A Lost Weekend With Golf Clash

It’s a fantastic simulation of golf, but life beckons.

If you follow me much at all here on Medium, you may have noticed that my output here has suffered a dramatic decline of late. I’m writing here to tell you why. Today, I’m writing about my experience in gaming. I’m writing to remind myself of why I’m here. And I’m pretty sure the reason for my being is not to be sucked into virtual reality. I write this article today as a warning to other creatives like myself, that gaming tends to impair writing.

For the last few months, I’ve been playing a game called Golf Clash. It is by far, the best golf simulation I have ever seen. The attention to details like spin, wind, gradients and friction are outstanding. The “clans” the tours, the tournaments and the scoring are great features of the game. I and do enjoy getting a hole in one every so often. If you like golf simulators, this game is for you.

Part of the allure of Golf Clash for me is, I’m a fan of gravity, and I love the graceful arcs of flying balls, be they baseballs, footballs or golf balls. I’m mesmerized by the way balls fly, bounce and roll. I love slow-motion replays for the arc of the ball. I’m fascinated by the force that we all work against every minute of our lives, but few if any really understand how it works. Golf Clash simulates physics very, very well.

Golf Clash did all that for me. I enjoyed watching the ball fly in that game. But I also enjoyed winning. And to win and progress in that game requires mental energy. It didn’t seem so obvious in the beginning. But I have been watching my output here, and my participation in that game has fairly decimated my output here. My participation in that game has also infringed on other areas of my life.

I’m a father, a husband, and a man. There are only so many hours in a day. And every decision requires a discreet amount of energy. By the time I’ve finished my day job, my work at home, and my time with my family, I want to find a way to chill out. I’ve tried TV, but that tends to put me to sleep unless the plot is engaging. I’m really looking forward to the next season of Lucifer on Netflix, and maybe Mr. Robot on Amazon Prime, but beyond that, slim pickings. Oh, how I miss the OA.

I’ve tried developing greater friendships, but that requires time away from my young kids. I already spend time away from them with work and when they go to school. I know that I need to…