Club Champ Prep Done

[User 105]

So Club Champs this weekend. 18 Sat, 18 Sun, and have been preparing for the past few weeks for an assault on the handicap championship.

Started off well with a practice 9 holes a few Mondays back. Shot 2 over gross. 4 under net.

Practice in the first week went ok. 2 good range sessions and a decent pitching and putting session.

Played 18 on Sunday and was absolutely shocking. Probably the worst I've played in 2 months. Couldn't do anything right. Shot 9 over my handicap. Argh. Not good.

Practised every day this week for 1-2 hours a day, plus a good chipping and putting session yesterday.

I think a fair assessment would be 'absolute rubbish'. My timing had completely gone was push fading everything, my driver was starting right and fading (Read massive slice) right.

When I went to bed last night I was so wound up I had trouble sleeping. So got up and watched some of the golf to get some idea of what good actually looks like.

So, it's my birthday today so I have the day off and went for 18 this morning as a final prep.

Stated off really bad with a triple bogey, from the middle of the fairway. Argh. Huge slice off the second tee, but scrambled a bogey. I just stood on the third tee thinking oh god, this isn't going to be good.

In the end I didn't actually play that well, all my drives were still going right, but somehow managed to compile a half decent score of 2 under my handicap. I honestly have no idea how. But I'll take it.

Got an idea where the pins are for the weekend as they mark them out this morning. None of them are in what I'd call the usually trouble spots on the greens. So if I shoot for the middle of the green then I'm never going to be far away.

Hit 50 balls with the driver after the round and think I've sorted it out, or at least got something that's going to be usable.

So, all the prep done and feeling reasonably confident going into the weekend. If I can play that badly and still put a reasonable score together then god help the rest of the field if I play well

 

[Fader]

Firstly allow me to say Happy Birthday Westy, and good luck for the Weekend.

I feel your pain our club champs like you, I was shooting for the handicap prize. Couldn't get the ball off the tee! Is it possible to get the driving yips! If so I was suffering from them in our first round which was so bad I barely finished 2nd to last after the opening session. In the end I blew all caution to the wind thought sod it, and just went for everything almost not tryingin the 2nd round, and had the lowest nett round of the comp overall. Ended up having a top 10 finish overall despite a poor opener.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, by doing the prep you've done the hard bit, now you need to somehow relax on the course and not pressure yourself into shooting a specific number. Let the prep take care of the game and not tinker to find a fix if the driving is off. Go with what you have and bag yourseld some silverware.

Good luck fella,

 

[User 105]

Thanks Fader.

The key for me this weekend is to make sure I stop thinking about HOW to hit it and just hit it. I know my bad shots are when I start to think technique rather than target.

As you say, the prep is done. I couldn't do much more than I have.

So time for some fun

 

[pbrown7582]

Good luck fella hope and the effort in prep pays off and you shoot a 65 like the other westy has done today!

But most of all enjoy ..

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've been as guilty as you but I think you've approached this all wrong and made it into something it isn't. There is nothing different between the club champs and a monthly medal. Same course, with the markers arguably a few yards further back. You wouldn't go into that much depth for another comp and I'd be concerned you'll be too focussed and worried about it on the 1st to let your natural game come out.

Sorry if that's a downer on your birthday but the way I see it. I've done exactly the same and then gone out and played like a fool under too much pressure on myself. This year I just went out to make the halfway cut. Shot six over net including a 5 over par 9 on the par 4 14th and two other double bogies. Squeezed in and with no pressure I shot PB - gross 76 in the second round.

Either way I hope you go out and smash it and do well. If you can't win at least get cut

 

[User 105]

Homer I know what you mean. tbh I do put a little extra practice in for our monthly comps but as this is club champs I've just been sharpening up a few areas that could do with some work. I've approached it this way for the club champs for the last 2-3 years and it actually has the opposite effect to putting pressure on myself.

If I know I've put the work in then I can take my mind off things and just go play and see what happens. I don't really let the fact it's a comp get to me when I'm playing, I've played enough comps over the last few years not to let it. When I'm out there it's just another round to me, so I don't really get stressed out about it like some guys can.

If I play well then great, if I don't then it won't be because I haven't put the work in.

Either way I've got two rounds in the Sun today and tomorrow. Not often I've had that this year in England.

 

[User 105]

ok, first round done. Net even par. So not too unhappy.

I was 2 under after 9 and cruising. Then made a right mess of 10, 11 and 12 with a double, double and triple. Under hit 70 yard pitch on 10, drove the ball through the fairway on 12 into heavy rough and took 3 to get out the bunker on 12. Couple more bogeys then finished well and parred the last 4 to get me back to net level par.

I generally played ok. Missed a couple of short putts I normally would have made, but scrambled well in places to keep me going.

I think when I left the clubhouse the leader was about 4 under, so within range, although I expect there to be a 6 or 7 under from one of the higher handicaps coming in. So it depends if they can string two rounds together.

So still in it, but need a good round and some help from the guys in front.

Had a great laugh though with the guys I was playing with so was good fun. One of them just couldn't get a break, every bounce went the wrong way defying the laws of physics. Even played a great bunker shot out of a pot bunker off a downhill lie, only to land in the sprinkler hole when it was destined to run up close to the pin. Some days it doesn't matter what you do

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Looks like the preparation is working. Hang in and play well tomorrow

 

[User 105]

Thanks Homer. They've posted the scores and I'm 14th right now only 4 shots back so in with a shout but am going to need a good under par round to stand any chance.

Playing with a couple of guys I've played with a bit so should be a good laugh again today.

Can't wait to get out. Teeing of at 10:16 towards the end of the pack so probably going to be a slow round.