When my kids were growing up and their activities plus work limited my golf to some weekends and holidays, I thought that if only I could play a lot of golf, my game would surely get better. Well, the kids are now 20 and 16, my work schedule is relatively flexible, and my wife tolerates my obssession with the game. I have played between 100 to 125 rounds in each of the past five years, but sadly, my game is not any better.
My father-in-law had it right when he mused that ideally, life should be lived backwards. That is, wouldn't it be better if we were born with the time, money, and appreciation for things that often come late in life, and the physicality of youth to enjoy them? In this regard, I find Sandy Tatum's observation about golf and age to be particularly poignant-"..., as the skills, such as they were, diminish, the affair (with the game) gets more rather than less intense".
I am on pace to play more than 100 rounds this year, including 25-30 at courses I had not seen before. This is a banner year for me in terms of quality of courses, for which I have a number of you on this site to be thankful for.
While those in northern climates may think otherwise, I've often wondered whether a forced seasonal break is not a good thing. I remember watching the Crosby on TV when I lived in Ohio and longing for the Spring. I can still smell the grass on that first day of the season when the Scarlet course would re-open. Not complaining, mind you, but the anticipation and the freshness of the game sometimes seems all but lost when the seasons run together as they do here in Texas.