How to get back into it

buckrogers71 · June 4

Over the past couple of years, I have been noticing that I don't have that "drive" to go out to play or practice. I am a solid 6 handicap (aged 54 years old) that could be better but then I ask myself "what for?". My kid (23) plays and we have fun when we are out there, but more and more it's a take it or leave it thing. I feel like it's a chore, playing rounds is like washing my hair, shampoo, rinse, and repeat. I still love the game, but don't have that drive to get up and go play. Not sure if it's my age, how golf is these days or what. I just thought that sometimes when I want to talk about my round to my buddies or even my son, I just get trumped by them coming over the top and taking over the conversation. Maybe I'm looking for some validation?

If anyone has been in this frame of mind and have gotten out of it, I'd love to know how.

jda · June 4

My interest has changed over the years. I fully expect it to change again, but I have no idea how it will.

I still like to play, but on my own terms which is usually walking during the week and avoiding the rush. I won't play much in May or early June when courses are packed, but this will ease up in our area in a week or two.

I don't care to practice any more. I do still work on things, but I do it during rounds. I don't even like to warm up... a few practice swings and then tee off but I might hit 10-15 putts.

Don't care what my score it and probably won't keep a handicap anymore. Ironically, I shoot better when I take this approach.

I only really like to watch golf on TV if I have played the course. Don't care about players anymore and don't care who wins.

I coached my girls and still coach HS golf. Helping young people become better individuals is what keeps me around, not the golf. The golf is just a conduit. I will admit that parents are getting harder and harder to overcome.

I enjoy talking a 4 hour walk with my friends and then having lunch afterward.

Find what you like and just do that. You are not alone.

buckrogers71 · June 4

I am a teacher and the landscape has changed so much (and I know about the parents, coached HS girls soccer too), i am exhausted mentally when I get home that I don't feel like doing anything (whereas I used to come home, do my "chores" then down to the putting green for a bit). I am hoping that this is causing my feelings towards playing. Hoping that my feelings and drive will change soon.

caniac6 · June 4

Everybody gets in a funk from time to time. Don’t worry about it. I played with the same guys at the same course, and think about changing clubs fairly often. Then, I have a good time, my wife talks me off the ledge, and I settle down.

Edited June 4 by caniac6

Pepperturbo · June 4

6 hours ago, buckrogers71 said:

Over the past couple of years, I have been noticing that I don't have that "drive" to go out to play or practice. I am a solid 6 handicap (aged 54 years old) that could be better but then I ask myself "what for?". My kid (23) plays and we have fun when we are out there, but more and more it's a take it or leave it thing. I feel like it's a chore, playing rounds is like washing my hair, shampoo, rinse, and repeat. I still love the game, but don't have that drive to get up and go play. Not sure if it's my age, how golf is these days or what. I just thought that sometimes when I want to talk about my round to my buddies or even my son, I just get trumped by them coming over the top and taking over the conversation. Maybe I'm looking for some validation?

If anyone has been in this frame of mind and have gotten out of it, I'd love to know how.

Success or accomplishment at any endeavor, in this case golf, requires a person to fight stagnation to move forward, you have to find self-motivation. Every person on this board has dealt with stagnation, some more than others. Don't believe you can find validation here, maybe because you don't have any golf goals.

I am in my early 70s, and still tackling things that others much younger see as unachievable. Played this crazy game since the 90s, and hit minor stagnation a few times, but keep coming back. Drive is NOT something that you get at the store or from others; it's something you dig down deep inside to find, part of one's character. In other words, it's self-motivation.

Nothing I can say can find it for anyone else. You have to look to find it, or you don't look. The fact you can't get your words out because buddies and son drowned you out, says you don't care enough to assert yourself; I'd say you're in your own way.

Reminds me of being a kid from a welfare poor family. When sitting at the dinner table, everyone talked loud and over others, and was almost pushy at getting all they wanted to eat. If someone didn't speak up and grab his/her share, they went without. We learned early how to assert ourselves.