Per recent Nest pod, and @Randy ask for a shoutout to this segment. Tell us why you play less than 10 rounds a year and still are a golf sicko
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I would say I’ve probably played +/- 10 in the last 365 days, and simply revolves around becoming a 1st time Dad …obviously a small sprinkle of some medical stuff and time in the hospital…
Looking back on that time, a lot of my desire to be away from home for 5-6 hours went away…just wanted to be home with the family, and also an overwhelming sense of “that isn’t fair to Mom”
Hoping it doesn’t stay this way though
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I played a ton and competitively growing up. Even being in MN I’d rack 100+ rounds a year. Then I played in college and kept the pace to mid twenties. Moved to urban area, got a real job and rounds hit a cliff. For last 15 years it’s been averaging less than 10. Many reasons but biggest is gained new interests, lived in cities, and started fam. The thing is throughout all of this my love for golf has increased despite not playing. The start of NLU, and others like Shotgun Start, mean I still spend 7+ hours a week on golf… pods and content, not playing.
Any other reasons for not playing, but still being a golf sicko? Injury, game is too frustrating, too expensive, etc
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I second this, and for that reason I don’t play 18 anymore. Five hour rounds kills a whole day and forces my wife to pick up the slack.
Last year I probably played 10-15 9 hole rounds and it was enough to call myself a “golfer” but not improve. I plan on doubling that this year, but it may not happen and if it doesn’t I am okay with it.
I am on the refuge to learn, talk more about golf and motivate myself to get out on the course and walk around.
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This is where I was the first year after my son was born - think I got in maybe 5 rounds. At the end of that first year my wife and I agreed that we needed to make a more conscious effort to not allow ourselves to get swallowed up to the point our entire personality was “we’re parents.” I was gonna golf more, she was gonna take more yoga classes. Last summer was a little better - 15-20 round. This year was going to be more but, you know…
So it doesn’t stay this way but going back to pre-parenting rounds is a long way off.
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Yeah, I anticipate most of the answers to be about family time sucking their golf time. And that’s totally understandable. Been there. Nothing better than giving the 3am crying baby a bottle with a pod in one ear.
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Anyone who just has had enough with playing, but still loves the golf vibe and personalities so stays in the golf #content world?
I answered this earlier in another thread - but the answer is kids. I’ve been a once or twice a monther for 14 years now, I just really don’t have time because I’m busy with kids and they all hate golf. Have been a golf sicko for about 35 years though. Started young and took it really serious as a junior golfer. I am way past the stage in my life where I think I’m going to be a great golfer or that I need nice clubs. i enjoy watching you all torture yourselves though.
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Golf is really the only sport that has so many fans that also play the sport into adulthood. If you don’t actively play can you still be deep in the golf game?
For the past couple years, my golf has significantly decreased. Family, travel, work, interests outside of the golf world, etc. I was a 100+ round a year guy, which in Wisconsin means I was playing basically constantly. After taking the step back in a huge way, golf is generally far more enjoyable when I am playing and more of a reminder of why I fell in love with the game to begin with.
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I wish I had some good news to report on this front lol
Nah - I kinda got used to it. I have one kid and two step kids and they all live with us. I work during the week, so it’s just the weekends when I can play - which is when she works. Then I still have to work around the kids sports schedule. And they play a lot of sports. None of which is golf.
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I admire you all who put the game away for the sake of being there for your kids. When my kids were young I had a standing Saturday morning 6:00AM tee time during the summers that put me back home by 9:30 or 10:00AM. The rest of the day belonged to my work-from home wife and whatever she needed or wanted to do.
Once the kids were old enough I’d play later in the day/evening and just let them ride in the cart with me.
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100%, I was more so hoping the “this isn’t fair to Mom” sentiment doesn’t stay this way 
I think if anything it is going to be like @drv4show…wake up early, get a feed in, put her back down, and then dip out and hope to be home by 11-1200
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Yes very early is the way to do it. You have to sell it as “I’m playing golf early and letting you guys sleep in today” as if one somehow has anything to do with the other
Also ive come to love 9 hole rounds and par 3 courses
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I used to have a standing 7AM tee time on Saturday and Sunday and was back home by 10:30, which allowed me to still have the majority of the day Saturday and could make Sunday brunch before we would head back to play 18 for couples league. She lost her desire to play at all, so the Sunday afternoon thing turned into us going and doing lots of other activities, followed by those activities happening earlier and earlier until golf was secondary.
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I play so many evening 5s/9s/12s rather than full 18 holes. I barely keep my handicap every year if I’m telling the truth.
So many rounds are abandoned for weather and other reasons but the warmth of the clubhouse bar is sometimes too good to not go when you’re saturated after 5 holes.
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Man I feel like my dad won the lottery that my older brother, older sister and I all loved golf. We played a ton (and I still suck lol).
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I wouldn’t say I actively play by any means. I might not be under 10 rounds a year, but I am not far from it either. Probably 15-20 at max. Don’t get to play even 1/100th of what I wish I could.
That doesn’t slow down my enjoyment of golf and I find as many other ways to take in the game as I possibly can. Podcasts/YouTube/GCA/History/Drawing/The Nerdy Golf Projects thread here type stuff/IG/Social/play on xbox w a friend all the time. I enjoy all of that and usually when I’m consuming it the most is when I can’t play bc of schedules.
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Echoing what many have said, but it comes down to family. Both of my kids are travel soccer players, and this year notwithstanding, that season runs from April 15-July 30. Within that time frame there might be 3-4 weekends where they don’t have soccer. So, on those 3-4 weekends, it’s really, really difficult to convince my wife that I’m going to take 5 hours to go play golf when there are million other things that need to be done.
Also, weirdly for me until finding this place, I have no friends that play golf. Almost all of my rounds are with my father-in-law who I enjoy, but we always play at his course. Now that I’m on message board with many other like minded sickos here in MN, I’m hoping to be able to expand not only how often I play, but where I play as well.
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This gives you a great opportunity to play new courses in new places!
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