Golf to Sleep

[Ira Fishman]

If any of you are like me, when you have trouble sleeping (or getting back to sleep), instead of counting sheep, you play a course in your head. Is it your home course? A favorite course? Why?


Ira

[Thomas Dai]

You are not alone in adopting this approach to troublesome sleep Ira. I’ve been using it for decades. Always ‘play’ a favourite away-from-home course. Never seem to get past the first few holes though!
Atb

[Bernie Bell]

All the time, Ira!  Very effective to displace all the other stuff that creeps into my brain in the middle of the night.  I have two annual trips to courses that I've played many times and I play those two courses often, especially in the lead up to the trips.  My home course works too, but there's less trouble there.

[Aaron Marks]

This is also a useful strategy for occupying the mind during long runs.  At a low point in a recent 24 hour race, I tried to get though all 4 courses at Bandon.  It's fun to both "hit" the shot, and then "run" to the ball.  Good memories from past trips also help brighten the mood.  All in all, its a good way to get through a slog...

[David_Tepper]

Ira -

I "play" Golspie often that way.

DT
 

[Brock Lynch]

Ira,


I do this often, but this strategy of falling asleep fails on occasion.
When thinking of the courses I've played overseas it often leads to having to get up and look at them online.
 

[Andrew Harvie]

I don't do this every day, but before I play an event I'll play the course in my mind before I fall asleep. Visualization is huge for success and if I fall asleep thinking about how I'll play each hole I tend to perform better

[MKrohn]

Try not to think about golf, will end up having the standard dream where the rest of the group has hit but there is something blocking your backswing and whatever you do, you cant tee off.

[Kalen Braley]

I love golf architecture and courses...but when i'm trying to sleep, pretty sure I'm thinking about something better.. 

[Ira Fishman]

Ira -

I "play" Golspie often that way.

DT

As do I even though I played Golspie only one time. The back nine at Pasatiempo as well. And all 18 at Hope Valley (but a course that I have played a lot).


Ira

[Mark Smolens]

This is also a useful strategy for occupying the mind during long runs.  At a low point in a recent 24 hour race, I tried to get though all 4 courses at Bandon.  It's fun to both "hit" the shot, and then "run" to the ball.  Good memories from past trips also help brighten the mood.  All in all, its a good way to get through a slog...

I want to know how this post passed by without some kind of comment? 24 hour race   I can walk for three and 1/2 hours, but racing for 24 boggles the mind. . .

[David_Tepper]

"Try not to think about golf, will end up having the standard dream where the rest of the group has hit but there is something blocking your backswing and whatever you do, you cant tee off."

MKrohn -

Yes, I have had that dream (nightmare!) as well.

DT

[Aaron Marks]

This is also a useful strategy for occupying the mind during long runs.  At a low point in a recent 24 hour race, I tried to get though all 4 courses at Bandon.  It's fun to both "hit" the shot, and then "run" to the ball.  Good memories from past trips also help brighten the mood.  All in all, its a good way to get through a slog...

I want to know how this post passed by without some kind of comment? 24 hour race   I can walk for three and 1/2 hours, but racing for 24 boggles the mind. . .

(sorry for the brief threadjack...) Fixed time races are very fun! In that world, 24 hours is actually "short" - there are 48hr, 72hr and 6 day races...  google and youtube on the subject and you'll find some fascinating stuff. 

[Ira Fishman]

This is also a useful strategy for occupying the mind during long runs.  At a low point in a recent 24 hour race, I tried to get though all 4 courses at Bandon.  It's fun to both "hit" the shot, and then "run" to the ball.  Good memories from past trips also help brighten the mood.  All in all, its a good way to get through a slog...

I want to know how this post passed by without some kind of comment? 24 hour race   I can walk for three and 1/2 hours, but racing for 24 boggles the mind. . .


(sorry for the brief threadjack...) Fixed time races are very fun! In that world, 24 hours is actually "short" - there are 48hr, 72hr and 6 day races...  google and youtube on the subject and you'll find some fascinating stuff.

Aaron,


My Sister lives in Leadville, CO and has assisted friends for the 24 hour run. That seemed crazy to me. More than 24 hours strikes me as really crazy.


Ira

[Aaron Marks]

Ira - Leadville is beautiful, your sister is lucky to call it home!  I've both run and crewed that race, it's one of my favorite weekends of the year (and who can resist Mt Massive Golf Course...). The multiday folks are a different breed. They always look like they are having an absolute blast, even when you know they aren't.  Admirable.

[mike_beene]

There is an old thread where a number of us have the can’t get room to swing dream. I am on a par 3, usually 16 and for some reason the tee is inside a small room. As for sleep, Lunesta has cured my getting to sleep problem.

[Ira Fishman]

Ira - Leadville is beautiful, your sister is lucky to call it home!  I've both run and crewed that race, it's one of my favorite weekends of the year (and who can resist Mt Massive Golf Course...). The multiday folks are a different breed. They always look like they are having an absolute blast, even when you know they aren't.  Admirable.

Mt. Massive is probably the only course that I can be confident being able to hit a drive longer than 220. But who knows--I have not played it in several years.


Ira

[Pat Burke]

I was a notoriously bad sleeper when I was playing.
I went through the course I was playing on the nights I couldn’t sleep. Picturing lines off the tee in particular
On nights before rounds 2,3,4. I typically had an idea where the holes would be the next day so would focus on approaches and where not to miss


It was more visualizing than playing but was useful in quieting a very busy brain

[MCirba]

From the title I thought you were referring to watching almost all televised "bomb and gouge" professional golf tournaments these days, Ira.   Talk about a sure fire cure for insomnia.

[Jim Franklin]

I generally play my most recent round backwards. Usually asleep before the front nine.

[MCirba]

I generally play my most recent round backwards. Usually asleep before the front nine.

Good one, Jim. 


Need to remember that.

[David Ober]

If any of you are like me, when you have trouble sleeping (or getting back to sleep), instead of counting sheep, you play a course in your head. Is it your home course? A favorite course? Why?


Ira

I do this all the time, but I usually replay my most recent round counting greens, fairways, putts, etc. Usually asleep by midway through the second count through.

[Robert Kimball]

If any of you are like me, when you have trouble sleeping (or getting back to sleep), instead of counting sheep, you play a course in your head. Is it your home course? A favorite course? Why?


Ira

I play Augusta circa 1933 . . .  works every time!

[Steve Lang]

From the title I thought you were referring to watching almost all televised "bomb and gouge" professional golf tournaments these days, Ira.   Talk about a sure fire cure for insomnia.

Ditto for me!


Never ever ever thought of counting golf shots to get to sleep...  I prefer putting on the headphones and listening to Darkstar version off Live Dead....

[Ronald Montesano]

I played the Old Course in my mind, when they stuck me in the MRI tube. Kept me from losing my sh!t in that cylinder.