Great thread... lot's of good attitudes!

Over the past forty years my handicap has fluctuated between 2 and 7.  Presently it is about 4.  The only thing I have done as I have aged,  is move forward from the back tees.

I am having a severe disc problem and the dr. is not so sure that I will be able to play to my handicap  anymore.  I'm not sure I believe it but it got me thinking, "If I started shooting in the 90's would I still want to play anymore?

Score doesn't mean as much to me as it used to, yet I wonder if I would want to play much anymore if that eventuated.  I don't have much pride anymore so that isn't it.  I love to hit a golf ball, but i love to hit it well better.

I don't need sympathy just thoughts.  I know some of you have had physical problems that have caused a decline in your game yet continue to play.  Was it a difficult adjustment? Did you think about about quitting?  Without going out in the evening all by myself or playing my regular Thursday game with my best friend.   Without golf my life would be greatly diminished.  I can imagine just going to the short game area and hitting shots there but that would get old.

Tommy,

Having gone through a prolonged spell where my skills diminished, I never lost my love of the game.  As my skills diminished, new challenges were presented, which were fun to joust with.

My biggest problem was loss of trajectory on my shots, especially my long irons and fairway wood.

I merely accepted the realities, adjusted my game and played
a new game, altered to fit my abilities.

Fronting bunkers presented a more pronounced challenge, so the effort to avoid them took on a heightened priority, begining at the tee.

While PAR is always on your mind, meeting the challenge that you're capable of becomes more of a mental game.

At 200 yards I couldn't reach, let alone hit, a green, so tacking my way up the fairway became an important strategy.

Since I continued to play a good deal of match play, the HANDICAP system eliminated many of my concerns about score.

If you accept a higher handicap, but strive to lower it, you can compete with anyone, so long as you use your brain as your primary weapon and not your ego.

Something else happened that really surprised me.
Because I had NO strength, I stopped trying to hit the ball with uumph and just tried to hit the ball.  As a result, I flushed most shots in the sweet spot.  While they didn't go very far, I was consistently accurate.

I could hit 2-4 irons from 150 and if there was no fronting bunker, be on the green in good shape, and even if there was a bunker, I could hit it to the ideal approach or recovery spot.

So, understanding your abilities and shortcomings and adapting to them allows you to compete favorably with your friends and foes alike.

Friends of mine who were lesser golfers used to kid me and say, "now you know what it's like to hit the ball so short"
But, the loss of distance never troubled me, only the loss of trajectory caused me major problems.

So, accept what your body will allow, but, let your mind fuel your competitive engines and your desire to improve.

Armed with that mindset, you can beat anybody.[/color]
 

Gib,

Thanks for the kind words.

While I was engaged in my battle I retained a positive attitude, exercised due diligence and took a very aggressive path. I also enjoyed good luck and the wonderful support of many.

Golf, and the desire to play golf played a major part in my fight and recovery.

The desire to think and execute remained paramount despite my physical limitations.  That's not to say that I wouldn't attempt shots deemed to be beyond my ability, but, I became craftier and more patient with respect to the play of the game.  I became content to swing WITHIN myself, which was never easy, because I accepted that my abilities were severely compromised.  That allowed me a degree of consistency despite the enormous loss of strength and distance.

One of my most memorable rounds was when I was at the end of my post-operative chemo-cycle.  I had lost 70 pounds and couldn't walk 50 feet without being exhausted and I couldn't hit the ball 200 yards with a good drive, but, I persevered and the qualifying round I shot at NGLA was one of the most satisfying rounds I"ve ever played.

The combination of the golf course, the terrific fellows who play in the event and the nature of the competition inspired me.  So much so, that after that round I went over to Westhampton and played another 18.  Needless to say, I slept well that night.

I think another thing that helped me was the inconsequential meaning of a missed putt or shot.  I was happy to be alive and I was even happier to be playing golf with my friends, especially on a magnificent golf course.

So far, I"ve been fortunate, but, am not about to kick sand in the Devil's face.  A low key, positive attitude seems to work best.

Thank you and the many participants on GCA.com for your kind words and wonderful support, it meant a great deal to me.

Dan Jenkins (unsurprisingly) provides the more curmudgeonly view:

http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2007/11/health_jenkins

"I do love the game, but I've never played golf for the joy of it. I've always played it to compete -- and bet. But now that I can't compete as I once did, thanks basically to age and the fact that today's modern, magical, nuclear-advanced equipment seems to laugh at me more than it helps me, I play golf only at gunpoint."

Quote from: A.G._Crockett on November 07, 2007, 08:06:52 PM

Quote from: Jason McNamara on November 07, 2007, 06:54:35 PM

Dan Jenkins (unsurprisingly) provides the more curmudgeonly view:

http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2007/11/health_jenkins

"I do love the game, but I've never played golf for the joy of it. I've always played it to compete -- and bet. But now that I can't compete as I once did, thanks basically to age and the fact that today's modern, magical, nuclear-advanced equipment seems to laugh at me more than it helps me, I play golf only at gunpoint."

I feel a little sorry for Dan Jenkins.  

Never feel sorry for those not afraid to tell the truth.

Quote from: Tommy Williamsen on November 07, 2007, 02:48:40 PM

AG, I after 35 years of sermons, I can make just about anything to fit in with the lectionary.  I missed the boat with All Saints Sunday though.  There really is some good material here. The depth of the contributers on this site and the wealth of knowledge on a variety of subjects.

Understood; with three passages a week and 35 yrs. experience, you could probably preach on golf every week.