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The Reason I got into Watching and Playing Golf

By Christopher O'Day

NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND JULY 4 : Golfers walk to the 17th green in the late evening sun during the first day of the AAM Scottish Open Qualifier at North Berwick Golf Club on July 4, 2015 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND JULY 4 : Golfers walk to the 17th green in the late evening sun during the first day of the AAM Scottish Open Qualifier at North Berwick Golf Club on July 4, 2015 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /
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As a 31 year old, the reason I got into watching golf is the same as many people around my age. Tiger Woods. The reason I got into playing golf? That’s much different.

I was into watching golf for nearly ten years before I started playing. Tiger came into prominence in 1996, when I was at the influential age of 8. I watched golf often, and played my fair share of the video games made in his name. It wasn’t until I got out of high school that I actually started playing golf.

I think a lot of kids (I still considered myself a kid at 18, I know I acted like one. My wife probably thinks I do still), got into golf after high school or as a young adult for the same reason. They are still competitive, and need some kind of outlet. In high school, there are always kids playing sports, and it’s easy to find some kind of game to play.

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Once you get out into the world, those opportunities dwindle. You might be able to find a pickup game, or a rec league to play in, but the opportunities are limited. Playing golf, the outlet is always there.

I was very competitive, and still am. Having somewhere to let that out puts me into a better mood, and satisfies that side of me. There are a couple of great things that go along with using golf as that outlet.

There are a ton of games you can play during your round if you are playing with others. Skins, Bingo-Bango-Bongo, handicap adjustment games, or a multitude of others. You can play light-hearted ones, or games that are incredibly serious.

You can also stay competitive playing golf by yourself. There are more apps and ways to keep track of your score than can be named, and all of them help. Yeah, you might’ve shot an 89 today with no bogeys. Looking back at your rounds, you see you shot an 85 last month. Who isn’t going to want to go back out there and try and beat their best score?

Whether it is out on the range, the practice green, your backyard, or the actual course, there is also something to improve on. Whether its your first par, your first birdie, your first round under 100, or something else entirely, there is something every time you grab a club to compete with.

There’s always something new to strive for in golf, and it doesn’t matter how old you get, or what your skill level is. As long as you have the time and some spare income, the opportunity to go challenge yourself is always there.

Next. Golfuture: Mixing together the Driving Range and the Course. dark

I think the only reason I’ve been able to stay sane as an adult is because of golf. I can go enjoy the weather, the quiet, and a nice walk. Heck, it’s even helped me work on my temper. I got into golf to stay competitive, and it’s one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made.

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