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The longer you go without playing…?

jpgolf

jpgolf

“JP”
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If you consider yourself a “normal” golfer (if there is such a thing)… when you go a couple of weeks or even a month without playing… do you find yourself more excited / or less excited to get back out there…???
 
It can kinda go either way for me. Normally, I am excited to get back out there! Lately… where I live in the south, it has been so oppressively humid that the thoughts of a round have not been as enticing. I’m looking forward to “fall” golf!
 
Back in July of 2019 I got a new set of irons. Two days later my right retina detached. It’s now October and I go in to get the all clear to resume normal activities. Nope the left retina was detached. Next stop on the journey is the last day of February 2920. I get the all clear. I can’t wait we usually start playing end of March. Nope Covid hit so nothing until June. I was so desperate to play at that point I would have played at a course with U. S open rough on the green. Fortunately I didn’t though.
 
One of my jobs is working at the course. I normally would play 3-4 times a week, mostly just 9 but at least once a week 18. I ended up getting sick of listening to my wife complain that all I did everyday was play golf (even though it was before work). She works from home BTW.

So 4 years ago I decided I was sick of listening to her and quit playing. It didn’t bother me at all. People would ask and I’d tell them.

This year one thing other jobs changed and I can work golf into the middle of my schedule 2-3 times a week under the radar. Funny thing is I shoot the same scores, hit it the same distance as 4 years ago. If I went back and played like crap I would have just quit for good. I’m not someone who is nuts for golf, it’s fun, it’s something to do but there are other things in life.
 
More excited. Sometimes I need a break. Usually it'll reenergize me and helps me forget bad habits. Sometimes.
 
The longer I go without playing the more excited I am to get back out. Winter is brutal for me
 
More excited for sure and more appreciative too. Before I moved to SC I was really busy with work and getting the house ready to list. I only played two rounds of golf in 18 months. I played like garbage in both rounds but didn’t care. I was just delighted to be out there again and with friends. Had a great time.
 
More excited!
I try to practice a little something in the meantime. I played on Friday with a couple of guys I hadn’t played with in over 10 years. I think we figured out that the last round we played together was the last round I’d played before my long break. Pretty much the same for them as well. Every time we’ve crossed paths with kids and whatnot, it’s always “we gotta play some golf”. It’s literally been the running joke. Got a text Friday at 1:30 and we were on the first tee by 2:30. Couldn’t believe it. Good thing we had no one behind us as we were slower than slow catching up with each other. Even better is we figured out our work schedules align and it’s Friday golf through October!
 
Generally i quit for spell its due to an injury of some sort. Shoulder AC separation, ankle sprain who knows and the worst part it its cause from playing softball or working around the house. I am always more excited to get back out
 
Usually find it to be more exciting to get back out after a small break
 
Nappy said:
More excited. Sometimes I need a break. Usually it'll reenergize me and helps me forget bad habits. Sometimes.
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I started the thread about taking extended time off from playing to work on a big change or hit he gym hard and half the people didn’t “get it”….

I tell people all the time to take a break. I like the winter break, but a mid season break to get your natural swing back is a great idea
 
jpgolf said:
If you consider yourself a “normal” golfer (if there is such a thing)… when you go a couple of weeks or even a month without playing… do you find yourself more excited / or less excited to get back out there…???
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Never did it on purpose in 50 years. My only protracted breaks were injury or illness. Used to be courses around here were open even at 0* F. When it snowed we would hit the dome. There was a dome nearby even in the early 80's. I was always excited to get back out after a layoff. Until I realized how quickly the short game degenerates, with a loss of touch and feel for distance. Then every missed green caused dread. LOL
 
Typhoon said:
I started the thread about taking extended time off from playing to work on a big change or hit he gym hard and half the people didn’t “get it”….

I tell people all the time to take a break. I like the winter break, but a mid season break to get your natural swing back is a great idea
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I completely get it. Seems like that first time out after winter break I play some of my best golf. Sure some of it is the excitement and energy to be back out. But mostly Ive had time to get out of my own head and just swing a club with no expectations.
 
The only time I go that long without playing is in the winter or when I am having a body part replaced!
 
More excited; haven’t played since January, the itch to get out and play is pretty strong.
 
From 2006 when I first played, until 2020, I played maybe 3-5 times a year and always wanted to play more. I was bowling too much to have time to golf and it helped supplement my income so I didn't want to quit at the time. This year and last year I play once a week, which is all time allows, and still wish I could play more often. I feel like no matter how often I play, I wish I could play more.
 
I’m always excited to get back on the course after a break. Golf has been hard to get in the last few weeks because it’s been so oppressive hot here in Houston. I figure if it’s heat levels where I wouldn’t allow my sports teams at the school to practice outdoors then maybe my old, out of shape, fat butt shouldn’t be out in it either. I’m friending to get out and play right now!
 
I've had some forced time off from golf in the past. Carpet putting helped, but the need to be out on the course was a big deal.

The longest I hadn't played was 8+ years. The reason for the time off was that there just wasn't any golf courses near by. I still hit balls off a mat occasionally, but it wasn't the same. That long layoff took a huge toll on my game. Cost me about 8-9 strokes on my hdcp.

These days, I can go a week or two without playing, but I do miss being out there.

For the past few years I have practiced more than I played. Practice does help when I cant play.
 
More excited, when I’ve had hand surgeries I schedule them during the dead cold of winter to impact my golf less.
 
I’m more excited after a break. I’m usually itching to get on the course at some point during that break.
 
jpgolf said:
It can kinda go either way for me. Normally, I am excited to get back out there! Lately… where I live in the south, it has been so oppressively humid that the thoughts of a round have not been as enticing. I’m looking forward to “fall” golf!
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In this boat as well. 10am, already feels like 100. Dew point is already at the top of the NWS chart at the oppressive level. What if I just stayed inside and played video games until October?
 
Generally excited to the point where I don't play very well. Drills and practice are enough to keep my swing in reasonable shape but the ability to deliver it when I play every 6 weeks is tough. When I play twice weekly I'm not amped up and tend to swing without a care in the world.
 
BuffaloPlunger said:
The longer I go without playing the more excited I am to get back out. Winter is brutal for me
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How I feel too. By December I’m jonesing bad. And then watching the snow melt in the spring gets me even more excited to be out on the course.
 
YukonLiving said:
How I feel too. By December I’m jonesing bad. And then watching the snow melt in the spring gets me even more excited to be out on the course.
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Spring is the worst for me. I do a sim league from January to March and when it ends, we’re usually entering our “false spring” time of year
 
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