Many players are challenged to break their golf habits. I know I sure am, however there comes a time where every golfer has to decide their future and what direction they plan to take with respect to their game. They either dial it up or dial it back depending on their life situation and what their future plans they expect to achieve. They may not like the fact that a decision must be made and they try to avoid it, yet all golfers come to that fork and have to live with their choices. It is all part of every golfer’s journey.
It is interesting that I seem to approaching one of those forks myself. Over the past 40+ years, I have invest a great deal of time, effort and money to establish my current golfing situation. Through it all, golf has been an important three season past time and the support my darling wife has provided has been invaluable. As I move to a different stage in my golf game, I do not expect that support to change so fortunately I can remove that as a factor. What, you may ask, is driving my potential change to my game.
That is a great question. After two years of travelling an hour one way to play golf at my home course of Osprey Links, I decided to move to the local 9 hole course of the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort. I live 10 minutes away, it takes much less time to play, and the cost is lower. These three factors are very important, yet I am unsure of the challenge of playing the Mattawa Golf Course. The final decision for the move came down to time.
Over the past two years, the time for one round of golf ranged from 6 to 8 hours for regular rounds and 7 to 9 hours for competitions. By the time I drove, practiced, played and stopped for a beverage my day was basically over. The overall time to play one round of golf was getting tiresome at the end of last season. So, I decided to make the change and start playing locally.
With the move, I am unsure if I want to continue trying to try play at a high level of golf or to throttle back and just enjoy looping the course. This is an important decision and one that I will have to ponder over the next few months. There are several other factors that are included in my decision, but they are further down stream. For now, I have taken the first step to see if playing locally offers a better time management situation or ifmy original thought process for the change was worth the time.
I am not leaving golf that is for sure, but I do think I can open other doors to different life possibilities by playing locally. I guess time will tell.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
Whether you tone done your tournament play or not, moving your home course closer should make golf more fun and accessible. And I don’t think that would hurt your tournament chances or readiness. In fact the accessibility alone should make it easier to keep your game in shape.
Squeezing in a nine is something I see more of in your future with this move. Today I put the turkey in the oven and headed to the course. I walked the course skipping around two couples on 9 and 10 and beat the bird by an hour. You might soon have a similar experience to “boast” about.
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Kevin
Thanks for the positive comment. You are right, I also see positive changes coming my way.
Cheers Jim
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I think you will find that having a much closer drive will be a good change. It will not take up the whole day and save a lot of money on gas and wear and tear on your car.
It also gives you a chance to make any changes to your golf focus, if you choose to as you enter your new decade. I made a decision several years ago that fun and fellowship was more important than score. I also decided that I would reduce my dependence on technology and appreciate the historical elements of the game. Playing predominantly with clubs from the hickory and classic steel era gives me a lot of satisfaction and has made me a better golfer which was a surprise benefit.
Since you are saving a lot playing at Mattawa, you can go on more jaunts with the money you save, if you so choose ( Or invest in a set of hickory clubs LOL).
I also made a conscious decision to make practice fun and loose. I don’t do anything that I would call a drill, it reminds me too much of a dentist office.
Good luck with the changes and have fun with it. On a side note, I looked at the green fee rates in your area, they are a bargain.
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Lorne,
Thanks very much. There are a few courses I have not played that I would like to experience. This might be the year! I am still looking forward to playing in the hickory match this year at Osprey, it is a yearly must do. Have a great offseason.
Cheers Jim
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Jim ” A change is as good as a rest” This old expression has some merit. I am envious of you having a practice facility We will have to find a venue to get together for a rematch.
Perhaps with hickory ?
BMc
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BMc
Anytime! I am pretty tired of coming up 1 hole short! 🙂
Cheers Jim
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Wow Jim, big change for sure. Does the 9-hole club have any practice facilities? Your predicament is not uncommon. Most decisions boil down to time, cost, and convenience.
I am wrestling with a similar choice since my main playing partner passed. Played a lot less this year but happily filled the void with tennis. Found that tennis has virtually no cost, is less time intensive, and is good exercise. I hope you find satisfaction in your new normal.
Brian
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Brian,
The new course has a range. That is a big plus for me. I see what you mean about shifting to tennis for you; the factors are personal and valid when making decisions about how to spend our valuable time. I hope you find your happy medium.
Cheers Jim
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