Why I love and hate this stupid game

Played locally to work today at Woodlands Golf Club.  Only the second time I've ever played there.  The driver was fairly good but my irons were the best I've ever had them.  Accurate, shaped on demand both ways (and not when not demanded!) and holding on some very unreceptive greens.  I carded 86, 2 inside my handicap.  I only dropped points on two holes but still had no blobs.  I've got to be pretty happy with that, right?  Well that's the good news.

I had 3 penalties on my card (a pulled tee shot into a ditch, a pushed tee shot into a lake and a bunker shot that took no sand and went through the green to an unplayable lie).  Two of these resulted in a dropped point.  That's three shots.  Now for the embarrassing bit.  43 putts.  43!!!!! I didn't have a single 1 putt on my card.  The greens were a little long and hence slow, and the pace was little inconsistent due to it, and I did lip out two birdie putts, but 43!!!!  So, if I take off the 3 putts and the penalties, that's 10 shots.  I could've carded a 76!!! 

So what am I going to do?  I'll tell you.  I'll go back again on Thursday evening, have 15 minutes on the putting green to get the pace and then try to rectify the situation.  And I bet I only take 30 putts, but my iron play is rubbish!

This is why I think golf eats into your soul, captures you and becomes the mistress you know you should leave but can't because you love her.  Rounds like this "nearly" round, the lipped out putt and the inch-short putt are what brings you back to right the wrongs.  The faded 5 iron around the tree into the green, hitting the par 5 green in 2 and the tee shot to the island green that drops smack in the middle of the green pin high; these are the shots that make you believe that next time you WILL right those wrongs. 

So do you love it or hate it?  I think we all do both

John, your ups and downs may be more regular, but Chris is right, the more good shots and rounds you play the more the bad ones hurt.  The troughs get deeper but the highs get so much better, and it's that that keeps dragging us back to the dirty old trollope of a mistress.  She'll make you dress like a pimp, humiliate you in front of your mates and hurt you, physically and emotionally, but you'll just keep coming back for more.

Apologies for waxing lyrical, but Perry started it.

"She'll make you dress like a pimp"

not me tim i always dress smartly

.......don't forget she'll ruin your relationships and take you for every penny you've got as well.

I sympathise with you Chris. I played today, struck the ball well the whole round, but couldn`t putt for toffees - taking 40 putts to wreck a good score card.

Ian

Been hooked on my mistress for about a year - three weeks ago, on a Sunday morning in what can only be described as a mini monsoon, my mistress called me. Defying all common sense, I went to her. She was both cold and hot, she was cruel, then kind, and she frustrates me like no other. But - I realise now, I need her and my life will never be the same again................

HOW SAD IS THAT!!!!!!????

Well I said I would go back to her tonight and I did.  She was cold and miserable, drizzly and grey.  I nearly didn't visit her as I left work around 30 minutes late and the weather was off-putting.  But, determined to right the wrongs, I allowed myself to listen to her siren call.  And I'm glad I did.  Shot an 83, a personal best.  Putting was better (33 putts) and despite only scoring 3 less, I can only think of 4 or 5 shots I was responsible for leaving on the course, a couple of those drops.  Overall, I feel I played consistently through the round (just two dropped points again) and that's all I ever want. 

So she shows some sympathy, a little glimpse of how good this love affair could be.  When my frustration and thoughts of leaving her start creeping in, she shows me just enough affection to make me think this could be the real thing.  Only problem is, I know it won't be long before she shows me once more how heartless and cruel she really is