What is a hardcore golfer? Am I one?

The other day, in one of the golf magazines my girlfriend offered me for our anniversary, there was an article about hardcore golfers and what should be the definition of a hardcore golfer. Because I read this article a while ago I don't remember exactly what was the definition of a hardcore golfer but it was something like this: a hardcore golfer is someone who plays at least 6 (or 8, can't remember exactly) rounds of golf in one year. Under this definition, and given my recent historic of play, there is no doubt that I must be considered a hardcore golfer.

In this same article, the point of the author was not talking about this definition of hardcore golfer, but instead, to disagree with it and propose alternative ones: a) a hardcore golfer is someone who owns a rain suit for golf and uses it at least once a year; b) a hardcore golfer is someone who plays at least once a year, in a single day, 54 holes; c) I can't remember.

Based on these alternative and open ended definitions my question is: Am I a hardcore golfer too? To be honest, I never played golf in the rain (maybe some showers, but not much) nor own a golf rain suit. In terms of holes played, I don't think I have ever passed the 30 holes in one day (I may have lost more than 30 balls in one day, but never played more than 30 holes in one day). I never did this, but I have some stories of my own:

1) I got locked on a golf course. One day, I was playing the twilight at Penmar golf course in LA and because I wanted to play one more hole (at least one more hole), when I see the Marshall calling other people, I pretend that I didn't understand what was going on. I played the 8th hole, attempted to play the 9th hole (couldn't see where my two drives fell, so I thought it was probably time to leave) and on my way back, I went to the end of the 9th hole to pick up a ball I had left while playing the 7th hole. When I get to the gate to leave and go home, surprise surprise, the gate was locked and there was no one around. Well, what could I do? Only jumping the fence, and that's what I did. I put my bag on the fence using the bag-legs and jump to the other side. Once on the other side, I lift the bag and pass it to the outside of the course. This might sound easy, but if you take into account that I am only 5'7 and that the fence was at least 7 feet high, passing the bag or jumping the fence with the golf shoes on was really hard.

2) During our Spring break vacations, I used to play the flat rate or twilight which meant that, after 3PM, I could play a 9-hole course for as many rounds as I wanted while there was light. Since at 7PM it was already the end of sunset, I only had 4 hours of play, nevertheless I was always able to play at least 2 entire rounds and once I played 3 entire rounds plus a few holes. The crucial point though, is that, regardless of the number of holes I was able to play, at the time I returned the buggy, I was always the last one. My rule to stop was, if after three drives I couldn't find any of the 3 balls, then it was time to go home.

Based on these 2 stories, do you think I make the cut to be considered a hardcore golfer???


Beginning of the round


Middle of the round


I am kidding, this was almost the end of the round :)


Just to finish this already long post, I want to say that if the person in the story of this article is not a hardcore golfer, I don't think anyone else is.

A true hardcore golfer (push to read story)