Sunset Half-sets

It started as an experiment... 

I generally liked the idea of going out with a half-set of clubs. Not for more than it was something different and I miss carrying my clubs. Up until a few years ago it was my only mode… I was devastated when I couldn’t handle it anymore and didn’t feel like a “real” golfer. Shout out to my unnamed motorised buggy… work smarter - not harder people! My 40 year old frame feels the burn more than it used to. 

So I hit up HIROKI and got myself a bag, the FTE is like an off road vehicle for golf sickos tbh. Got out at 3pm on a winter’s afternoon and the rest is poetry as I chase the light down to darkness.

It’s become routine. 

I now make a point of adding this to most of my weekends one afternoon. My comp round is midweek and the half-set sunset keeps my feet on the ground and gives me permission to engage the creative part of my golfing brain.

Being a designer I am very process driven. Sometimes the element of play suffers as a result. Going out with half your tools and minimal tech is so freeing. Less tinkering and less decisions really streamline things for me – I am OCD and have high anxiety, so the less internal noise the better. 

On the topic of mental health. If you have never played golf alone I feel you’re really missing out. As much as golf is a social game, it’s deeply meditative for me too. That’s something these sunsets do for me above anything else. Please give it a go.

Back to golf – the half-set makes me deliberate with numbers and more instinctual with shots... I’ve honed working the ball both ways – for a long time I wrote it off as something I couldn’t be bothered doing. How wrong I was about that! It’s brought percentage golf back to my full-set rounds as well… I could try to hit a flighted shot to this back pin and attempt to stop it on a coin. I could also play it up this slope and let the ball reach its destination without risk of the nonsense waiting for me over the back of the green.

As a result of all of this I’m much more relaxed on the course in the rounds that matter, but there’s still a lot of work to do there. A couple of months in and my play in comp rounds is tightening back up, I’m seeing the shots more clearly and making better decisions.

It’s even got a soundtrack

A few months back I played a round with a mate of mine who has music playing while on the course. I really liked it. So for these half-set sunsets I dug out the bluetooth speaker.

My music taste is broad and varied, and I came up listening to and playing hardcore and punk. So what you hear coming from the side of my bag is a bit of a dice roll. As long as there’s a good rhythm to the music it seems to fit. Although anything too chaotic just sounds muddy.

I encourage you to give both experiences a go. Of course, being respectful of those around you if you have music on – it’s not for everyone. 

My favourite albums to play on course so far have been:

• AESOP ROCK “The Impossible Kid”
• AT THE DRIVE IN “Relationship Of Command” 
• MINDFORCE “New Lords”
• KHRUANGBIN “Mordechai”
• MILITARIE GUN “Life Under The Gun”
• HIGH VIS “Blending”