Well, after posting too many personal ramblings on this site (which I imagine have bored much more than entertained) I'm signing off. I'm afraid I haven't found the social network of true Golf Nuts I thought I would find after reading the book Golf Nuts. I've come to discover that all the golfers I've met, in person and online, are much more sane and much less obsessed than myself.
I also discovered today while out playing a round with my wife a sense of frustration I didn't ever imagine I would find, especially since I'd thought I'd found at least my "Secret" to golf - to play only for fun. But, after a demonstration of my frustration that I'm certainly not proud of I walked off the course after the sixth and - what shall be for me - the final hole.
I know most other golfers have given up the game many times; however, I took it up only three years ago, became instantly bitten by the bug, became a 13 handicap; but, find that the obsession and compulsion I feel for the game and wish to chase is apparently now unmatched by others I'd hoped to find to share in the fun. (Darn recession, I think it got too many folks too serious about life and "retirement planning." And so, I shall move on to some other obsession - maybe biking or fishing; there seem to be quite a few of those types around here that by their abundance of gear and disregard for little bothers like rain or wind might be my type of nuts. Too bad. I had such hopes and dreams for golf. But it truly is "The Secret" that by feeling sometimes so close but always so elusive has at last beaten me. Good luck to all others. Fairways and Greens.
-GNS5707 (aka Kevin Brown).

Well, that retirement didn't last long.
I'm back to golf. Friend told me, on hearing the news I was giving up, that my problem was my shoulder turn was too exaggerated during my backswing. Voila, he was right. I'd worked on increasing distance via a bigger shoulder turn/longer backswing and had sacrificed accuracy. A day at the range practicing much shorter backswing, and was back hitting them straight - not long, but straight. And for a longer shot I'll just take more club. Then another friend called to invite me to a golf marathon. So, guess I'm back with restored passion (and insanity - had to prove the shorter backswing worked and played yesterday in very "iffy" conditions: thundering the whole time and the hail started just as I got back to my car. A really stupid day; but, I did hit 'em straight and with less loss of distance than I'd have thought.) So, I guess "The Secret" is to have friends who can tell you what you're doing wrong, and right.

Welcome back Kevin.

I am currently explore stack and tilt which might be The Secret. Of course, I feel like a complete spazz while trying to learn.

Like you Kevin, I resolved that making friends (like you) and enjoying new courses would have to replace competitive play. Then BAM, I took 3rd in a small tournament and I'm hooked again!

We're ALL Nuts!

HN0001