Yeah it really does take too long. Me and my buddies used to go out to a little 9-hole par 3 course nestled right in on downtown Austin, half a city block. Really neat course, mostly an unofficial homeless shelter now, like most places downtown. You Austinites -- it's at Barton Springs, the little green area next to the giant dinosaur and the McDonalds. I guess it's probably been sold by now, though.
I enjoy golfing with my father. He's a decent golfer, but he's patient. In fact, I get so impatient golfing that I tend to run to my ball from the cart. On more than one occasion my father has quipped, "Steven, there is no running in golf!" On a sidenote, my dad has been golfing for about 20 years and a few weeks ago he got his first hole in one. Pretty cool!
I enjoy being on the golf course a lot. Always loved driving the carts around. Private courses are very peaceful places to be on drugs. But the game itself drives me nuts 92 percent of the time. I do like the idea of going your whole life waiting for that hole in one and finally nailing it. Not too many other hobbyist sports have that holey grail.