6 signs that you’re addicted to golf

Golf can mean many things to many people – it can be a regular challenge, a weekly wind down or simply a great way to spend an afternoon. But for others, it can become something more – an addiction.

Interestingly, some claim that golfing addictions can often be replacements for more serious addictions. An article in the Wall Street Journal suggests many celebs have used local fairways to take their mind off drug and alcohol habits. For example, Alice Cooper swapped his whiskey and beer habit for a 36-holes-a-day one.

Can you spot the warning signs you’ve developed a full blown golfing habit?

Your clubhouse is your local

It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon and you and the family are looking for somewhere to go for lunch. Where do you suggest? If the first place that springs to mind is the clubhouse at your local golf course, then you might well be a golf addict.

While the clubhouse might be nice and do a good line in homemade burgers and local ales, it shouldn’t be your first port of call for a family meal – especially as the course will be just there, calling you to play it.

You don’t leave it on the course

Lots of things affect our mood. The weather, a bad day at work, our health. But if the main barometer of your potential mood is how well you played at the weekend, then you might be a golf addict.

Leading golf psychologist Dr Alan Shapiro says how you react to your game is a key indicator of how much golf has taken hold of you and your life off the course. He claims that families can be ignored after bad rounds and many golf addicts have days of angry, agitated and depressive moods following a poor performance.
   

Your lawn is immaculate

Gardening is one of our country’s favourite pastimes. The British lawn is a thing to enjoy. Whether it’s your kids running freely across it or BBQs on long summer weekends.

The question is – what qualities are you looking for in your lawn? If your answer is a level surface with perfectly manicured grass, then you might be a golf addict.

Transforming your front lawn into a putting green might mean you’re putting your own golfing game ahead of your family’s needs. The same goes for your carpet choices. If the first thing that comes to mind when buying a new carpet is how similar the surface is to a putting green, you’re in trouble.

Anything in your hand can be a club

There’s never a bad time to practice your swing. But there can be bad places.

If you find yourself lining up shots and swinging away when you pick up the TV remote or kitchen tongs then you might be a golf addict.

Most of the time this is fine – but if you find yourself practicing with the bouquet of flowers you bought for Valentine’s Day then you might need to worry.

Your family holiday searches include the word ‘golf course’

There’s nothing like a break to recharge the batteries. Whether you and your family prefer beaches, city breaks or getting back to nature, a good holiday is hard to beat.

But if you find yourself including the phrase ‘nearest golf course’ in your search terms for holidays, you might be a golf addict.

The same goes for when packing your bags. Have you checked the airline to see how much it’d cost to take your clubs? Have you packed your golf spikes? Then you’ve got a serious golfing addiction.

Golf clubs get car boot priority

There’s a hierarchy for car boot space in most families. Depending on the age and situation, the buggy is usually top of the list, followed by shopping and then maybe other bags, or the dog.

But if find yourself putting your golf clubs at the top of the list, you might be a golf addict. And if you get angry when your partner asks why they can’t just live in the garage, it might mean it’s time to cut down on your game time.