GOLF IS YOUR GAME-- MAKE IT WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE: Time

     Why do you play golf? If you don't play golf, why haven't you taken up the sport? When I boil down my reasons, it all comes down for me to it is a lot of fun and a challenge.  There is a lot to that statement and I can break it down into its various components as to why it is a lot of fun but I won't in this post.  What I will say is that you should have fun when you play a round of golf.  Here is some advice I would like to give as a veteran player and observer of the game.  Golf is YOUR game and you should make it what you want it to be.  Don't be afraid of it, just go out and play but most importantly have fun.
     There are many who criticize the game of golf.  Many of the criticisms are valid if you take them at face value.  I choose not to, and want to take a closer look at those criticism. Critics charge that it takes too long to play a round of golf. They also say that the rules are too complex in order to play the game.  I have also heard it said that it takes too long to get good at the game and that the game is too difficult.  There are a few more, but I don't want to address those criticisms here. These three are enough of a start. What is it that you want out of the game of golf? There are ways to get around these criticisms and have fun playing the game. A lot of this has to do with the changing of some attitudes.  Let's go a little bit deeper with this.
      An official round of golf, or stipulated round as it is referred to in the Royal and Ancient rule book, is eighteen holes in tournament play.  Most of us play eighteen holes because that is the number of separate holes on most golf courses.  Some are nine and we play the second nine from different tees. I would refrain from drinking alcohol on the front side of a nine hole course because it may make the back nine a bit more confusing playing from different tees, but that is another story. The key here are the words "in tournament play".  Every time we play, are we playing in a tournament?  I don't think so. Its just that the tradition is to play eighteen holes. Playing eighteen holes is not something set in stone by the golf gods.  It is OK to play nine, or five or eleven if you are under a time constraint. Many courses offer a nine hole rate.  You'll be back again and probably have more time to finish eighteen holes. Life is full of choices, isn't it?  You are free to choose.  Its your game, just have fun.
     I have to admit that it does take four and a half hours on average to play eighteen holes. Here is my question.  What other activity do you have that is so important that you can't spare four and a half hours of enjoyment playing golf?  Is mowing the lawn and weeding the flower beds that important. Besides if golf is a rich man's sport, don't you have someone to do that for you anyway?  I'm only kidding about both the being rich and having someone do it for you. Golf is not a only a rich man's sport.  Just come out to my or any other public course and you will see this differently. Take a few hours to smell the roses--uh, play a round of golf.  Its good for you, your mental outlook on life and other important things when you get away from them briefly for a few hours.  Golf is a great way to clear your mind of the troubles of life.
    In our busy schedules now, we don't have much time for family.  I can sympathize with you and family time is very valuable. Why not bring the family to the golf course and have them learn the game?  What a great outdoor family activity that can build a lot of cherished memories. You don't have to play eighteen either if you have time constraints as well.
     As I have written in past posts, I am a member of "The Dawn Patrol".  I like to get my round in early in the morning as I am a morning person. It is very rare, given the number of golfers on the course that our round exceeds three and three quarter hours. We play at a leisurely pace but because the course is not crowded at that time, we finish quickly. I have also played late in the afternoon as well and have had quick rounds, especially when the temperature is over 100 degrees. Oh come now, it really isn't that hot.  Besides, the ball flies farther in the hot air.
     The day that you play on is important as well. A course is not going to be as busy on a Monday morning as it is on a Saturday morning with a nine o'clock tee time. Bring your lunch on Saturday and maybe your dinner.  It is going to be crowded and there is the possibility of a five or greater hour round.  You have to expect that as more people are able to play then. I realize that this is not possible because many people work during the week, but maybe its time to consider just playing nine after work if you want to salve your golf cravings and then prepare for the long round on Saturday. The bottom line is, there is a way to get around that long round. A Saturday round is just going to take longer.  There are more people playing.
      There are a couple of other solutions to the time it takes to get a round in. You may want to consider playing a different course in your area that is not as crowded but just as challenging. How about joining a private club if you have the funds to do so. I know that for most these two may not be options. First, you may only have one course that is near to you to play.  You may not have the funds to buy a private membership.  However, these are options that you can take advantage of if you are able to.
     There are ways to get around the time constraints of golf.  I think first they have to be viewed as challenges and not fatal obstacles to enjoying the game.  Time constraints can be overcome.  The game is yours to build as you choose. Don't let time constraints get in the way of playing golf and having fun.  Where there is a will, there is a way.  Go out and play some golf!

Let's have some fun and play some golf.