19 Strokes

Beware of starting to feel sorry for her - remember that golf bites.

Useful advice. I played in a matchplay recently and won the first 3 holes with my opponent having a right mare. Eventually won 3&2 but were back level by the turn as I'd sort of switched off a bit.
 
Playing semi-final of club knockout tonight and need to give my opponent 19 strokes; the most I've had to give in a match so far. Seems a lot! :-)

Any tips for keeping my head in the right place as the net pars and birdies rack up?

Remember first of all you're playing the course, if his handicap is that high yours is likely to intimidate the hell out of him, just play your game and let the score take care of itself. ;)



Oops!

-should have gone to....
 
19 Shots is a lot, but like everyone has said she's off 26 for a reason. You just have to hope that reason isn't that she's a bandit :)

I was kind of in the opposite position to you in the last round of our club knockout, off 14 and drawn against someone off of 5 who used to be a pro. Managed to get through 12 only +4 gross and 4 up, winning almost every shot hole with a gross par (finished up winning 3&2), theres not much you can do if she really finds some form like that but at least off 26 it isn't likely to last long!
 
This lousy summer strikes again - course closed!

Now trying to get a two week extension on the deadline.... failing that it's a coin toss!

Dammit. Also sat all day waiting and hoping for the rain to stop but by 6pm when it did I'd lost the will. Hope you get an extension and if not challenge her to a duathlon of golf ball and football keepy uppys :-)
 
Dammit. Also sat all day waiting and hoping for the rain to stop but by 6pm when it did I'd lost the will. Hope you get an extension and if not challenge her to a duathlon of golf ball and football keepy uppys :-)

I had a beer then went and practised in the nets (sun was out by then). Have high hopes after a lesson a fortnight ago but still trying to get the key points ingrained in my subconscious!
 
I played a match earlier this year giving 22 shots, and I wish I could have got the advice from this thread into my thick skull before we played.

I ended up winning on the 1st extra hole, but was 4 up after 4 with him not being able to get the ball off the ground, and eased up. BIG MISTAKE!!

Win as quick as you can. You are the far better golfer, don't give them anything to make them think otherwise.

GL ;-)
 
Remember first of all you're playing the course, if his handicap is that high yours is likely to intimidate the hell out of him, just play your game and let the score take care of itself. ;)

I really don't get this notion of playing the course, absolutely pointless. Would you play for a par if your opponent is about to make a par/nett birdie? In matchplay you are playing your opponent, it doesn't matter if you make birdie or double bogey just as long as you take one less than them.
 
I really don't get this notion of playing the course, absolutely pointless. Would you play for a par if your opponent is about to make a par/nett birdie? In matchplay you are playing your opponent, it doesn't matter if you make birdie or double bogey just as long as you take one less than them.

Totally agree! I've laid up on a par 4 in the past rather than take on a risky approach shot when my opponent was in trouble. Made bogey likely but that looked like good enough to win the hole and it took double out of the equation (water around the green). In a medal round I'd always have taken on the shot.
 
Totally agree! I've laid up on a par 4 in the past rather than take on a risky approach shot when my opponent was in trouble. Made bogey likely but that looked like good enough to win the hole and it took double out of the equation (water around the green). In a medal round I'd always have taken on the shot.

I agree about the fact that you should play the opponent and in the case you outlined (with water) it's probably the safe option, the only thing to look out for is being overly-conservative when there's no need to be. Last matchplay I had a perfect example:

Easy par 4, one of the easiest on the course, opponent drives first and sprays it into the wild stuff and we're unsighted by trees so didn't see it land. I split the fairway. He hits provisional. After 5 minutes we abandon the search. I think "I've got this in the bag" and while I could have very easily gone for the green I say "no point in risking the OOB on the left, I'll lay up". I've never gone OOB on the left, usually hit the green. Didnt commit fully to a lay up I was unfamiliar with and left it well short. He puts his approach dead. I pitched on and down in 2 for a bogey and he holes his to half a hole I should have won. Had I hit the green with my approach perhaps he wouldn't have seen the opportunity or even gave up if I hit it close. Lesson learned.

I love matchplay.

Can't believe they'd decide this on a toss when bad weather stopped the game?! Surely ye can play it another time?
 
Can't believe they'd decide this on a toss when bad weather stopped the game?! Surely ye can play it another time?

Should be OK but not 100% confirmed yet. Problem is that the deadline for the round approaches but I'm going away so we can't play for a fortnight. Which is quite long for an extension.
 
Playing semi-final of club knockout tonight and need to give my opponent 19 strokes; the most I've had to give in a match so far. Seems a lot! :-)

Any tips for keeping my head in the right place as the net pars and birdies rack up?

Keep calm! You're going to lose some holes and there'll be nothing you can do about it. Show as little emotion as possible, soon enough some derailing is bound to occur....

I've been 3 or 4 down after four holes before, then the tough holes come into play. Chances are, things start to go wrong and we're all level after 9. After that, it's down to nerve. 90% of the time, the experienced player will know how to not crumble.
 
Should be OK but not 100% confirmed yet. Problem is that the deadline for the round approaches but I'm going away so we can't play for a fortnight. Which is quite long for an extension.

Fair enough, I'm in the quarter final of our club comp and the guy I'm playing might have to forfeit on health grounds, I'll find out later today, no way to win, I'd be gutted if he does he sounds like a nice old gent.
 
Fair enough, I'm in the quarter final of our club comp and the guy I'm playing might have to forfeit on health grounds, I'll find out later today, no way to win, I'd be gutted if he does he sounds like a nice old gent.

Yeah, we're at the semis and definitely want to get it played rather than one of us winning by default. Good thing at this stage is that since there are only four of us left in we've already agreed a mutually convenient date for the final which allows the semis to get played late (both were due to play last night prior to the heavens opening). Just need the match secretary to sign off on it - hopefully common sense will prevail!
 
Hurrah!

Finally got this tie played today and, despite all my fears, it turned into a pretty routine 4&3 win. I played fairly steady but not brilliantly but that was enough to get a bit of a lead. I wobbled a bit and she closed up after winning her two stroke hole but birdies at 11 and 13 helped me turn the screw before closing it out on 15.
 
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