Adopting this mindset will make you enjoy golf more

Have you ever watched a professional golf tournament and found yourself wondering if they actually enjoy themselves?

The likes of Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm and many others often throw hissy fits, swear and slam clubs into the ground. Caddies are used as verbal punchbags. They earn millions of dollars and often look like they would rather be anywhere else in the world.

Matthew Fitzpatrick used to be one of the worst offenders. But then he lost his game. He worked his socks off to get back and is enjoying a wonderful season - and finally looks like he is beginning to appreciate what he has got.

Others fret about missed cuts, keeping their playing rights, whether they can afford to pay their caddies and hotel bills and worrying about the tournaments they are going to get into.

There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that we, as recreational golfers, get far more enjoyment from this wonderful game than our paid counterparts. 

They may play shots that we can only dream about hitting. They may smash a golf ball 300+ yards from the tee, get up and down from bunkers in two, putt like magicians and rifle iron shots to three feet, achieving huge amounts of backspin in the process. 

But they seldom take time to smell the flowers along the way. 

More Golfers Should Try Harder to Enjoy The Game

As I get older, I increasingly count my blessings that I am still able to play this game to a reasonable standard, and it is obvious that my playing partners and opponents feel exactly the same way. Put it this way - having a nightmare round where nothing seems to go right is a damn sight better than the alternative.

We recently held an Almoner’s Day at Dunston Hall Golf Club. It is an occasion when we remember former golfing friends who are sadly no longer with us. And we were reminded of our mortality a few days before when we learnt that a long-standing former member had passed away.

I do not enjoy playing badly but it no longer affects my mood. I simply refuse to get upset for more than a split second if I hit a poor shot. What’s the worst that can happen if I fail to play to my handicap? It goes up a notch. Who cares?

We play regular team friendly matches, home and away, around Norfolk and Suffolk and they are tremendous days out. 

As Seniors Captain, of course I would rather that we came away with a victory but the result is secondary and there is always plenty of shared laughter with our rival teams. We play the same teams every year so they become friends whom we look forward to meeting twice a year.

We recently played at a course called Heacham Manor. The wind was blowing at around 45-50mph for the entire round. We came to a 125-yard par three across water and all four of us ended up in the drink after misjudging the wind. Did we get upset? Of course we didn’t. All four of us ended up rolling around, laughing our heads off.

Golf - For Most - Should Be About Fun

Their captain had said to me just after we teed off: "I love these matches because there is really nothing at stake. We are all out here trying to win but nobody cares what the result is. I just don’t understand club golfers who lose their temper and stomp off in a strop. Would they rather still be working? Would they rather still be worrying about whether they might lose their job? They can play when they want, as often as they want. And I would much rather be doing this than the dreaded alternative."

I couldn’t have put it better myself. For the record, we drew 3-3.

If somebody scores 45 points in a weekly Stableford at my club he will know that he is going to be the centre of plenty of good-natured banter. And if somebody shoots 20 points then he also knows he is not going to be getting any sympathy.

I take time to enjoy the scenery. I am not a fan of slow play but I now refuse to stress about rounds of golf that take five hours because I know it will be time well spent in good company, with people I like, and the air will be filled with laughter.