Keeping Things Positive

This week, we’re keeping things positive.

With the mornings getting darker, the evenings getting shorter and that familiar feeling that summer has disappeared far too quickly, it’s easy to focus on what we’re losing rather than what we’ve still got.

So this week’s Scorecard is about finding the positives — on the golf course, at home and in the little things that often get overlooked because there’s always another tee time, another opportunity and another reason to get out there.

Welcome back to The Scorecard.

There’s something about this time of year that I don’t particularly like.

You get up in the dark, you come home in the dark. The weekends suddenly feel shorter and those easy summer evenings where you could finish work, grab the clubs and get nine (or more) holes in seem to have disappeared almost overnight.

For dads, that can mean something else disappears too. Time for ourselves.

Golf is obviously about a game, but for a lot of us it is much more than hitting a little white ball around 18 holes. It gets us outside, gives us a few hours away from work and family responsibilities, gets us moving and, perhaps most importantly, gives us time with other people. Take that away for a few months and you can feel the difference.

You move less, you see your mates less, you have fewer opportunities to switch off. Before you know it, the combination of work, kids, family commitments and the darker evenings means you’re spending most of your time being everything for everyone else and very little time looking after yourself.

The answer, though, probably isn't to try and squeeze an 18-hole round into a week that simply doesn't have the time or daylight for it. We need to change what we think counts. A round of golf doesn't have to be 18 holes. It could be nine, it could be six, it could be an hour at the range. It could be twenty minutes putting in the garden, a walk with the kids, a session at an indoor simulator, or simply grabbing a mate and going for a walk instead of meeting for a pint. Perhaps that's the bit we forget as dads.

We can be very good at making things all or nothing. If I can't play 18, there's no point going. If I haven't got an hour for the gym, I'll do nothing. If I can't meet the lads for a proper night out, I'll just stay home. 20 minutes is better than zero.

That 20 minutes might not change your handicap, but it might change your mood. A walk might not feel like exercise, but it gets you moving. A quick range session might not solve your swing, but it gives you some headspace. A coffee and a walk with another dad might do more for you than sitting on the sofa scrolling through your phone for an hour.

The other thing worth remembering is that looking after yourself isn't taking time away from your family. It's helping you turn up for them in a better place. We spend so much time talking about being present for our kids, supporting our partners and providing for our families. All of that matters but you are part of the family too.

So as the evenings get darker and the mornings get colder, perhaps the challenge isn't to find more time for golf. Perhaps it's to find different ways to look after ourselves. Keep moving. Keep seeing people. Keep doing things that give you a bit of headspace. Keep a little bit of golf in your life if that's what makes you tick b§1qwaeecause being a good dad doesn't mean putting yourself last every single time.

Sometimes, looking after yourself is part of looking after them.

1. Lower the bar.
Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity to play 18 holes. Six holes, nine holes, the range or 20 minutes on the putting mat all count. The aim is to keep golf in your life, not complete a full round every time you pick up a club.

2. Build movement into family life.
Take the kids for a walk, kick a ball around, walk to the shops, get out on the bikes or have a hit around the garden. It doesn't always have to look like a workout to be good for you.

3. Put something in the diary.
The darker months make it very easy for weeks to disappear. Get a regular round, range session, walk or coffee with a mate into the calendar and treat it like any other commitment. You’re much more likely to do it if someone else is expecting you.

4. Find your winter golf.
Indoor simulator, Topgolf, driving range, putting mat, golf lesson or even a few holes at the weekend. If the weather and daylight are working against you, change the game rather than giving it up.

5. Don’t underestimate the social bit.
Sometimes the most important part of a round isn't the golf. It's the conversation walking down the fairway. If you can't get a game in, find another reason to get together with another dad.

The goal this winter isn't to play more golf. It's to keep doing the things that make you feel more like yourself.

It’s been a pretty eventful week, but two events have definitely stolen the headlines.

Solheim Cup — Europe reclaim the trophy
What a weekend in the Netherlands. Europe went into Sunday’s singles level at 8–8, but produced a superb final-day performance, winning the session 7–5 to beat the USA 15–13 and reclaim the Solheim Cup.

There were some great individual stories too. Linn Grant went 4–0–0, having lost all four matches at the previous Solheim Cup, while rookie Lottie Woad only won one of her five matches. Woad delivered the point that took Europe beyond the 14½ needed to win, before Carlota Ciganda added the final point.

And there was a brilliant performance from the American side too, with Alison Lee going 4–0–0 despite the USA losing the Cup. She also produced the biggest comeback in recorded Solheim Cup singles history, overturning a four-hole deficit against Esther Henseleit.

Irish Open — Lowry runs away with it
Shane Lowry produced something pretty special at Doonbeg, winning his home Open by a record 11 shots. Starting the final round four clear, Lowry barely gave the chasing pack a chance, shooting a brilliant 63 to finish 23-under par.

It was Lowry's second Irish Open title, 17 years after winning the event as an amateur in 2009, and his first individual victory since the 2022 BMW PGA Championship. Patrick Reed and Joaquin Niemann shared second, while Tom McKibbin also had a strong week, finishing fifth.

Now it's off to Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and a host of Europe's best are in the field, and with the Ryder Cup now firmly on the horizon, there should be plenty to watch.

Front 9 Dads — Make the small stuff count
You don't need two hours to improve your fitness, your golf or your headspace. Find 20 minutes and use it. A walk, some stretching, a few putts or a quick chat with a mate is still an investment in yourself.

Back 9 Dads — Put a winter date in the diary
Pick a regular day or evening for golf, exercise or just getting out of the house. Once the clocks change, it becomes very easy to say “we'll do it next week.” Give yourself something to look forward to.

Clubhouse Dads — Take someone with you
If you're going for a walk, hitting the range or squeezing in nine holes, ask another dad to come along. You might both need the excuse to get out more than you realise.

The golf season might slow down, but the competition doesn't. Join the Golf Dads UK Fantasy Premier League Mini-League and enjoy a season of friendly rivalry, questionable captaincy decisions and plenty of banter with fellow golf dads.

🏆 Prizes for the overall Top 3
📅 A prize for the Manager of the Month every month

Whether you're a Fantasy Premier League veteran or picking a team for the first time, everyone has a chance. Create your team and use the code below to join the league.

If this week's issue resonated, the best thing you can do is forward it to one dad who'd get it. That's how this community grows.

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See you on the fairway

Matt

18 Hole Dads

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