You ever pick up a hobby thinking, “This is gonna be fun,” only to realize you just signed up for four hours of emotional abuse? Welcome to golf, where you can go from feeling like Tiger Woods to questioning every life choice you’ve ever made in the span of a single hole.
And yet, for some reason, my friends keep making me do this… For some reason, I keep making me do this.
This may have something to do with Why Gamers Make Great Entrepreneurs…
Golf: The Only Sport That Actively Bullies You
I’m convinced that golf was invented by someone who had beef with humanity. There is no other sport where:
- The worse you do, the longer you have to suffer.
- The more effort you put in, the dumber you look.
- A tiny gust of wind can ruin your entire day.
- You can make the same mistake 37 times in a row and still think, “Nah, I’ll get it this time.”
I’ve played games that are intentionally designed to frustrate you (looking at you, Rocket League), but at least those have a “restart” button. Golf just lets you marinate in your mistakes. You’re out there in broad daylight, in front of your friends, walking toward your failure.
And you better believe they’re watching.
Sometimes you just need to check your emotions. That’s why I created the Reset & Rewire Roadmap. It’ll help you come up with a clear path on accomplishing what’s important to you. Click the link and get the free download.
Some links may be affiliate links (like the one right below this), which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. But you know me, I only recommend gear I actually use (or would buy to survive the madness).
The only thing standing between me and total collapse on the course? My Callaway Warbirds and Rangefinder to at least pretend I know what I’m doing.
Why Do I Keep Playing?
I don’t know, man. Maybe I just enjoy pain? Maybe I just want to spend way too much money on something that actively tries to destroy my self-esteem?
But in reality, I think it’s the same reason I stick with gaming, business, and everything else that makes me question my sanity. It’s because I love a challenge.
Here’s why I keep showing up to the course even though I have zero business being there:
- The Good Shots Feel Too Good. That one perfect swing? That one time the ball actually does what I want? It’s better than any ranked win in Call of Duty.
- It’s Social Torture, But At Least It’s Social: You get to talk, roast each other, and witness your friends suffer alongside you. There’s something deeply bonding about watching your buddy completely melt down over a missed two-foot putt.
- It’s the One Hobby That Gets Me Outside: Look, I love gaming, but even I know that a little vitamin D won’t kill me. Plus, it’s nice to compete in a setting where the only thing lagging is my own reflexes.
- It’s Basically Real-Life RNG: Golf is just a slower, more expensive version of an EA loot box. You never know what you’re gonna get, but you keep paying anyway.
Golf may be pain, but at least I’ve got my Cart Speaker and Ray-Bans to survive it in style.
The Real Reason Golf & Gaming Are Basically The Same
The way I see it, golf and gaming are identical.
- In Call of Duty, you can have the best aim, the best movement, the best loadout… and still get smoked by a dude using a skateboard (that’s a freakin’ thing now, not kidding).
- In golf, you can take the perfect swing, hit the cleanest shot of your life… and watch your ball land in a pond for absolutely no reason. (Okay there’s a reason)
Both of them:
- Ruin friendships
- Destroy self-esteem
- Feel impossible to master
- Somehow keep us coming back
The only difference? Golf costs a lot more money and makes you wear a collared shirt.
Final Thoughts: Will I Ever Be Good At This?
Probably not.
But that’s okay, because at the end of the day, golf isn’t about being good. It’s about talking trash, making memories, and keeping your rage in check just enough to avoid throwing a club into the lake. (Talkin’ to you Logan and Owen).
And honestly? That sounds a lot like gaming, too.
So yeah, my friends, kids and I will keep coming back, knowing full well that we’re going to embarrass ourselves, lose way too many balls, and spend another afternoon questioning our choices.
But at least we’ll do it together, and at least I have a way to Avoid Burnout While Building This Brand.
(And if I ever do go pro, I will be insufferable about it.)
No, I’ll probably never be good. But at least I’ll look the part with my Golf Polo and Chipping Net for when I rage practice at home.
Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. But you know me, I only recommend gear I actually use (or would buy to survive the madness).