Golf Anyone?

100% golfer right here.  I say this because it's my job.  I am a PGA Head Golf Professional at a country club.  When I had more free time, I used to practice and play quite often - as in almost everyday.  Now that I have moved into a higher position, I have many more responsibilities, I don't get to practice.  Therefore,  I very rarely play.  In order for me to play my best I have to practice.  It's a cycle. 

In my position, I have many different responsibilities from running tournaments, teaching the game, and selling merchandise in my proshop to name few. 

For the record, most of my free time is spent training;  not golfing.  I'd rather be healthy than be able to shoot around par all of the time.

I played golf a lot from junior high up until I started into triathlons 4 years ago, so about 35 years.  I worked at golf courses on the grounds crew and in the pro shop for about 6 years during and just after high school.  Golf is a great game.  However, if you are going to be good you need to practice not just play once in awhile.  I still play and practice a little but my expectations on the course have had a reality check.  I still have an occasional good round but w/o the practice time they are now the exception rather than the norm.  I played to as low as a 6 hdcp, pretty consistent 8 range. 

There are some good parallels between golf and triathlons.  Driving, irons, putting are all a little different and each player typically has strengths/weaknesses just like s/b/r.   One difference between the sports is the range of results.  With tris your bad races & good races are not that far apart.  In golf there can be a huge gap between your good days and bad days.  There is no a much higher ceiling on how well you can score in golf on any given day than there is how fast you can s/b/r just due to physical limitations.      

2 years ago I did what was called a Tri Quest, a run, bike, golf event.   It was a 2 person team event, combined times for a 5k run, followed by combined times for a 30k bike, followed by lunch then 18 holes of golf, consisting of 6 holes best ball, 6 holes best shot and 6 holes alternate shot.  A fun event.    

When I retire I hope to have time to get out on the golf course and practice range more while still training and racing triathlons.   

I shoot pretty close to par when i play....I used to play 3-4 times a week.  Since IM started i usually only get in 2-3 times a month, but I love golf and i will still be playing 50 years from now.