I played golf last weekend. I didn’t enjoy it.
It was a fresh but pleasant spring day at Royal County Down, one of the best and most beautiful golf courses in the world. I’m incredibly lucky to have it as my home course. I never take it for granted – the mountains, the sea, the peacefulness of it all – and I still didn’t enjoy it.
You might think I sound like a spoilt brat as you read this piece and if you do, then fair enough, but let me explain why I didn’t enjoy my round of golf on Sunday.
Article continues below
I shot 27 Stableford points. The two weeks prior I shot 29 points and 30 points. By my standards, I hit four good shots total, most notably a 20ft birdie putt on a temporary 18th green to somehow half my 2v2 match I play each Sunday with my regular four-ball after being 2 down on the 17th tee… OK, maybe I enjoyed that part.
That isn’t to say I hated every part of yesterday – I enjoyed playing with three close friends, having ‘the craic’ as we say and being out in the fresh air for four hours. The part I didn’t enjoy was the actual golf part.
How can I play golf here and not possibly enjoy it every time?
(Image credit: Future)
Coming home and wanting more
I moved back to Ireland in 2024 after two years of living in London. I had barely touched a golf club in those two years and I was itching to get back at it once I came home – in fact, it was a big reason as to why I came home.
Upon my return, my index was 4.3. I went out with no expectations and played really well in my first competition round back – I was only +2 standing on the 15th tee. I couldn’t finish the job, but I was delighted with how I played.
I hit the ball well the rest of the summer and scored decently. I was having two, three birdies a round every Sunday, if not more. I had blow-up holes that would ruin scorecards, but that was nothing new – for the most part I was playing good golf for 16 holes a round.
Shooting for the stars, I wanted to reach the next level. My one golf goal before I die is to shoot under par at Royal County Down. Once is enough, everything after that is a bonus. For those that don’t know, RCD is very, very hard, and that’s even before the wind starts to blow.
Chasing this, I decided to get…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Latest from Golf Monthly…