Covid Golf Reflection

I haven't posted a thread in a while - and 50/50 are hit and miss anyway (being very very generous to myself ).

But anyone want to post, in general, about how their Covid golf has gone - be it positive , negative, a surprise, a frustration, an epiphany.

To give my own reflection.

My own golf game has been in decline for a few years - and the break was actually a good thing.

The restriction of being able to do many things in life - has made you reflect on , perhaps how easy , and too comfortable things were. Worrying about your game of golf and floating around the country playing any golf you like , is a sort of bizarre freedom - we/I lost sight of, how much of an incredible luxury that is.

Even someone putting a plate in front of you with food - is an extraordinary luxury, that - I'll admit , I lost a bit of respect for. A pint served to you - think about that for a second - served to you - it is all a bit subservient when you genuinely think about it at a deeper level.

I found when golf was back on (lockdown 1) - there was such joy and excitement and actual realization , amongst even the most selfish golfers (club throwers, wanabee scratch lads , up your arse lads) , of how much of a luxury it was. Of course there was the odd few (THIS IS MY GOD / GODLESS / BORN GIVEN RIGHT) lads - but , lets be honest - there is nothing worse than a golf wan"er entitled, dude. Rant over

When the courses opened the first time round - I learned and understood a bit more about the top course winter policies - courses need rest - as golfers, we are over hungry to use our courses flat out at all times - and we (I) need to think about what we want from our golf courses. We demand condition - but don't understand what that takes. We demand - but don't understand.
There are too many club golfers that say the "condition is terrible/ a disgrace" - but want 365 golf, want to practice on the course with 4/5 balls - don't repair pitch marks or divots. But expect Portmarnock conditions.

To move on quickly..............:)
The removal of competitive golf and the nine hole, big gap (10 min) golf, has been a fascinating dimension also. So fast - relaxed - flag in , who gives a S**T attitude. An amazing forced change of atmosphere.

It puts the 5 hour monthly medal , shooting a 93 (net 85) into perspective. I never want to say the yanks are right , with their more relaxed attitude. But it makes you reflect that maybe too much club golf in Ireland has become too serious , too slow and all a bit too (do you think you are on the European tour type golf) - I dont know - anal.

There seems an interesting twist in the 2nd time back - middle winter , lads need to play, who don't even play winter golf. - then a few weeks of fairly unusual wet weather - has been interesting.

Again - lack of respect for the course - people forgetting about how to repair pitch marks etc. But look - I need to relax and get on with it . I'm behind the pace with this new found 1 hour 45 min 4 ball 9 hole - 5 euro golf - and no one paying the 5 euro.

So, random reflection almost up. (thank ****)

I've enjoyed the times on the course - I've enjoyed the time away. We all got a career break , a golf break , a break that we never would have taken ourselves.

The most interesting change I found in this is - that routines were altered in everyone. I've always been a bit of an outsider to club golf , a latecomer etc. But people for a while, played with others, played a different sequence of holes at a different time of the day and week.

I'm not outrageously (just partially) idealistic, or naïve. I know when everything is back to normal , everything will go back to normal. The same fourball , the same format, the same people, the same buffer zone golf.

But - I actually enjoyed the challenge and the change. If anything, I needed a forced challenge and change and an opportunity to reflect a bit on everything - as I said earlier, a career break in everything has been an unexpected enjoyable epiphany.

Anyway - it is amazing to be back - and to say sorry to our stunning, beautiful, life changing game.