Wading Through Treacle

Welcome to Issue 15 of The Scorecard. This one's a day late, and after missing last week, I'm reminded that keeping things going isn't always as easy as it looks. This week, I'm reflecting on the doubts that come with starting something, the temptation to compare ourselves with others, and why sometimes simply showing up is an achievement in itself.

We'll also be reminding ourselves to play our own game, celebrating the latest winners on tour, and looking ahead to a big week of golf in India.

So, whether you're chasing a lower handicap, building something of your own or just trying to keep all the plates spinning at home, hopefully there's something here for you.

Right, let's get into it.

There's a lot written about starting something. The excitement of a new idea, the possibilities, the plans you make and the feeling that you're onto something that could really work. What you hear less about is what happens a few months down the line, when the initial enthusiasm starts to wear off and you find yourself wondering whether any of it is actually going anywhere.

Starting something is one thing. Keeping it going is another.

This is issue 15 of The Scorecard. Fifteen editions written, fifteen times I've sat down to put something together and pressed send. Except, if I'm honest, there have been weeks when I've struggled to find the words, weeks when I've questioned what I'm doing with 18 Hole Dads, and weeks when the last thing I've wanted to do is sit down and write another newsletter. I missed last week, and this one will be a day late. It probably doesn't sound like much, but when consistency is something you're trying to build your whole idea around, those little things can feel bigger than they should.

You want to show up. You want people to know they can rely on you. You want to keep moving forward but sometimes life gets in the way, your motivation disappears, or you simply haven't got the energy to give something the attention you think it deserves.

Then there's the comparison.

You see other people doing similar things and making it look easy. They've got better ideas, bigger audiences, a natural way with words or a personality that seems to draw people in. They know how to make a video, tell a story or get a message across in a way that makes people stop scrolling. You look at what you're doing and wonder whether you've got what it takes to make it work.

Perhaps everyone feels like this at some point. Perhaps the people who look like they've got it all figured out are dealing with exactly the same doubts behind the scenes. It's difficult to know, because we tend to see everyone else's highlights while living through all of our own uncertainties.

The hardest part, though, is putting the work in and not knowing what difference it's making. You write something you believe in, share an idea you think could help someone, or spend an evening working on something that matters to you. Then you wait. A few likes, perhaps a comment or two, and then the world carries on. You wonder where the messages go. Whether anyone has read them, whether they've made someone think, or whether they've disappeared into the ether without leaving a trace.

When you're building something, it's easy to measure progress by the things you can see. Followers, subscribers, comments, sign-ups and conversations. They're useful measures, but they don't always tell the whole story. When those numbers aren't moving in the direction you'd hoped, it's hard not to question whether the effort is worthwhile.

I started 18 Hole Dads because I believe there's something important in getting dads together, giving them a reason to get out of the house, play a bit of golf and build friendships along the way. We spend so much of our time trying to be good dads, partners and employees that it's easy to forget that we're people in our own right, too. We need time with others who understand the pressures of family life, and we need things that are ours.

I still believe in that. What I sometimes struggle with is working out how to get the message out there, how to reach the people who might need it, and how to turn an idea I care about into something that genuinely makes a difference.

Maybe that's the bit nobody can really prepare you for. Having an idea is exciting. Turning it into something that works takes patience, persistence and a willingness to keep going when you don't have much evidence that you're getting anywhere.

Perhaps there's a lesson in that for fatherhood, too. We don't always get immediate feedback on whether we're doing a good job. We turn up, make mistakes, try again and hope that the small things we're doing are adding up to something worthwhile. Some days we're full of energy and enthusiasm. Other days we're just getting through the day. That doesn't necessarily mean we're failing.

I'm not writing this because I've suddenly worked it all out. Quite the opposite. I'm writing it because this is where I am at the moment, and I suspect I'm not the only one who has felt this way about something they've started.

Fifteen editions in, I'm still here. Not every week has been brilliant, not every idea has landed, and I haven't always felt like doing it but I've kept coming back to it.

Maybe that's what consistency really looks like. Not getting everything right, never missing a week or always having something clever to say. Just finding a way to come back when you've had a wobble, when the enthusiasm has dipped or when you're not entirely sure anyone is listening.

I don't know where every newsletter goes once it's sent, or what impact 18 Hole Dads will ultimately have. I do know why I started it, and for now, that has to be enough to keep me going.

If you're trying to build something of your own, whether it's a business, a community, a new habit or simply a better version of yourself, perhaps you're in a similar place. Don't feel that you have to be the most charismatic person in the room, have the best idea or make everything look effortless. You just have to decide whether it's something worth coming back to.

Some weeks, showing up is the achievement, and sometimes, that's enough.

It's easy to get caught up watching what everyone else is doing, whether that's on the course or in life. We see someone hitting it further, playing off a lower handicap or making progress that we wish we were making ourselves. Before long, we're judging our own game against someone else's.

The same goes for anything you're trying to build. You don't need to have the best ideas, the biggest audience or the slickest delivery. You need to understand what you're trying to achieve and keep working towards it.

This week's tip: Stop worrying about someone else's scorecard. Focus on your own next shot. Set yourself a small, achievable target this week and give it your attention. You can't control how everyone else plays, but you can decide how you approach your own game.

Remember, even the pros hit bad shots. It's what you do next that counts.

Sometimes golf comes down to one shot, and Grant Forrest produced his when it mattered most. The Scot birdied the 72nd hole in Madrid to win the Open de España by one shot, finishing at 14 under par for his third DP World Tour title. It was a particularly sweet victory for the 33-year-old, who also secured his place at both the Masters and The Open in 2027. A final-hole birdie, a trophy and two major championships to look forward to — not a bad week's work!

Michael Brennan continued his impressive season by claiming the Baycurrent Classic at Yokohama Country Club. The American closed with a three-under-par 68 to finish at 16 under, one shot clear of Jacob Bridgeman and Keith Mitchell. It's his second PGA Tour victory of 2026 and third overall, and he's proving to be a player worth keeping an eye on. England's Jordan Smith also had a decent week, finishing three shots off the winner.

Japan's Miyu Yamashita claimed victory at the Aramco Korea Championship, adding another big result to an already strong season. The event, played at New Korea Country Club, was part of the LET's PIF Global Series and featured a $2 million prize fund. Yamashita has been building an impressive record across women's golf, and this was another reminder of the depth of talent coming through from Japan.

There were wins across the other circuits, too. Vaughn Taylor took the PGA Tour Champions' Constellation Furyk & Friends title, while Austin Hitt won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. On the HotelPlanner Tour, Lars van der Vight came out on top at the Hainan Open.

The DP World Tour heads to Delhi Golf Club for the DP World India Championship, with a star-studded field lining up for the second edition of the event.

Tommy Fleetwood returns to defend the title he won last year, but he'll face some serious competition from Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Ryan Fox. With the Race to Dubai reaching its closing stages, there's plenty at stake as players look to strengthen their positions.

Can Fleetwood make it back-to-back wins, or will McIlroy go one better after finishing runner-up last year? One to keep an eye on this week.

Front 9 Dads — Stop waiting until you feel ready. Whether it's trying something new, joining a golf group or making time for yourself, you don't need to have everything figured out before you start. Take the first step, even if it's a small one.

Back 9 Dads — Give yourself credit for showing up. Progress isn't always obvious, and not every week will be a good one. If you've kept going when you could easily have given up, that counts for something. Don't dismiss the small wins just because they haven't added up to a big one yet.

Clubhouse Dads — Tell another dad what you're working on. We spend a lot of time sharing the highlights, but there's value in being honest about the difficult bits, too. You might find they're wrestling with exactly the same things. Sometimes, knowing you're not the only one is enough to help you keep going.

THE 18 HOLE DADS STABLEFORD LEAGUE IS COMING

Fancy having a reason to play a little more golf in 2027? We’re launching the 18 Hole Dads – Golf Dads UK Community Stableford League. One competition. One entry. A whole year of golf.

HOW IT WORKS 👇

🏌️ Play a minimum of one card every month
📊 Your best card each month counts
🏆 Your 8 best monthly scores from 12 months make up your final league score
🔄 Every 3 months, there’s also a Quarterly Competition based on the average of all your cards played during that quarter — rewarding consistency, not just one great round.

NO OFFICIAL HANDICAP REQUIRED. You don't need a WHS handicap or to be a member of a club but you do need to be able to show proof of your current handicap through an app (Grint, 18Birdies, Golfshot etc), iGolf or an official Handicap Index.

Whether you're playing off 5 or 35, there’s a place for you and because this is 18 Hole Dads, it isn't just about the leaderboard. It's about getting dads playing more golf, meeting other dads and having something in the diary each month.

Enter once. Play all year. See where you finish.

More details and registration can be found on the website

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.

The book that started this all, 18 Hole Dads, is available on Amazon

The conversation continues on the Facebook Group. Come and find us.

Regular content on Instagram and TikTok

See you on the fairway

Matt

18 Hole Dads

If you're a brand, venue, podcast or creator who thinks there's a natural fit with Golf Dads UK, I'd love to hear from you: [email protected]