Breaking 100........

[Oddsocks]

Been playing a year before I broke 100....Now here is the secret to how I did it!

DO NOT TELL ANYONE!!!!

PROMISE!!!!!


..................................I played the shortest course I could find

Did you get a lot of satisfaction even though par was only 54

 

[Scouser]

Did you get a lot of satisfaction even though par was only 54

Hell yeah do a search on here I even started a thread :clap:

 

[Garesfield ACE]

This is a great thread and is a massive confidence boost to know there are so many other high handicappers out there like me who love the game but struggle a lot.I have broken 100 many many times and my PB is 93 at my course (par 72 ) and for months I was getting hung up on my scores and went backwards.So in winter I am rarely checking my scores and dont bother scoring at all when playing on my own.It relaxes me a bit better.Practice.Practice.Practice.
When I am really struggling at times I will pop to my par 3 course it gives me a huge confidence boost on my short game,to consistently hit many pars several bogeys and a couple of birdies.

Kev

 

[IanLeeds]

I started playing end of September.. joined a club.... played 3 comps.. lost 0.8 shots on my handicap in first comp but then gained .1 twice after

Had a good winter few lessons and pro thinks by end of next season I should be down to low 20's... looking forward to new season... I play with a lot of 7-10 handicap players 2 times a week in winter and 3-4 times a week in the summer (Once it starts) and they always give good tips on the course!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

A lot of good advice. I would advocate a couple of lessons to make sure the basics are good. If you have strong fundamentals it makes everything else simpler as you aren't trying to make compensations. Other than that I wouldn't get to hung up on scores and you'll find if you don't try and keep tally you'll relax more.

Short game and putting is an area that you can work on relatively easily and if you can get down in 3 regularly and not 4 or 5 that makes a big difference and then as you improve aim to get up and down in 2. The thing is you're still new to the game so enjoy it for what it is. Have a lesson or two to keep you on track and then hit it, find it and hit it again. Don't take the glory shots on and you'll be breaking 100 regularly in no time

 

[steveh]

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. I have had a few lessons on the basics but putting it into practice is a different matter! :angry: My plan is to keep playing and (hopefully) improving and then have some more focussed lessons on specific areas of the game.

I'll keep you posted on how I get on and would be really interested in how everyone else gets on too!

 

[Mark_G]

I have found that if you relax and just try and hit the ball, making good contact and not trying to blast it, I have better rounds, I also play to enjoy the round, if it doesnt work out I dont beat myself up about it. I also only play one shot at a time, dont worry about the last shot, just the one you are taking and the route to the hole.

 

[Gazboy]

Some great posts here and I know I have hurt in the same way previously but believe me it does 'click into place' if you continue.

The single biggest change for me was course management. Our course is fairly tight in places and there are a few holes that are relatively easy to get a bogey on provided you don't go in the hazards - guess what I always tooks the big stick or longest iron I had regularly put it straight in the place it should't be.

I learnt the hard way that on these holes taking an extra shot to get there usally meant taking one less overall so like the earlier posts I play some of the par 4's as par 5's and plan my shots back from the green rather than the other way round. I tend to think - OK I need to be about 80 yards from the green to avoid flirting with the bunkers so can I get there in 1 shot ? (usually not) so take 2 to there, is the fairway open enough where my drive lands - if not take an iron or fairway wood and drop it short - then play up to the 80 yard mark. From there it is possible to get down in 3 most time or 4 worst (well mainly ) - in the hazard I could be looking at 4 - 6 and another opportunity missed.

Along with this approach I would rcommend a single lesson on chipping then practice the learning from that on distance control etc - such a big impact for me.

Good luck with the progress - keep us informed

That's quite an interesting read, it's a shame though that I cannot tell you to this nearest acre where my next shot will land when I tee off with anything bigger than a 7i (which is measured in tennis courts areas).

Actually I did have a good 9 holes on the par 3 today, PB of 34 (previous was 36 back in April).

Lesson tomorow, then playing at Wexham on Sunday with an aim to score less than the 116 I scored last time I played there (the 112 was at Chartridge Park).

 

[garyinderry]

That's a good point, my latest tactic has been to give each hole a new "par" for me to aim at so the par 3s are now a mix of 4s and 5s, the par 4s are now 5s and 6s and the par 5s are now all 8s. I find the psychological barrier of being 3 shots into a par 4 and still not on the green makes me lose a bit of focus but at least if I'm giving myself a couple of extra shots then I've still got something to aim at.

My par 71 course is now "par 101" - only played it once with the new system and it hasn't worked yet lol

emailed this to my friend. he has only broken 100 once. this is a very good method and will let him know exaclty where he stands rather than trying to keep up scorewise with people who are at a more advance level.

 

[coolhand]

emailed this to my friend. he has only broken 100 once. this is a very good method and will let him know exaclty where he stands rather than trying to keep up scorewise with people who are at a more advance level.

I use a similar method that has really helped me get close to breaking the magic 100.

Work out what your stableford allowance would for each hole off 28 (based on the SI) and then expect to use all of the shots you get. i.e. SI 1 par 5's = 7, SI 8 Par 4's = 6, SI 12 Par 4's = 5, Si 16 Par 3's = 4.

 

[Captain_Black]

Great post.
It's nice to know that I am not alone in my struggle.
I took up the game in July last year & to begin with I was a useless hacker with an average round score of 125

I had some pro lessons & gradually improved, I put in for my handicap in October (I could have done with a bit more time to improve, but I wanted my handicap in place before the winter) anyway I was issued with a handicap of 22.

I resolved to gradually improve during the winter & enter as many comps as I can when they start up again. (April) my game has shown steady improvement until a "round from hell" before Christmas that had me contemplating flogging all my gear.

at the moment I am going around in the mid to high nineties, my target is to be regularly shooting around the 90 mark by April, I can't wait for the comps to start as I find that I play better & concentrate harder if I am playing against someone as opposed to just going around by myself.

Far be it from me to try & give advise to anyone on golfing matters, but from personal experience I think it's good to set yourself targets to achieve provided they are realistic as it provides that extra incentive to improve.
I have found U-Tube invaluable for tips (especially Mark Crossfield)
As a new golfer, I have tried & am still trying to develop a repeatable swing & I just try to remember a few basics when I go out on the course until these just feel natural & automatic.

 

[Philm]

Just as an encouragement to you fellas who are struggling to break 100.
It was me just two summers ago. Please note i was fairly good at any sport I had turned my hand at. football/badminton/Table tennis.

But like many of you folk have realized golf is different. It wasnt easy to begin with.
I hadn’t joined a club and had only really played a par 3 course with friends up to that point.
I started trying to play a a local full course and found it quite difficult.

If I could sum up my problems, at the time I thought it was 90% mental where I doubted myself and went to pot every other hole.
But looking back it was the swing. I thought it would be too hard to get a proper swing so I worked with what I had. Wrong idea.

Most beginners swings are, free flowing relaxed messes. Mine certainly was.
Overswingly massively, weight shifting all over the show, feet moving, head staying down too long, and head dipping during the swing.

Keep the free flowing happy go lucky mentality and add to it some well practiced moves, a stable swing(no falling over after impact!) keep that left arm straight, and keep the divot ahead of the ball.

Im now down to a handicap of 12.6 after 1yr and 4 months of membership.
You will get better through good practice, and you will find that your ball striking improves and becomes more consistant.
Ive had a handful of single figure rounds now and ill hopefully have lots more!

All the very best folks. And remember we were all beginners once and for me I really still am!

Phil

 

[Gazboy]

Hard lesson on Friday, trying to stop 'standing up' on the follow through/finish. Something so simple was so bloody difficult.

Dreadful round, one good tee-shot and hit 122 on a par 68 5121 yard course

 

[Bikky73]

the secret to getting my handicap cut by 7 shots in 2 months was to start playing with a low handicap golfer. Watch how they play and listen, listen more and take note, working for me.
last 3 stableford comps have returned 43,43 and 45, 1st,5th and 1st.

I agree. I play with 1 brother and I play well, play with another and his play and temper drag me down maybe 10shots in a round. Best with 1 brother has been 95, on same course, similar conditions with another brother was 107. On my own I can do 98-102

Hard lesson on Friday, trying to stop 'standing up' on the follow through/finish. Something so simple was so bloody difficult.

Dreadful round, one good tee-shot and hit 122 on a par 68 5121 yard course

Its all hard when you try. At least it is for me.

 

[steveh]

139 for me today, my worst ever score (and there's been some bad ones) on our 6,000yd par 71. Double figures on 4 holes, loads of 8s and 9s and even bounced one shot across a frozen lake and into a bunker on the other side.

Despite the awful score, still had a great time and believe it or not, there were a few decent shots in there. One hole summed up the round - 2 shots to the edge of the green but down in 8!

 

[kid2]

139 for me today, my worst ever score (and there's been some bad ones) on our 6,000yd par 71. Double figures on 4 holes, loads of 8s and 9s and even bounced one shot across a frozen lake and into a bunker on the other side.

Despite the awful score, still had a great time and believe it or not, there were a few decent shots in there. One hole summed up the round - 2 shots to the edge of the green but down in 8!

Great attitude....


Try the putter the next time on the green though

 

[Scouser]

Hard lesson on Friday, trying to stop 'standing up' on the follow through/finish. Something so simple was so bloody difficult.

Dreadful round, one good tee-shot and hit 122 on a par 68 5121 yard course

Let me know when you are up for a game ....you will look like a Cat 1 next to me!!!

 

[Bikky73]

the secret to getting my handicap cut by 7 shots in 2 months was to start playing with a low handicap golfer. Watch how they play and listen, listen more and take note, working for me.
last 3 stableford comps have returned 43,43 and 45, 1st,5th and 1st.

139 for me today, my worst ever score (and there's been some bad ones) on our 6,000yd par 71. Double figures on 4 holes, loads of 8s and 9s and even bounced one shot across a frozen lake and into a bunker on the other side.

Despite the awful score, still had a great time and believe it or not, there were a few decent shots in there. One hole summed up the round - 2 shots to the edge of the green but down in 8!

Shame you weren't near me. I'd play you, someone I might be able to beat for a change

 

[garyinderry]

139 for me today, my worst ever score (and there's been some bad ones) on our 6,000yd par 71. Double figures on 4 holes, loads of 8s and 9s and even bounced one shot across a frozen lake and into a bunker on the other side.

Despite the awful score, still had a great time and believe it or not, there were a few decent shots in there. One hole summed up the round - 2 shots to the edge of the green but down in 8!

you really need to practice the putting my man. easiest way to save shots. try to get rid of the killer 3 and 4 putts. mark the hole you 3 putt on your card and aim to try and make these less and less as you go. before you know it you will be cursing that single 3 putt of the round on 12.

 

[CMAC]

we all started as high handicaps golfers, it takes time and patience and experience to get lower, practice and repetition, a sprinkle of luck, a calm nerve and the resolution not to follow a bad shot with another bad shot.................
the last bit is easy to say I know, but I mean that when you end up in the rough, 180yds from the green with trees in the way, dont 'have a go' with a hybrid or wood for that 'oneinamiliontigershot'. Follow your bad shot with a good shot back to the middle of the fairway. Do that and you'll have fewer 8's and more sub 100's or better:thup: