Love your positive outlook on the game!! Would do us all good to have a little more of that attitude...
JZoll2: I haven't explored the club thing yet, thinking I wouldn't want to be tied to any schedules but I would welcome suggestions as to why joining a club could be fun.
Everyone has varied reasons for joining or not joining a Country Club, For me I was similar feeling in that I hated being tied into Having to do this or that, BUT there are many clubs that ask/require nothing while providing a way for you to make your own tourneys, have putter/shot pal for free, have access to information quicker than through forums. It also makes finding multiplayer games easier. There really is no downside except some clubs have a lot of internal drama but as long as you avoid that being in a CC is a win for you as a player.