Have you ever wondered why do we do it? Really, we have so few good rounds that we could count them on our hands, and how many rounds of golf do we play? Thousands. We hit one good shot and we think we’ve cracked it, and the reality is that any amateur, on any given day can pure one just like Tiger, and that’s what brings us all back. Does the 2/3 handicapper get more pleasure playing than the 20 handicapper who chips in for a birdie? It’s all relative. They say golf is a cruel mistress, but surely no mistress can be this cruel?
I can tell you for sure that if my wife treated me like golf does, I’d leave her. How does it happen? We take lessons, go to the range, groove it, then we take to the course only for the golfing gods to let us down in our hour of need. And this is the game we say we love! So what is the beautiful game, Football or golf? For me it has to be golf. I’ve played in many great football matches and I couldn’t recall all of them. Where as in golf, I can tell you my best round ever. The Buckinghamshire Golf club, a members golf day, John Spenley invitational, I shot two over (74) off ten handicap. I floated away from the club that day, didn’t need the car. But haven’t we all peaked at least once when we needed to? In eight years I’ve only won one monthly medal. Take my colleagues at the BBC, not only were they top footballers they’re now top golfers. Alan Hansen’s the daddy, he’s a two handicapper. Lee Dixon is three, Gary Lineker five, Alan Shearer six, Ian Wright 7, lots of work if we’re to catch Hansen. It’s a frequently asked question, why are so many footballers good at golf?
Easy answer, lots of time, money, rhythm and desire. I can tell you as a former footballer, anything footballers do, they like to do it well. I consider myself a passionate person with decent self control, but golf tests me in a way nothing else can. It’s addictive, compulsive, to me its a drug. I had a good tip once, cut a few inches off the top of the shafts! Will that make me play better? No, it’ll make sure that they fit into the bin! I feel at times that’s not bad advice! | 
