21 handicapper almost had a worldie....

[Andr3w]

WOW a nett 56 thats some shooting, well done, what cut did you get?

Thanks... was just one of those rounds where so many putts rolled in and I managed to avoid the usual bogey mistakes.

I was off 4.8 before this round (can't figure out how to edit my sig!), just using an online calculator. I think it knocked at least a stroke off my handicap

 

[Odvan]

Having experienced this kind of thing myself, I would be inclined to think that the problem was as much mental as inconsistency. It's part of the game that when you are having a good round, every shot becomes more important. The pressure builds (mainly applied by you) and how you handle it has a large effect on your final score.
When you start scoring well, as a high handicapper you start getting out of your comfort zone at little. Thoughts start creeping in and just as importantly, so do outside influences (cars going by, people talking, birds tweeting). Many things which you would usually not notice. Your mate telling everyone your score within your earshot was naughty, but to be honest, you knew your score was good. You just allowed it to put you off. You had already started to think about your score rather than the shot you are about to play.
And that's the key, IMO. In golf you have scored nothing until you have completed the last hole. You have to think that way, even in stableford. All you are doing when you are out on the course is building that final score. You don't stand back and admire a half built house. Build your score one shot at a time and you won't go far wrong. Easier said than done, but that's just another reason why golf is such a great game.

Wholeheartedly agree with this. Unofficially i'd say i'm around the 20 mark too.

I played last night at Chilli-Dip (Douglas Valley) and on the 9th tee my partner told me i was +2 for the round. I proceeded to just swing on the premise that i would hit that tee-shot in the same vain i'd hit the previous 8. It went, literally 15yrds because i lifted my head to watch it fly to the green before i'd even hit the damn thing. Typical amateur jobbie. Second shot went in the bunker (in a footprint) and then well, i ended with a +4 and +6 for the round.

In theory i should have been delighted but i was gutted that i started to relax too much to take the shot for granted. Mis-placed confidence as a result of what i could have potentially posted and lesson learned for next time's ball address!

 

[pmardle]

Think we've all had one of these..

The round of my life was when I was an 18 handicapper... Did the front nine in one under, and the back nine in 10 over.. Was gutted, still really happy with my first (and as it happens only) round less than 10 shots over, but still gutted too..