Another good walk spoiled..but we’ll all take pain again next week to try to find the sliver of joy

GOLF is a game that forever fascinates me.

I played last Monday at Seapoint Golf Club in the new Flogas Irish Scratch Series. It was my second game since the end of February.

But, most importantly, I had a card in my pocket and the devil at the end of the pencil!

Sure it is only a fun game and out with friends, what could possibly go wrong?

My problem is that I don’t practise any more, not for 8 years – and I only play for exercise, really – but you still think that you can do it. Some days it’s decent but nine

times out of 10, I leave the depressed. I get little enjoyment from the game anymore. I try over every shot and still expect to hit it perfectly, but it nearly always leaves me despondent.

I never felt like this when I played. I play nowadays riddled with fear. I can still hit good shots, but my execution is void of the control that I once thought was normal.

So it manifests itself in ‘don’t do it, what if ?’.

It’s easy to say, ‘go practise’. But I can’t because I’ll enjoy that even less! A worn out hip doesn’t help either.

But the mad thing is that I want to go and do it again next week. The Flogas Irish Scratch Series is full of young hungry players all trying to get better. I think I can still beat them, but I can’t really. So when logic tells you something and you still try and defy that, there must be something wrong.

But there’s nothing wrong – it’s just the game. It takes us on an emotional rollercourse

I’m trying to fall in love with playing again..

coaster from start to finish. It’s the delusion that brings us back out every time.

I’m trying to fall in love with playing again because I want to. The knocks are hard to take. Maybe it is like supporting your team, when that sliver of joy comes your way you forget about the pain.

I will take the pain again next week just to try find that sliver of joy. Perhaps another good walk spoiled.