wedges, I'll hit a second or third chip shot after I hit my scoring ball as long as nobody is waiting. Driver sucks, just figure out which way it's going, and play for where you're missing. If you're slicing slightly, line up left for the day. If you're way off, you really need range time.
Learn to keep your highs and lows close to each other. Don't get too high on a good shot or score, and your lows won't be too low. This game will humble you quickly.
Posted on 6/30/25 at 3:22 pm to T1gerNate
I've been pretty good, or at least serviceable fairly quickly at everything I've ever tried sports-wise.
Except for golf. Been playing exactly 1 year and shooting in the mid to high 90's on good days.
It was (and still is) frustrating but I did have to realize just how hard this game is. I want to and will continue to get better, but this game ain't just gonna give it to you because you played baseball and hit .390 in high school. Its obviously a much longer, slower grind toward better.
Except for golf. Been playing exactly 1 year and shooting in the mid to high 90's on good days.
It was (and still is) frustrating but I did have to realize just how hard this game is. I want to and will continue to get better, but this game ain't just gonna give it to you because you played baseball and hit .390 in high school. Its obviously a much longer, slower grind toward better.
Posted on 6/30/25 at 3:59 pm to T1gerNate
quote:
Golf is a humbling game
Yes. It is.
Remember that. Even the best players in the world have bad rounds. Of course their bad round is as bad as our good rounds but it’s all relative. You’re deciding to “get serious” about a game that requires a skill that is hard for some of the best in the world that have been practicing said skill since they could walk.
There is an old saying: “You’re not good enough to be mad about it.” It’s true. Neither am I. That doesn’t stop me from being frustrated. I think the key is to let yourself feel the frustration so you can let it go and move on. Realize you are still learning. There are way more people that suck at golf than are good at it and most of the people that suck are worse than you and will never improve.
Also everyone is always good at something, sometimes better than you expect. For example I went for a fitting recently and though I was hitting my irons like garbage, I picked up a 3 wood and started piping it. The fitter remarked that he was surprised how well I hit off the deck and how I kept putting the same shot out there over and over. And that most people including himself couldn’t do that. So that was encouraging.
Posted on 6/30/25 at 4:04 pm to T1gerNate
Go to Youtube and watch videos by Golf Sidekick.
He is funny but he also has great videos to show how to manage the game to score better.
He is funny but he also has great videos to show how to manage the game to score better.
Posted on 6/30/25 at 4:04 pm to T1gerNate
Golf: the most relaxing way to get frustrated.
Key is to always enjoy it (as much as you can) each time you get out there. We are all fortunate to get the opportunity to play. Not everyone can say the same.
Key is to always enjoy it (as much as you can) each time you get out there. We are all fortunate to get the opportunity to play. Not everyone can say the same.
Posted on 6/30/25 at 6:29 pm to T1gerNate
I figured out that I wasn't going pro. For me golf is a chance to compete in a game that is purely about making myself better. Thats the way my dad taught me how to play. Most of my rounds are played with my dad and friends and it gives me time to spend with them doing stuff we enjoy doing. Of course I want to be as good as I can be, but its mainly about just playing a game I enjoy as much as possible.
Posted on 6/30/25 at 9:50 pm to T1gerNate
The next time someone wants to play I realize it’s almost always better than not going so I forge on
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:22 pm to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
suck at for a long time before you get to a respectable handicap. It requires a financial and time investment that most don't have the budget or time for, and it's a game of details which most people aren't good at, and then the coordination involved adds another layer
Lessons are paramount. Learn good habits / fundamentals, not bad ones.
Start "from the hole outward.” Putting, then chipping, pitching, short irons, mid irons, etc ….
KISS … Keep It Simple, Stupid. Learn the BASICS, don’t worry about advanced swing thoughts.
No, you do not need ProV 1’s to play good golf. No, you do not need the latest PING clubs to play good golf.
I learned when I was 14. Gamed an off-the-rack set of Spaulding irons, McGregor persimmons, and played Top Flite golf balls. Played to a 10 hdcp in 18 months.
Great equipment is the icing on your cake. Get your “cake” (game) right first.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:22 pm to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
suck at for a long time before you get to a respectable handicap. It requires a financial and time investment that most don't have the budget or time for, and it's a game of details which most people aren't good at, and then the coordination involved adds another layer
Lessons are paramount. Learn good habits / fundamentals, not bad ones.
Start "from the hole outward.” Putting, then chipping, pitching, short irons, mid irons, etc ….
KISS … Keep It Simple, Stupid. Learn the BASICS, don’t worry about advanced swing thoughts.
No, you do not need ProV 1’s to play good golf. No, you do not need the latest PING clubs to play good golf.
I learned when I was 14. Gamed an off-the-rack set of Spaulding irons, McGregor persimmons, and played Top Flite golf balls. Played to a 10 hdcp in 18 months.
Great equipment is the icing on your cake. Get your “cake” (game) right first.
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