7 Ways To Have More Fun Playing Golf
In this video, Kit Alexander talks through 7 ways you can put the fun back into your round.
Transcript
00:00I'm here at Burley Park Golf Club and this video is all about having more fun on the
00:07golf course.
00:08Let's face it, we're not earning a living doing this, it doesn't matter what we shoot,
00:13this is a leisure activity.
00:16So whenever we're out here on the golf course with our friends, we should be putting a smile
00:20on our faces and enjoying it as much as we possibly can.
00:25These are the seven ways you can add more fun to your golf.
00:34Number one is to do away with this little thing here, the scorecard.
00:38If you're just looking to go out there and have a bit of fun, frankly it doesn't matter
00:43how many shots you're taking or what score you shoot at the end of the day.
00:48It's all about being out there on the golf course, in and amongst nature, hitting some
00:51cool golf shots, spending time with your friends and enjoying it.
00:56That's how you should measure your day on the golf course.
00:59How much fun have you had?
01:00How much time have you spent laughing?
01:02How many golf shots have you hit that are memorable for all the right reasons?
01:06Let's be honest, whether you shoot 78, 84, 96, 172, it doesn't matter.
01:13Get rid of the scorecard, forget about the numbers and have a good time.
01:20Number two is using some different scoring and competition formats.
01:25Just because you're not writing down your stroke play score doesn't mean you can't have
01:29a little bit of friendly rivalry and add a bit of spice to your friendly round with your
01:34mates.
01:35Match play, of course, as we know, is a brilliant way of doing that.
01:38You can have a bad hole and it doesn't affect the rest of your round at all.
01:42You can do it individually and in pairs.
01:45If you do try pairs, maybe a little bit of foursomes, alternate shot, you'll get round
01:49a bit quicker and it just adds a different dimension to your game.
01:53In terms of the other scoring formats, there are absolutely loads out there.
01:57Skins is a classic where you have to win the hole outright.
02:01If you don't, it all adds up through the holes and then the next person to win one outright
02:05takes the money or the points depending on whether you're gambling as well.
02:10Check out a story that we've got here on the Golf Monthly website.
02:14There's some great golf formats on there that should give you some ideas.
02:20Number three is finding the right playing partners.
02:25It's so hard to have fun yourself if the guys you're with are frustrated, angry, or just
02:31taking it really, really seriously.
02:34If you can find someone with the same outlook as you, who you get on with off the course
02:38as well as on it, it'll be so much easier for you to have fun on the course.
02:49Someone that sees the game like you do and wants to have fun as well is always your best
02:53playing partner.
02:56That nearly hit within an inch of the middle of the clubhead to be fair.
03:02It was all right.
03:03I like that.
03:04I'll take that.
03:05I didn't think that was even possible.
03:07Going for the firm fade into that tucked left pin.
03:14Number four on our list is playing with a junior golfer.
03:19That can bring real lightheartedness to it.
03:21You can see what it's like for them to just really love it, play with freedom, and that
03:26will probably remind you what it was like when you were playing golf as a kid.
03:31Going out there for a few holes of a summer's evening, anything just to be out there in
03:35and amongst nature, having fun, taking shots on.
03:38You can really take on a bit of a mentoring role for them as well.
03:42It can add a totally different dimension.
03:45If you get the opportunity to play with any juniors at your clubs or get your children
03:50into the game, do it, and I promise you will have way more fun with them on the golf course.
04:00Number five is taking on the hero shot.
04:04I found myself in a bit of a predicament down the right-hand side on this par five.
04:08I'm in the trees, but I've got options.
04:10I could chip it out sideways.
04:12I could try and advance it a little bit, or as Seve always said, I can see a window.
04:19I can either fade it or draw it around that tree, but I've got to keep it low early.
04:23If it goes wrong, that is a card wrecker right there, but I don't have a card, so I'm going
04:27to take it on.
04:29I'm going to make myself a story that I can tell my grandkids and bore my playing partners
04:34with for years to come because I'm going to take on this hero shot, and I'm going to nail
04:38it.
04:39Here we go.
04:41I'm taking this on, and I'm going to make myself a hero.
04:55I need a hero, a number of heroes.
05:03Tip number six is to only use a half set of clubs or even fewer.
05:08A three or a five club challenge can be a lot of fun.
05:12It forces you to take on some funky shots, to get creative, and maybe re-find that love
05:17of the artistry of golf that made you first fall in love with the game.
05:22I've just come out with four clubs here.
05:24I've got myself in play, but ideally, I'd want a pitching wedge for this shot.
05:30I don't have one.
05:31I've only got a sand wedge, so do I crank that or reach for the trusty seven iron and
05:35try and hit a little bit of a knockdown?
05:38It's not a shot I'd normally take on, but it's going to be a lot of fun to try and do
05:42it.
05:48Well, I mean, I've clipped that so pure, too pure, in fact.
06:01It's just through the back of the green, but I feel good about hitting it like that.
06:09Our seventh and final tip for how you can enjoy your golf even more is to visit and
06:15play different and new golf courses.
06:19It's so easy to get stuck into a bit of a rut if you're a member or you just go to one
06:23course the whole time.
06:25Freshen things up.
06:27Try different styles of course.
06:28If you play on a links course, go to a parkland or woodland place, vice versa as well.
06:34If you like playing long courses, go and have a go at a par three course, just so you're
06:38doing something a little bit different, anything to freshen up your golf experience and that
06:43makes you see different things and hit different shots is really going to enhance your experiences.
06:51I hope you found this helpful and you're going to use some of these tips to make sure you
06:55have as much fun as possible next time you get to the golf course.
06:59If you've liked it, please give it a thumbs up.
07:02If we've missed out any awesome ways you can bring more fun to your golf, add them in the
07:07comments section below.
07:09Remember to follow this Golf Monthly YouTube channel because we have got loads of great
07:13content coming your way and we'll see you next time.