An all time low....

[Achilles]

So, another qualifier and another 0.1. Not the end of the world you might think, but boy does it feel like it.

Started off ok - par, bogey, par before playing like an absolute turd. No pars, a few bogeys, the rest doubles, triples and an N/R on the 18th due to two woeful tee-shots and the light going. That meant my first N/R of the year and I feel disgusted with myself.

I played last night at Cotswold Hills (awesome track) and whilst I started off poorly I played some great stuff once I got going. I put the early wobble down to rushing to the tee from work. No such excuse today.

Afternoon off and got there in plenty of time. A nice relaxed putt before going out, feeling good. Lo-and-behold a round full of slices, hooks, tops, thins, fats. The only thing I didn't do was hit a sherman. I worked out I scored 23 points. My worst by a mile this year.

My confidence is shot to pieces and I really don't know what to do. I've been here before but have craved the challenge of fixing things and improving. Right now, I really cannot be bothered with it. I've never felt so angry on the course and whilst I tried to keep it in check I had a few selfish outbursts. The only thing I enjoyed today was the weather and the company. I HATED playing. Having missed a lot of last season through injury I came back grateful to be able to play. Somehow I can't get that feeling back.

I've got a Medal on Sunday and a charity golf day on Tuesday next week but after that I'm thinking of a few weeks off. Competitive golf is killing my love of the game right now!!

If anyone has any words of wisdom, feel free to share. If not, I shall wallow in my own self-pity for a few days.

 

[The Gopher]

If it was 'good' all the time, we'd get bored. I'm not really playing well this season and nowhere near my handicap, which is very frustrating but you just gotta keep putting in the time. If comp golf is killing you, take a few weeks off and just do bounce games.

 

[Davey S2]

Look on the bright side. The only way is up.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My swing is all over the shop and the practice ground is bringing no answers. On the plus side I'm finding a way to get it round despite a lack of confidence, and a feeling of playing russian roulette with the driver and the longer clubs. Add in my shoddy short game and it isn't a pretty and happy feeling.

On the plus side I've a lesson booked for Friday and so we can get back to one plane basics and I can get back to hitting how I was six weeks ago. On the down side there are some changes on the horizon to steepen the path, and to iron out flaws on the back swing which is the main winter work

 

[AmandaJR]

Bounce games only. Short game practice to sharpen that up and forget the score, the numbers, the handicap and enjoy the last of the summer...

Look forward to working on things through the winter and a better scoring season in 2013.

 

[duncan mackie]

you need to work out what success is for you - and preferably re designate it as something you can achieve!!!

i've been slipping up 0.1 a time most of the season, but it hasn't really phased me. then I managed to shoot 38/49 in our masters event on Sat and that really did miff me - I even finished the round with the same ball I started it with but still managed to drop 14 shots and shoot one birdie on 9 holes)

it also triggered a return to 9.5 (10) which really woke me up.

so I went out in Monday's comp knowing I could do it, but just aiming to keep it going a little further into the round - well I got the to the 17th tee this time, and pulled it back together on 18 instead of getting upset.

as someone posted in another thread - set out with a realistic goal and 'just do it'; or take it shot by shot and treat it as a learning experience. you choose.

 

[williamalex1]

when i stand over my first t/shot every round i don't know which of my golfing talents has turned up . it could be the one who slices , the one who hooks, the one who does both, plus duffs, or the the one that i would like to be more often , the one that can play to single figures .where does he go in between times .just happy to see him when he does turn up . multi personality, not me , me neither. nor me

 

[Threeoffthetee]

Pick a day when you've nothing on and find a course you know and know will be quiet. Empty most of the gadgets and clubs out of your bag and just take your a wedge, putter and a couple of irons....maybe 9,7 and 5 NO WOODS. Now just go out and play. You will be amazed. You'll keep the ball on the shorter stuff, you'll have to improvise shots and you'll enjoy yourself.

I would also bet your score will not be any worse than you have been shooting the last couple of weeks......have fun

 

[SocketRocket]

Try to keep a positive mindset, golf will bite you at times but focus on a nice easy tempo and your shot selection and it will come back.

I played Cotswold Hills a Month ago, the rough certainly punishes you if you get in the second cut, it's about a yard deep.

 

[Tiger]

Last year your handicap went down by 1.2 shots. This year it's gone down by 4.3 currently though it had moved by as much as 4.9. So in the grand scheme of things you should be happy with your improvement rather than beating yourself up. So you had a few bad competitive rounds. The good stuff is still in there you just aren't letting it out. I remember earlier in the season when you were scoring for fun. No pressure on yourself it was more like disbelief you could play that well. You exceeded your expectations and enjoyed it. But you've raised the bar and in doing so you are expecting more from each shot, from every round. When you hit a bad shot or have a bad hole you're berating yourself rather than brushing it off. The tension is mounting as you add more and more pressure to yourself to go low.

Think back to those great rounds you played this year, those awesome shots you hit how you threatened to break 80 every time you went out. Savour those putts you drained, wedges you confidently knocked close. That player is still in there you just need to relax and let him do the business.

Now pull yourself together, go out there and have some fun!!!!

 

[Scadge]

Tiger - you're a legend - people pay good money for therapy like that - now do you also do technical advice around chepping, putting, driving etc etc

 

[Tiger]

Tiger - you're a legend - people pay good money for therapy like that - now do you also do technical advice around chipping, putting, driving etc etc

LMAO! I'll leave the technical coaching to the PGA professionals but I will say that Rotella is right in saying pick a small target, focus on that target, BELIEVE in your swing/stroke and hit your ball there. It definitely helps )

 

[Hendo007]

So, another qualifier and another 0.1. Not the end of the world you might think, but boy does it feel like it.

Started off ok - par, bogey, par before playing like an absolute turd. No pars, a few bogeys, the rest doubles, triples and an N/R on the 18th due to two woeful tee-shots and the light going. That meant my first N/R of the year and I feel disgusted with myself.

I played last night at Cotswold Hills (awesome track) and whilst I started off poorly I played some great stuff once I got going. I put the early wobble down to rushing to the tee from work. No such excuse today.

Afternoon off and got there in plenty of time. A nice relaxed putt before going out, feeling good. Lo-and-behold a round full of slices, hooks, tops, thins, fats. The only thing I didn't do was hit a sherman. I worked out I scored 23 points. My worst by a mile this year.

My confidence is shot to pieces and I really don't know what to do. I've been here before but have craved the challenge of fixing things and improving. Right now, I really cannot be bothered with it. I've never felt so angry on the course and whilst I tried to keep it in check I had a few selfish outbursts. The only thing I enjoyed today was the weather and the company. I HATED playing. Having missed a lot of last season through injury I came back grateful to be able to play. Somehow I can't get that feeling back.

I've got a Medal on Sunday and a charity golf day on Tuesday next week but after that I'm thinking of a few weeks off. Competitive golf is killing my love of the game right now!!

If anyone has any words of wisdom, feel free to share. If not, I shall wallow in my own self-pity for a few days.

My advice, Man up.... Nobody died. Its only a game to be enjoyed.

 

[chrisd]

I have just started lessons as my best ever form in May and June started to desert me.

I consoled myself after some pretty bad rounds that had seen me go from mid 70's to high 80's that no one else but me really cared about what I shot on the course, that despite the poor stuff there was still the odd brilliant shot to remember, that everyone else has ups and downs of form. I looked at what was the problem and worked at the range as well as booked a lesson and, most of all I slowed everything in my swing right down, and have now started to re find the form of before.

Start to analyse what it is that is causing the problem, stay calm and your form will improve (lessons would help I am sure)

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

My last round was 104 (off 11) so not very good. But I'm not at all bothered. I know that that score doesn't actually mean any more to me than 0.1 and that I can sometimes play really, really c**p.

We all live in a world of Normal Distributions. I know that my 104 was beyond my 3sigma point i.e. 99.73% of the time I will play better - that round was my 1 in 200 unmitigated disaster - not really associated with my playing ability but influenced strongly by other factors - it was my third round carrying in two days and I was completely knackered. So by being absolutely mathematically logical about it, I'm really not one little bit bothered. Next time you will not play as badly - although unfortunately statistics does not guarantee that

As I used to be told when things weren't going well 'Bash On!!'

 

[Achilles]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Tiger, if I ever turn pro (cough!) you're number 1 on the Caddie / Mind Coach list ;-)

Feeling a bit better today thanks to some perspective but I never thought I could feel so anti-golf as I did last night!

It is only a game and nobody died, and I think it's clear that I'm expecting great things after a good start to the year. I need to find a way of getting the enjoyment back though as I don't think my clubs will survive another round like that. I'm still going to have a few weeks off to re-group. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and hopefully I'll get my mo-jo back sooner rather than later. Unless I score a pb in Sunday's medal..... ;-)

 

[Tiger]

WHEN I score a pb in Sunday's medal..... ;-)

Fixed that for you ;0)

 

[Gdog11]

Have you ever read any golf psychology books?? I'd definitely give Rotella's "your 15th club" a read if not. changed my outlook on the game. Teaches you so much about not beating yourself up and feeding the sub-conscious with positive thoughts and memories. Worth a go, as it sounds to me like it's all in your head mate.

 

[Hobbit]

You've come down 5 shots in a year. It get harder the lower you get. In years to come you'll look back on this year as being very successful.