.why do I play golf
I've been a bit hard on myself recently with some of my recent scores. I was reading an article the other day and it made me think. Why do I play golf? I came up with a few tenets. I'm not sure why but by posting them here, I can come back and visit them every so often to remind myself why I play this game.

Feel free to add or take away what you want.
• I don't play golf for a living. Win, lose or draw I will enjoy my time on the course. It beats work and affords me some time on my own to ditch the pressures of everyday life. I am not going to add further or new stress into my mental being through the process of trying to get a ball in a hole.
• I will enjoy the game regardless of the company. Played with other people golf should be a social activity played in good spirit
• I learn the game with every swing of the club, good or bad
• I can enjoy the competive nature of the game, competing against my personal goals and against those I play with. But the outcome should never affect my enjoyment of the game or those I play with.
• I get from the game what I put into it. Practice, equipment, preparation all help me to improve, but all of these do not automatically mean that I deserve to benefit every time. I should be patient and understand that golf, like life has it's ups and downs. You play well some of the time, but also realise that bears do come along for periods of time.
• Controlling my behaviour and emotion should be the same both on and off the course.
• Honesty and integrity are tenets of this game I strongly adhere to. Play by the rules only, no exceptions.
• Everything I do on the course is directly attributable to me and no-one else. Both good and lousy shots are the direct result of me coping with the mental and physical process of whacking a ball. I can take the slaps of success and failure squarely on each cheek
Golf set will not make me play any better. It may enhance aspects of my game and make me feel better, but ultimately the knowledge that the margin between a £10 club and a £1000 club is minimal in the context of the game