I just wanted to poll our group to understand why you play. I have played with a variety of golfers from this site, some really good, some not as good, and have enjoyed playing with every one of them. Why do we play?

To forget everything else.

(Oh, and for many other reasons -- but I'm playing this afternoon, so I'm trying to get my mind pre-cleared this morning.)

It's not the money. I play for fame and glory.

A large eastern conglomerate pays me to be their spokesperson.  





(just providing something sufficiently tabloidish for Kavanaugh to waste his time researching)  

Actually...

The current "Feature Interview" here with Bill Yates is virtually identical to my own story, albeit at a different scruffy nine-holer with a largely dirt, worn to dust teeing ground;

"I clearly remember the first hole I ever played.  It was on a hilly 9-hole course near Pittsburgh called Coraopolis Heights Golf Course.  The green fees were probably $1.50 and I believe it had rubber mat tees.  The first hole played from the top of a hill, down and across a small stream and back up another steep hill to a green perched on top.  I don’t recall that the “fairway” was cut any shorter than the rough or that there were any bunkers, but I do remember walking on to a real green for the first time.  I could not believe that grass could be grown like that and mowed so close.  Standing on that first green, I gazed across to other holes that begged to be played. I was thrilled, mesmerized and hooked forever."

I play for the feeling I get when a mid range putt falls for a Par.  I like the mental struggle of removing the bad thoughts and letting the body do what it has done before.

Only problem is I am not very good at either, but that makes me keep going back.

Oh I like architecture as well.

I am a self-centered person who is most interested in myself and how the world evolves around my wants and needs.

You and everyone else. Forgive yourself, John!

Nice one, Jeff Doerr...very well stated.

Agreed. Excellent.

In that spirit, after walking a very hilly 36 this past Monday, I had 3 large blisters on my feet and what can be best described in a family forum as "crotch chafing".

I woke up the next morning and went down to the 24 hour shop in the hotel to purchase sewing needles, band-aids, Vaseline, and extra-strengh aspirin so that I could go play 36 again.

I think I'm understanding most of this -- but what are those sewing needles for?!? Not the crotch chafing, I hope!

Dan - popping the blisters.

Been there, done that, sadly.

- Because I want a hole in one.
- Because I am ok at golf and can therefore enjoy it once in a while
- To have something to yell at (golf God's, perhaps)
- To have an excuse to get out of the house
- Because there's nothing better to do during the day (note..during the day)
- To excersice
- Because I like to travel and see new places
- Cart girls
- Because closest to the pin and long drive competitions are possibly the best compeitions on earth, especially when playing for lunch
- Because I like to suffer (?)
- To get more exercise (again, but this is important)
- Because at night...wait, no, late evening, cart racing is the best thing to do ever
- Because its fun


- Oh, and because I like golf clothes

 

Dan - popping the blisters.

Been there, done that, sadly.

I started the day when I made the hole in one at Stevinson Ranch (in what used to be known as "The Kings Putter") by doing 6 a.m. minor foot surgery on the bottom of the big toe on my right foot where the callous had separated from the toe after 36 holes of soggy walking the day before.  

I play golf because it's a lot more fun than absolutely anything else I do with my clothes on!  

I ask myself that every damn time I go out there.


Plain and simple. To have fun and enjoy the company of those I like to play with and hopefully meet new friends. Sure it gets frustrating that you can't play the way you know you can sometimes, but to quote Peter Jacobsen, I'm not good enough to get mad out there.

Because playing at a great golf course gives me a thrill.

I fully subscribe to Dr. Mackenzie's theory, as well, that pleasurable excitement is beneficial to your health.

Golf is a great game.  It sees no color, gender nor age.  There is no one way to play, to putt or to swing other than whichever way works best for you.  In this regard, Captain Thomas was right on the money when he wrote,

"Golf is a game of balance.  The man who knows the value of each of his clubs, and who can work out when it is proper to play one and when to play another, succeeds at the game.  The ability of a golfer to know his power and accuracy, and to play for what he can accomplish, is a thing which makes his game as perfect as can be; while a thinker who gauges the true value of his shots, and is able to play the shot well, nearly always defeats an opponent who neglects to consider and properly discount his shortcomings."

You don't have to run fast or jump high to play golf well.

It teaches honor, patience and perseverance.  Somedays, when everything clicks into place.....you are killing the ball, dropping putts and the sun shines over the links in just the right way, you'd have to be a fool to not think something "greater" is going on in this world than what our feebile little humanoid brains can comprehend.

Playing golf is about as close as I come to having a conversation with God.

You don't have to run fast or jump high to play golf well.

That is no longer true.  If you are going to compete at a decent level you need to be reasonably athletic.