Et Tu Brute?
Well-known member
There are two ways to play golf well. You can shoot a low score or you can defeat an opponent. That's the only two types of outcome that define success in golf.
It's very good for your mental health if you're able to go out and enjoy practicing or just hitting shots without regard for score. The very act of hitting a ball toward a distant target is relaxing and pleasant. So I'm not in any way disparaging the other ways of enjoying your hours spent out on the course.
But you didn't "play well" just because you hit a bunch of fairways or totally nailed several long iron shots during a practice round or when not keeping score or competing. You hit some good shots and had fun, which in many cases is a more important activity than "playing well". But success in golf is about scoring and winning, by definition.
It's very good for your mental health if you're able to go out and enjoy practicing or just hitting shots without regard for score. The very act of hitting a ball toward a distant target is relaxing and pleasant. So I'm not in any way disparaging the other ways of enjoying your hours spent out on the course.
But you didn't "play well" just because you hit a bunch of fairways or totally nailed several long iron shots during a practice round or when not keeping score or competing. You hit some good shots and had fun, which in many cases is a more important activity than "playing well". But success in golf is about scoring and winning, by definition.