1st matchplay competition

[Jabba]

In three hours I tee off in my 1st ever club matchplay comp. It's the Rabbit's knockout and my opponent is giving me 10 strokes. I'm really looking forward to it but am nervous as hell too. I've been trying to convince myself that I should try to play safe golf and that my opponent is the one who tees off 10 shots behind me. If I play my best game he will really struggle but if I play one of my bad rounds...........

 

[User 105]

Was just about to post something similar.

I played my first ever singles matchplay yesterday. First round of our handicap singles knockout and I drew the club captain

He's off 7, so gives me 13 shots.

Wasn't really sure what to expect. I just tried to play my normal game and take each hole as it comes.

One thing that did stand out at the end was the pressure it puts on you're putting. Those easy 3ft putt's you'd normally just walk up and sink without a thought in stroke play or stableford take on whole different level when it's to half the hole.

I must have 3 putted a good 4-5 times which is unheard of for me.

The other thing that occurred to me is how hard it can be for a low handicapper to beat a high handicapper. The high handicapper has got to have quite a bad day and the low guy has basically got to shoot to his handicap.

I managed to win in the end. Was close though. Was +1 after nine and was +2 standing on the 17th tee. Which we both parred, I had a shot there as well anyway.

So feeling rather chuffed with myself.

Good luck in you're match and make sure you know where you are getting you're shots and use them well. Especially over the closing holes.

 

[Fyldewhite]

IMHO this is golf in its purest form, man against man trying to beat your opponent not trying to be the best out of a 100 odd field. Good luck and enjoy it. You will find it totally different to strokeplay.

 

[3offTheTee]

Whilst obvious look at the holes where he gives you a shot.

The pressure will be on him on those holes especially if you are both in a similar position after your drive/ 2nd shot. He will of course realise that he will need to up the anti.Try and keep on the fairways and play a percentage game

Play your natural game, relax and if you hit a bad shot realise that on 10 of the holes you are no worse of than him!

Good luck and later today I expect you to let us know by how many you won!

 

[funkyfred]

Played my KO match on Saturday and like Westy the guy was giving me 13 shots, now I know if I play steady golf I'm in with a shout although this guy is a very good 12 h/c.

First hole and his 4 beats my 5 (SI16) I have a big lip out on the 2nd which we end up halfing. We swop holes on 3 and 4 and half the 5th. A poor 3 putt on 6 puts me 2 down, and another missed 8 footer on 7 mean we half the hole. He pars our 590 yard eighth hole (SI 2) whilst my bunker shot hits the lip and trickles back in to the bunker, 3down.

3 down at the turn after we half the 9th, our stapleford points are me 17 my opponet 20. I muck up 10 and he misses a 4 foot putt on 11 to to stay 4 up. Another 3 putt (a miss from 5 foot) on 12 put me 5 down. We half 13 and 14 and my opponet wins 5 and 4.

We play the 15th for fun and our stapleford points are after 15 holes, me 27 points and my opponet has 33.

Apart from the 10th hole that I mucked up, as I tried a stupid shot in trying to put some pressure on him I actually played quite well. He didn't make a single mistake, yes he missed a couple of putts in the 5 to 8 foot region but apart from that he played faultless golf, just one of those days I supposed.

But great fun, I really do like this form of golf, just wish i could win a game or two. But my advice would be dont get drawn into trying to out gun your opponet, they are better than you that's why they have a lower h/c, just play your normal golf and try to play each hole as you would normally.

 

[Bobirdie]

Im playing on sunday.

First tie of the year.

My opponent has 5 shots on me.

Looking forward to it though,ive started the season quite well

 

[Jabba]

I lost. I was 1 up with 2 to play and I had a shot on the 17th but put 2 oob off the tee. We were all square on the 18th, a par 3 and I lost it to a birdie, I was inside 18 inches in 2.
I probably played to slightly below my handicap and he probably played to slightly below his, so we both played well but not outrageously so.
I have never enjoyed a game with a stranger so much, my opponent was an absolute gentleman and a delight to both play with and have a drink with afterwards. I have been far too insular with my golf, playing 95%+ with either my brother or the golf society at work. Despite losing, my game was thoroughly enjoyable and will hopefully spur me on to taking pert in more club competitions.

 

[RichardC]

Unlucky.

Use that as experience and you will learn from it for next time.