A Lesson from the Golfing Gods

[Ian_S]

So there I was, first round of 2013, stood on the 11th tee feeling good having just par'd the 10th, 52 gross (3 under handicap). Playing to handicap the rest of the way round would see me finish with 93, 4 strokes below my best ever. At that moment I thought "can't wait to start a thread telling about my new PB".

But no, it was not to be. The golfing gods weren't giving me a PB, they were giving me a lesson in humility. Over the final 8 holes I took 51 to not only miss out on a PB, but I didn't even break 100.

One very strange stat though. I took 32 putts (lowest yet) but I was totalling the 'distance of putts made' and finished with 34 feet. My longest made putt was 5ft. They just wouldn't drop from distance but at least I made most of my second putts. Only exception, a 17 footer from off the green for par on the 8th. But as it was off the green, it doesn't count.

 

[Region3]

So there I was, first round of 2013, stood on the 11th tee feeling good having just par'd the 10th, 52 gross (3 under handicap). Playing to handicap the rest of the way round would see me finish with 93, 4 strokes below my best ever. At that moment I thought "can't wait to start a thread telling about my new PB".

But no, it was not to be. The golfing gods weren't giving me a PB, they were giving me a lesson in humility. Over the final 8 holes I took 51 to not only miss out on a PB, but I didn't even break 100.

One very strange stat though. I took 32 putts (lowest yet) but I was totalling the 'distance of putts made' and finished with 34 feet. My longest made putt was 5ft. They just wouldn't drop from distance but at least I made most of my second putts. Only exception, a 17 footer from off the green for par on the 8th. But as it was off the green, it doesn't count.

Lots of people will tell you this, and lots of other people will tell you it's poppycock, but the bold bit is the problem.

Golf is hard enough when your mind isn't wandering into the past and future, but when it does your chances of good shots goes down rapidly.

 

[Region3]

But take confidence from the fact that you put yourself in that position in the first place. Next time you should handle it better!

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Lots of people will tell you this, and lots of other people will tell you it's poppycock, but the bold bit is the problem.

Golf is hard enough when your mind isn't wandering into the past and future, but when it does your chances of good shots goes down rapidly.

Wise words Gary, everybody has experienced something like this. I had 25 pts after 10 holes on sunday and had a "thought" that I might break 80, worst thought ever I ended up with 33pts.

 

[CMAC]

I had a 'winners' speech formulating in my head after being 1 over gross coming off the 17th at the Kings course, 12 shots later I crawled off the 18th on my knees

 

[SimonC]

I think most of us have been there. Just try not to get ahead of yourself & play every shot as it comes.

My best effort was when I shot 32 gross on the front 9 (par 34) and proceeded to hit 3 balls out of bounds, so lying 7 I hit the green with my approach and 3 putted for an 11 (par 4). One good round of golf well and truly obliterated.

 

[G1BB0]

Wise words Gary, everybody has experienced something like this. I had 25 pts after 10 holes on sunday and had a "thought" that I might break 80, worst thought ever I ended up with 33pts.

haha, now thats a kick in the nuts Stuart

I had a golfing eureka moment last year after having a lesson, played a few holes and I think after 10 it was 5 pars and 5 bogeys, it wasnt a full round as only out practising. Next went for a few holes again and hitting it a dream, hitting GIR, putts dropping... awesome stuff. Sod being off 28 I will soon be of mid teens.

Played a comp on the sunday and lets just say I didnt trouble the 28 h/c! Since then I have yet to rediscover what it was that clicked as the fuse has well and truly blown

Stupid game

 

[DAVEYBOY]

I rarely add my score up at the half way stage, just play and see what you have at the end, sometimes you will be very surprised.

 

[Region3]

Might sound like a contradiction after what I said above, but I always know how I'm doing while I'm playing.

The 'secret' - if there is such a thing - is to NOT be thinking about it while you're supposed to be concentrating on a shot.
By all means have a little tot up on the tee or know that you need to par in to make buffer, but you MUST forget about that during the time that you're playing or thinking about your next shot.

 

[Airlie_Andy]

This is exactly why I don't count my own score until the round is finished. I may have a rough idea of how well (or usually bad) I'm doing but I don't know the exact score.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Ah, the old thinking about the end before you've finished, a sure sign you're going to mess it up. It's what I call the mental handicap and until you can overcome it, you will never reach your true potential. It's absolutlely nothing to do with the golfing gods.

As for the not knowing your score posts, how can you not? I certainly can't, it's not like it's difficult to keep track of even if you don't write it down. If I'm 2 over gross for the front 9, I'm gonna know, I don't have to write it down or add it up or even think about it, the shear fact I'm making a lot of pars will tell me all I need to know. I'm sure it would be nice to go round completely oblivious of how well you are doing but I just don't see how it is possible. Maybe it's easier off of a higher handicap (and I don't mean that in any kind of derogatory(sp?) way) but I can't see how anyone looking to shoot in the 70s can't know, there is just so little to work out.

Besides, I usually find the guy marking your card pipes up on the 16th tee to put a curse on it