What does it mean for you to be back golfing?

I'm playing sh*te, but I don't really care. I just love getting out in the fresh air and seeing my friends again.

I actually didn't mind the break - as get to play as much as I like (an unusual complaint).

But now that I'm back - I have loved it. The nine hole and 2 ball has been a bit of revelation. 1 hour 45 mins - no messing about . Basically fly around and job done. You come in wanting to play a few more - but feel fresh.

Over every shot in the 2 ball golf - there has been no waiting for anyone - this is helped by the larger gaps.

I also got to play with lads I would never play with - these are out of their own routine themselves as no 4 balls - or working from home - or not working at all. After an initial reticence - I've notice how people are enjoying the social interaction. Talking and interacting with people - is far more respected. The 2 ball with a stranger is an interesting dynamic. You have no option but to talk. I tend to be over informal.

On the golf front - I've played surprisingly well with the odd howler. Putting well - driving well - not catching the irons well yet. But getting it around - have broken 40 a few times , in bad conditions. Odd one near 50 too.

I love a bit of variety in courses - so looking forward to playing a big one soon. RCD - Druids Glen - Port Links etc.

So - I guess to answer question. I'm delighted. But I found a few things in not playing golf too. You can focus on other stuff like - DIY - walks - outdoor life - music - documentaries - cycling - family life - books. ​

In the past - I would have poo pooed , shorter formats of golf. But I definitely get it now. Whilst golfers don't like to admit it. Golf is just too slow and takes up too much time. And - I've also realized , something I considered an Irish golf club strength , we take golf far too serious , obsessed with our handicap and playing a round like we are pros.

So happy out - not sure how I feel about going back to 4.5 hour rounds and talking about .1s - when there is no such thing - as for working out how many shots you have versus some other dude , on whatever tee - and the now bizarre number of places and apps and procedures with golf. Playing real (Irish Club) golf - will be a shock to the post lockdown system.

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

And - I've also realized , something I considered an Irish golf club strength , we take golf far too serious , obsessed with our handicap and playing a round like we are pros.

+1 on this. I never realised how bad we were until a few years ago, I was golfing with a mate of mine who was back home from the states on a stag, he had 2 of his American friends with him who were extending their stag holiday as they wanted to golf some Irish courses. So we golfed MJ and The European over 2 days and they loved it, however they got a great laugh out of me treating every shot as if I was playing in The Masters as they said.

Anyway back on topic. Its great to be back, I've gotten five 9 hole rounds since we got back and have loved it. Like SeveOB mentioned in his opening post, I am loving the 9 hole game and only wish there was some 9 comps at my course also. I can get from my house to the course, play a 9 hole 2 ball and be back home in just over 2 hours. Can't beat it...

At our place in the winter they close off 4 holes (2 on the front 9 and 2 on the back 9) leaving 14 holes play.

Every winter me and my mates remark that 14 holes is the perfect length of a time for a round. In around the 3 hour mark and you feel as though you've played a full round compared to just the 9 holes.

For me, one of the biggest benefits has 100% been getting those social interactions back. It has been a tough run since November of last year, and I'm not shy on admitting that I struggled with it for quite a while.

Its one thing I'll say for Boards, I've made some good friends on here who were there to lend an ear, and have open and honest conversations about how tough its been for a lot of people.

But now I've had the opportunity to get out and spend a couple of hours with my Dad & my Godfather, separately on the course. Its those small things that i'm really appreciating now.

I think that we were all guilty of taking the privilige we have for granted. We all like a grumble about the little things with golf, and from reading the posts so far on here, it seems that most people are starting to get a bit of more perspective and enjoy that privilege for what it is.

Give me a return to the boards society and all will be good with the world.

Long may it last

Absolutely loving it, I have only missed 2 days since coming back but a lot of it has been just the 9 holes or continuing to the 11th beside the carpark, my hamstrings have been killing me, can't believe how unfit I'd become since we stopped, but as it was said here, there is a lot to be said about a quick 9.Maybe now golfers won't look down their noses at some of the great 9 hole clubs we have with the usual comment of "Its only a 9 hole course not a real golf club" as the 9 hole 80/90 minute game is great of an evening after work or before work like Seve O B

Everything is good with the world once again.
I was lucky I could stay working this time but I hated the weekends, Sitting at the window looking out hitting the ball into the water on the third in my minds eye. NOW I CAN DO IT FOR REAL.
I played the Monday we opened in shorts and tee shirt and had a solid round Downhill since then I,m afraid but not upset in the slightest.
I just enjoy the routine of working all week and looking forward to getting out on the course, switching off and soaking in the sounds,smells and peace you find only on a golf course.
Speaking of sounds. The 4th hole in my course is our 1st Par 5. The green is closest to a Zoo which is located on the island.
I am not long enough to reach in 2 so I usually lay up to about 100 for my third shot in.
Every time I play my 3rd shot there is some monkey starts schreeching on my back swing from the zoo.
I don't know if he is horny or hungry or else he can see the ****e i'm playing and doing his best to make it worst.
Sure enough since I got back the focker is waiting every time for me. God I missed him.

I can't wait for the social side of golf to come back which is a big side of the game for me as well.
Friday fourball, lunch, 18 holes, dinner and an unhealthy amount of pints after. What more could you want?

This is a nice thread to read after the last few months with no golf at all.

Bit different for me I suppose in that I've been away from the game since I stopped playing when I was around 15/16ish. I took the game terribly seriously then which in retrospect is what drove me away from it. When things went wrong I just lost it completely and sulked my way around the course, don't know how anyone put up with that ****e to be honest. I got promoted from junior 2 membership straight to playing with adults in weekend comps and the jump in standard as well as not knowing anyone drove me away from the game. I'm 34 now and have only played a few rounds casually here and there since and while I've always enjoyed it I never go the urge to join anywhere. A change in jobs mid-pandemic has afforded me more time and combined with a renewed interest I joined Carlow Golf Club earlier this year.

I've been out nearly every 2nd night since reopening, mostly on my own as I don't know many there yet and its been fantastic. I'm woeful, nowhere near what I used to be able to do but I don't care and it doesn't bother me at all when I play a bad shot. Its been a real boost to my mental health.

I'm out with my Dad this weekend for the first time in years and I can't wait for it. That sort of stuff is priceless IMO.

Hope to join up with some of you on the boards society next year all going well.

Rikand wrote: »

My obsession with my handicap is one of the things I love the most about golf. And now that we have the WHS and I can track my handicap every step of the way on the app, I am even more obsessed. I fight for every shot now, even if its a case that the round is gone and it won't count for my top 8, I still fight.

I have a target this year to always shoot under 90. In the wind and the rain of Sunday I thought I might have been in danger and a year or two ago, I would have phoned it in, but I fought as hard as I could fight to come in with an 86 and despite missing a few short putts, I was dead pleased with it. It won't affect my handicap but it has given me so much confidence that I can grind out a round that looked to be getting away from me. In the old system, it would have been a 0.1 back and a guaranteed 95 as I wouldn't have cared.


So to answer the original question of what it means to me to be back golfing.... it means a lot

It's all about the handicap for me too, I don't like casual rounds. Having given up other competitive sports, I need to get my fix somewhere and trying to get as low as I can is where it get it from. That's what I love most about golf too, you're always competing against yourself, a constant quest to get better and you always have a benchmark - your handicap. GAA for example, your benchmark might only come once or twice a year when you get to a final (If winning a championship is your team's benchmark, which it was for mine).

rickis tache wrote: »

The saying " happy wife, happy life" comes to mind.... And what makes the wife happy I hear you ask, well, it's me not being a grumpy old @##@.
In all seriousness, golf is a large part of my free time.
The banter with the lads, the ruminating over previous rounds, the dreaming of future rounds, the countless hours online looking at anything golf related and paige spiranac.....
It's great to be back and seeing some decent golf if not being played by me and it's great to see the wife happy.

and what about all the lady golfers keeping their hubbies happy at home too?