All golfers will know that when you play well, the sport is possibly the greatest and most rewarding out there. However when it goes all wrong after spending those extra hours at the driving range, golf can be the most infuriating.
The beauty of golf is that it doesn’t care who you are. One day you can play beautifully, striking the ball crisply out of the centre of the club and then the next, you can’t find a par for love nor money.
It’s all about how you deal with the anger and frustration that builds up as the round goes on. By the 12th hole you don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Here are the reasons why golf is the most stressful and the ideal destinations to remember why you took up the sport in the first place.
The shrinking hole
Some rounds the ball just won’t drop in the hole. You can be on fire with the putter on the Monday but the Tuesday is a different story. Although it’s not like your putting strokes have been poor, the game just decides that it is not your day. I wouldn’t like a conversation with this player after he did this.
[youtube width=”600″ height=”315″ video_id=”g4GcCrGUz-I”]Relax after a round at the Belfry’s golf and spa experience
Your playing partner
Ever had someone tell you after a bad shot that you lifted your head up too soon or swung the club too quickly? I didn’t know my partner had turned into Tiger Woods’ coach overnight just because they had a birdie on the previous hole. A big part of golf is how you mentally prepare with each shot. So it doesn’t help when the pressure is increasing and your partner reminds you to avoid the gaping greenside bunker or the lake that surrounds the green. Thanks for pointing out the obvious, maybe this guy finally cracked.
The trees
We bemoan our luck when we hit a decent shot only to undeservedly find the trees. It happens, but there is a skill involved of how you play your way out of trouble. Stay safe and knock out onto the fairway or whack a three iron through the small gap and run it onto the green? The optimistic shot through the trees seemed like the best idea until the inevitable happens.
Relax at the stunning K Club by taking full advantage of their golf and spa facilities
The unfortunate lies
Sometimes it’s just easier to take a drop and get on with it. But if you’re stubborn then you don’t want to lose a shot without making any yards. I doubt many can relate to this player’s early shower but we’ve all cursed the golfing gods when we are left with a tricky shot.
Relax at the 5* Rockliffe Hall Hotel Golf & Spa resort after a round
The slice, hook, pull, tops, shanks
Sometimes you haven’t hit a shank or topped a ball in months, even years. But out of the blue you slice the ball 50 yards into the bushes on the right and you’re out the running for the match or tournament. Frustrating? Without a doubt but once it’s happened, you think that will be the end of it until it you’re diagnosed with the case of the shanks.
Relax in Costa De La Luz at the Elba Costa Ballena golf and spa experience
Stroke play
The advantage of Match play or Stableford is if you have a bad hole, you can move on to the next and start again. Stroke play there is no hiding. You can be in contention until you find trouble on one hole and you question that horrific shot over your pint in the clubhouse. Luckily, even the best players have their moments and Kevin Na was one-under par until it took him 16 shots to finish the hole.
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Relax at The Vale Resort with unlimited golf and spa sessions
Four balls
Nothing more annoying than being stuck behind a slow four ball that pretend to ignore you while taking five minutes to play each shot. Nearly five hours later and a few trick shots learned whilst waiting patiently, only the prospect of an ice cold beer and a foot rub can sooth you now. Just make sure you’re in the best possible location and book yourself into a full on pamper session on a golf and spa break today.
