I have some sympathies with Adrian Chiles’s war of attrition with golf (I hate golf, 14 October). I too have suffered with shots to the right followed by shots to the left, and have had rounds with many bad shots, only to then have a perfect drive down the middle, or by sinking a 20-yard putt on the last green that inevitably brought me back the next week thinking that I had finally cracked it.

Over the 60 years that I have been playing, I have learned that it is possible to master some of this game some of the time, but not all of the time. There are many other pluses to this wonderful game. I have played golf on many courses in this country and in Europe, enjoying great views and friendships along the way.

At 81 years of age, I still play twice a week, walking just over five miles each time, and still play to a respectable nine handicap. Come on Adrian, look on the bright side and continue your search for the perfect swing, even if it’s only one per round.
Bob Dawson
Greenmount, Greater Manchester

Adrian Chiles has it all wrong. If he removed the competitive element from his approach, he would see that golf doesn’t sit in isolation from the world around it. I was coerced into playing golf for the first time at the age of 60. I didn’t have that elusive isolated “Wow!” moment. The whole round, from a golf point of view, was lousy. But I loved the camaraderie, the walk through nature, the science attached to equipment and performance, the exercise on most fronts and the knowledge that, even with time against me, I could get better. I did … and plateaued. I fully expect to get worse as age takes over – I don’t care. As has been said, golf is not a game of being perfect, it is a holistic experience that is hard to match.
Joe Waddle
Bedlington, Northumberland

I can readily identify with the myriad frustrations that Adrian Chiles identifies in his experiences of playing golf. However, after more than 50 years of playing without any discernible improvement, I still soldier on o’er hill and dale, wielding my mashie niblick.

I do so because of all the positive benefits to be gained from a four-hour walk unspoiled: the exercise, the beautiful scenery, the fresh air and, as much as anything, the banter and bonhomie with my old schoolmates as we mercilessly mock our collective inability to master the game.

Get back out there, Adrian Chiles, it’s fun and good for your mental health!
Kev Ward
Quorn, Leicestershire

I stopped playing baseball at the age of 65 (exploded achilles tendon); ice hockey at 70 (Covid). I took up golf. Now five years in, I’m a reliable bogey golfer. I’m not a great athlete, absolutely average in size (5ft 9in) and took one formal lesson. But God bless YouTube. All the answers are there. Play with people who are better than you (not difficult in my case) and be willing to improve gradually.

There are tons of people who can tell you what you are doing wrong. Find one person who simplifies the game and follow them exclusively. For me, it’s a YouTube star called Jimmy Tropicana. And his best skill is making you believe you can play the sport well.

And stop keeping score until you develop some consistency. Just think about the next shot – not the good or bad ones already taken. The score will settle itself.
Chris Gargan
Verona, Wisconsin, US