[Aaron757]

My biggest regret isn't the loss of those 12 years. Instead, it's that I didn't start playing as a junior. Looking back, I would have loved to play in a team atmosphere, like on my High School team. (I doubt I would have been good enough to play on my college team, even if I had started younger.) Even if I still took those 12 years off later, playing as a junior would have been special.

Same here. I wish I would have started playing golf at a much younger age. We had golf one time in gym class in highschool and it was fun, but taking up golf never really crossed my mind. Back in those days, besides girls, all I thought about was snowmobiling.
Who knows, I just might have gotten a college scholarship through golf and had ended up play professionally. Its unlikely, but if you're gonna dream, dream big!

[Gubocang]

My leave of absense was the first 24 years of my life Started late in the game, kick myself daily for not beginning sooner... Ah well, I've got two youngins who are going to be ahead of the curve whether they want to or not!!!

You! I started at 52. I'm 53 now. I really regret not giving it a try when I was younger. Anyway, my LOA was 2 months to let my shoulder heal.

[mybooboo]

i played alot when i was a kid(elementary age) then in jr hs and hs it didnt seem too 'cool' to play golf so i didnt play too often and i regret every minute of it now... got back into it in college but because of the study load and working a bunch of part time jobs it was tough to play/practice... after school same deal too busy to play too often... and all those stops and starts havent been good on the game... im the type of player that has to play/practice alot to be "decent" and any time off just kills my scores...

long story short... my leave of absence was about 10-12yrs

[xT0U3UGh]

I played a ton when I was a kid. Growing up about 150 yards from the first tee does that. I started at about age 10-11. All my hockey buddies would play golf in the summer, so I started because I wanted to do the same thing. It also helped that it was only about $150/y for a junior membership. I played as much as I could from ages 10-11 till I was 20. When I moved out of my parents house, to start working, my golfing all but stopped for about 6 years. I played maybe 3 rounds in those 6 years. It wasn't until I met my wife and said I missed golf, about 5 years ago, to which she responded "well teach me then", and now we live in a golf community and play at least 3 times a week (2*18, and 1*9)

In my 6 year hiatus, I gained about 40lbs (ha) and lost a lot of flexibility...I do feel like I am a better golfer now than I was back then though.

[nizcreare]

Started playing on a small par 3 course when I was 16. No idea how to hit a ball but I enjoyed the game. At about 19 I started playing once a month on big courses. Played on and off for several years, none of my friends played, calling it an old man's game. Moved to Florida at 28 and stopped playing for 4 years, then started and stopped again at 35. Stopped for 8 years (maybe a scramble 1 or 2 times a year). Job (and laziness) kept me off the course. At about 43 I said I'm going back and haven't quit since then (I'm 56, retired and play 3-4 times a week)..Wish I would have started younger and taken a few lessons.. My brother, 9 years younger, started in his teens and took a few lessons and now he's a solid 4 handicap and has played all over the world (he's a captain in the Navy). He's even played Cypress Point, shot a 76 and calls it the best course he's ever played... Needless to say I'm jealous with my 14 handicap and playing munis in northeast N.C. But I enjoy the heck out of the game...