If it all ended today...

[Brian_Gracely]

When I was in high-school, I had a Roy Hobbs in "The Natural" moment where I hit a home-run in the final inning to win a game and remember walking off and telling my dad that if I never played another inning I would be satisfied.  

I had a similar flashback yesterday before undergoing some minor surgery (went well) and wondering if I'd had a similar experience in golf.  Could I walk away from it all today, or would I need some specific moment?  Would it need to be a hole-in-one, or playing a specific course or just an enjoyable day with my brother?

Any thoughts on what might prompt you to not give golf another thought and let you walk away satisfied?

[Dan Kelly]

Any thoughts on what might prompt you to not give golf another thought and let you walk away satisfied?

No chance.

[THuckaby2]

That's a hell of a great question.  Man I love this game far too much to ever give it up - so my short answer is there's nothing that would make me so happy as to feel "complete" and not want to ever play again.

BUT... there are things that might get me close to that.  I've been lucky to do a bunch of them already... though I sure haven't had the Roy Hobbs moment you have, Brian!

So here's my scenario to get me close anyway:

Me and my Dad, at Cypress Point.  Just the two of us, no caddies.  OK, maybe one caddie to help my Dad, but he better be a saint.  Weather is perfect - clear and cool, no fog, no glare, just a little wind.  Course is firm and fast.  Both of us play decently, but not too well such that that becomes the focus.  We make the incredible walk from 15 green to 16 tee... I get to see the look on my Dad's face as he sees this in person... then HE tees it up... and some miracle allows him to make the carry and HE makes an ace.

I could likely never top that feeling on a golf course, so perhaps quitting would be a good idea after that.

TH

ps - my Dad an I had a round like this once at Pebble... the only thing missing was the ace!

[A.G._Crockett]

Many, many times I've been so happy and contented on a golf course that I felt that IF it all ended that moment, I would die a happy man.  I haven't yet experienced a moment where I felt like I could walk away from golf satisfied, and that's part of the lure of the game, isn't it?

The first type of moment seems to come most often with my son or very old friends, late afternoons (typically spring) and a round that is solid but not great.  (Maybe a really good score is a distraction?)

[TEPaul]

"Any thoughts on what might prompt you to not give golf another thought and let you walk away satisfied?"

Nope, I have no thoughts on what could make me do that. Over the years I've done a lot of practicing by going out on my course late in the day and playing some holes, fooling around, trying shots, usually ending up on a green chipping and putting and such. Every now and then as the sun is going down I might sink a chip or a long putt and I think to myself that's good luck and a good sign of when to stop and walk away. Sometimes I can walk away but not that often. I just want to chip and putt some more and hope before it gets totally dark I might be able to sink another long putt or chip and walk away with the good luck of it. But most of the time I walk away because I can't see anymore.

[ChipRoyce]

Already had it....

25 years old (about 9 years ago) playing PVGC with my Dad.
Hit a weak drive on the 13th at PVGC.... sitting approx 220 out from Green, fade lie... and as you know shot requires a high draw to sneak it onto the green (mid green pin placement).

Ended up hitting a great 3 wood, hard draw into the front apron of the green, ball releases and cozy's up to 4 feet. Easy birdie.

Flight from Boston to Philly.         $278
Crappy breakfast sandwich from AuBon Pain  $6.00
Cash dropped in PVGC pro shop    $200
Dinner and drinks at Bookbinders   $130
Crap from wife for sneaking away for day Unlimited
Tap-in birdie on the best par 4 in the world?
                                              Priceless

[Mike Hendren]

For some reason, these Jimmy Buffet lyrics come to mind:

If it suddenly ended tomorrow
I could somehow adjust to the fall.
Good times and riches
and son of a b*****s
I've seen more than I can recall.

Mike

[RJ_Daley]

I doubt I could have a "walk off moment" where I would accomplish a certain singular feat in golf, and then say I've had it, and walk off, never to play again, satisfied.  I doubt I would have a "walk off moment" after a disgusting round, never to return.  I might quit for a short period in disgust, or go a couple of weeks basking in some personal best round for me.  But, the only way I can forsee walking off is not being able to walk off.  I like the Jack Lemmon ending scenario in the BaggerVance movie best.

I don't think there is a "walk off moment" in any sport where the player is physically capable of the activity to some extent.  Brett Favre may think he had a walk off moment in the negative sense after putting up that interception in OT, and Wayne Gretzky might have had a walk away moment from hockey.  But both those examples and the Roy Hobbs character implies walking away from "competition".  Any true lover of a game can still play catch, coach, skate around with the old timers, etc. and that isn't a complete separation from the game, only competition.  Gene Sarazen could have had a walk off moment in (1932?) at the 15th green at ANCG, but he was still leading off on the first tee the last year of his life contributing something.

[Andy Hughes]

I had that type of day years ago. I spent a month in Scotland by myself, doing nothing but playing golf and driving to the next course.  At one point, I was tired, and was taking a day off.  I was nearby, so I drove over to Turnberry.  The end-of-May weather was gorgeous, sunny, nice breeze. I sat with the starter for a while, just talking, enjoy the setting and the day. Oddly, very few people were playing. Eventually he said something to the effect of, "How often will you be here? I've enjoyed the chat, now go grab the clubs and head on over to the 1st tee."
Well, of course I did. Perfect weather, wonderful course and I had it all to myself. Didn't hurt that I played well, but I'm not sure that mattered.

Of course, the next day I couldn't wait to play Prestwick for the first time, so I guess it would be tough to walk away

[Patrick_Mucci]

Brian Gracely,

Sometimes, the choice is made for you.

Othertimes, it's a reassessment of what's important to you in life.

How do you want to spend your remaining days.

Where does golf fit in on your totem pole of priorities.

But, if I had the choice, I can't see why I would want to abandon the game.

It's an integral part of my life fabric.

[Bill Gayne]

Patrick,

Your post made may think about big name players that may have had a walk off moment and the only one that potentially comes to mind would be Bobby Jones. As you say in your post so much of it is how golf fits in the "totem pole of life." For Jones, championship golf must have fallen off the totem pole around age 28. I wonder if any walk off moments occurred or if it was all driven by changing priorities. However with his work on ANGC, golf remained part of the fabric of his life.

[Big B]

I don't want to have a walk off moment.  The best moment I experience is when I'm walking down the 1st fairway early in the morning with 3 of my buddies.  It doesn't matter the course.  There is excitement in the air and I'm a little nervous at the same time because the game is on.  The relationships I have through golf is the best moment and something I will cherish forever.

[Agman]

Brian

The finest words on the subject, as on most golf subjects, came from the pen of Bernard Darwin in his superb essay, "Giving Up the Game," written in the mid-'40s when  gout and arthritis ganged up on him. There is poignance in it, but no pity. You might want to check it out.

js  

[Jeff Fortson]

My walk off moment.....

Winning my fourth straight major, the PGA Championship, to complete the Grand Slam in one year.  I'd walk off, jump on a plane and buy the nearest tropical, third-world, island nation with all the money I just made off the feat from endorsements and prize money and be known thereafter as, "El Duce" Fortsonator.

Yeah, I guess I could walk off after that.  


Jeff F.

P.S.  Oh yeah, also my wife would accept polygamy as Elin ditched Tiger for me and became my second wife.  

[david beckham]

Brian.
       Glad to hear that the minor surgery went well for you, and hope that you keep fit & strong, we are all routing for you pal..

For many year's Golf has been my second love, to me it's like an old freind, but we dont get to see each other anymore, due to work & family.

If for some reason i was unable to play, throu some illness, or loss of limb's, i would have some great memories to take away, but would alway's regret never had made an hole in one.

I wish you well, great thread...  all the best Stove.

[Dan Kelly]

Brian

The finest words on the subject, as on most golf subjects, came from the pen of Bernard Darwin in his superb essay, "Giving Up the Game," written in the mid-'40s when  
gout and arthritis ganged up on him. There is poignance in it, but no pity. You might want to check it out.

Is it in your book, Agman?

Which reminds me: I bought your book just before Christmas, gave it to my wife and said: "If the girls get desperate to find something to give me for Christmas, tell 'em this is what I asked for."

She put it in the closet.

They didn't get desperate.

It must still be in there!

Thanks for the reminder.

[Agman]

Dan --

It is, indeed -- the final piece. Glad your memory is jogged. No one --  especially a Darwin -- deserves to be in the closet anymore...

js

[Tony_Chapman]

Brian - What a great idea for a thread.

While I have never wanted to give up the game, there are four distinct things that come to mind in my golfing life that I will never forget. My brother and I learned a lot about how to conduct ourselves as men on the golf course.

1. A family vacation to Pinehurst during Christmas of 1998. Playing #2, #7 and #8 with my dad and brother. Stumbling upon Tobacco Road on way back from a visit to Cameron Indoor Stadium and declaring it one of the greatest things we ever saw. In follow up, watching the '99 Open with my dad and brother is up there too.

2. Playing Prairie Dunes in the rain with my dad and brother and shooting 80.

3. Packing a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee to the roof with my dad and brother and taking in a practice round for the 2001 Masters. No golf involved. Just fun and hanging out with Nick Faldo and Jerry Pate at the Macaroni Grill in Augusta.

4. Getting through the Pebble Beach wait list, finally teeing off at 2:15 and watching the five-hour smile on my wife's face as we walked the place.

[BigEdSC]

I thought my golf would of been seriously been curtailed ten years ago when I had an operation on my hand.  I remember laying in the hospital bed getting seriously depressed.  The operation came out good, but not as well as I would of wished.  The good thing is that I am able to play on the same level.  But I certainly hope that when it does end, I'll be able to still enjoy the game or find something to occupy myself.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Billg,

When I had an unusual opportunity, and was alone with him,
I asked Byron Nelson why he walked away from competitive golf at the age of 34.

He said that he had done everything he wanted to in competitive golf, and wanted to refocus his life on other pursuits.

I then asked him, if the Senior Tour had been around when he turned 50, would he have wanted to get back into competitive golf after a 16 year layoff.
He said possibly, but that he'd have to think about that question a little more.

He seemed quite at peace with himself and his decisions.

[Doug Siebert]

My walk off moment...

After a clerical error results in my invitation to play in The Masters, I have flight delays and make it in just in time for my Thursday tee time and must play ANGC without ever having seen the course.  I shoot a 50, never once having to hit a single putt on any green.  I make my escape from the course avoiding all interviews and proceed directly to the aiport, never to be heard from again.  From then until the end of time no discussion of the greatest golfer ever can be had without my name being brought up, leaving everyone always wondering why in the hell I didn't stick around to see if my 16 stroke lead would hold up.

However, in the unlikely event that doesn't happen, I'll probably play until I can't swing a club any longer.

[Bill Gayne]

Patrick,

Interesting, Bob Rotella asked the same question to Byron Nelson and discussed his response in one of the books. (For those of you who haven't read Rotella's books his idea is to: First, define, dream and visualize your goals. Second, practice and work hard to achieve.)

Nelson goal as I remember was to win enough to own a farm and once he achieved that goal he was content to move on. Following through Rotella's ideas, the "walk off moment" is when the dreams stop. For instance Larry Mize probably had his "walk off moment" in winning the Masters. Being a native of Augusta he probably can't dream/visualize anything greater  than winning the Masters. This is probably a big part of the reason that has career has floundered since. Tiger on the other hand dreams of breaking Jack's records. His walk off moment will come after breaking the records.

For players such as myself, I don't think I will ever have a "walk off moment" because my aspirations revolve around club play and specific on course accomplishments. For me there will always be greater goals that are easy to dream.  

[Marc Haring]

 Was it Ben Hogan who once described a ‘nightmare’ he had in which he was playing the perfect round of golf. He split every fairway and holed out with his approach on every hole until the last when he simultaneously lipped out and woke up in a cold sweat. Of course there’s the rub, it doesn’t matter how well you play, there’s always going to be a couple of screw up moments.

The closest I got to golfing euphoria was way back when I was young and the courses were empty. It was 8.30PM at Stover GC a pleasant little James Braid parkland track in England and the evening was perfect. I thought I just had time to get nine holes in before dark set in and so set off playing golf without thinking. One and a half hours later I finished all eighteen shooting 66.

The strange thing is, far from wanting to give it up, I have spent the rest of my golfing life trying to recapture that feeling ever since.

[ian]

I had Huckaby's perfect moment at Cypress. Played with Dad (which is what makes the moment perfect). Started in the fog, finished in prefectly clear skies starting at the 11th. Both played well, met and played a few holes with Mark O'Meara. Dad parred the 16th, with a lay-up tee shot (impossible carry into the wind). It was the perfect day. If I never played again, that would have been OK, because I had been to places that I could not have hoped for.

I just hope to have one even better in two weeks, my son and I will share play his first ever round with his grandfather!

[THuckaby2]

Ian:

I say this with all love, respect, and admiration, but....

YOU BASTARD!
 

I am insane with jealousy.  That is very cool.

But it's now even more interesting to think about... you obviously didn't quit the game... nor would I really if I was to have exactly the day you had.  It's just too damn fun to ever really give up, isn't it?

BTW, I had a day like you are about to have not too long ago... Dad/son/grand-daughter... oh yes, that is what life is all about.

TH