Course management or bottler?

[Alex1975]

Hi all,

A few weeks ago I played a friendly game with my best mate, I always believed I would win and at the turn I was a point up. We came to our SI 1 13th hole, a man sized par 4, the approach is down hill from 150ish with a water hazard directly before the green and the pin was on the front. Everything was frozen solid so a hard pin to attack.

Big bouncing draw off the tee leaving me on the left of the fairway about 150 out. I get to my ball and did not really fancy the shot in. I DO NOT want to be in the water( I now know it was so thick with ice and would have bounced onto the green). It's so hard that if I hit the front of the green it's finishing at the back at best. It's cold and windy, I am not feeling it so I bunt a 9 iron to the front of the hazard, chip on and make a two putt for boggy. My buddy who talks me up alot as being brave says "Al even I would have taken that on". He drove badly, played his second from the rough on the right, hits the center of the ice in the hazard, bounces onto the green, two putts for a boggy.


I won the game on the last putt of the game, did it need to be that close?

Every time I close my eyes I here "Al ever I would have taken that on"

 

[G1BB0]

bottler

 

[bluetoon]

Sounds like a tough hole, bogey is not a bad result.

But........dont know if i could bring myself to lay up from 150yards. Ya big girls blouse.

 

[Tommo21]

If you dont go from 150 you wont go............anywhere.

 

[HotDogAssassin]

You big old jessie!

 

[Mattyboy]

Chip Beck probably asks himself a similar thing. In the middle of 15 at augusta on the final round he laid up. never won a major, it was his best chance. Apparantly in the press tent afterwards they asked him one question - which he didnt answer very well!

 

[connor]

should of played the course as it was playing that day.. took the gamble that your ball would bounce on the ice if you came up short...
friendly games are all about taking on stupid shots at times i think i can do stuff the great seve wouldnt even try. soon to realise i cant and know to never do it again haha

 

[Alex1975]

I am already wondering why I made this post....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Given the conditions it seemed a smart play. No way of getting close to the flag and merely bringing hazards and uncontrollable bounces into play. Any other time apart from frozen then you're a big girls blouse

 

[Scazza]

Given the conditions: Course Managment.

If it was any other day and the course wasn't frozen, definitely a bottler :whoo:

 

[garyinderry]

each situation is different! you won the match so in the end it was the correct decision! you were ahead in the match so there was no need to do anything rash!

 

[JustOne]

Course management... but you're required to wear a skirt at all forum meets! :ears:

 

[garyinderry]

should of played the course as it was playing that day.. took the gamble that your ball would bounce on the ice if you came up short...
friendly games are all about taking on stupid shots at times i think i can do stuff the great seve wouldnt even try. soon to realise i cant and know to never do it again haha

do you have that magic ability to spot the smallest of gaps in the trees, only to find out that the gap wasnt really there at all ? i think we all get that from time to time. "YOU CAN MAKE THIS" says the wee devil on your shoulder! :fore:

 

[connor]

haha yeah normally to a look of grimmace from a playing partner as i take my stance. worst i had was instead of knocking out sideways i thought i could gently fly it below the tree canopy and through about 5 trees and roll out towards the green. the ball hit a infront of me square on and i ended up ducking before loosing my head and was about 30yrds back in the trees haha

 

[garyinderry]

never a dull moment lad. im more likely to play these hail mary shots when just practising or when i really really shouldnt in a competition. all part of the fun. when you do pull one of these miracle shots off, the spirit of seve lives on, proud as ever!

 

[Dave B]

It sounds a bit like the 8th on my local which is a 380 yd par 4 dog leg with a ditch and the lake to clear.

The ditch is 220 yds and then the hole dog legs right with the lake 70 yds away and the front of green sits 15 yds infront of the lake.

In the summer you can drive the ditch and then take an iron onto the green in regulation, however winter is a different proposition especially if there is any kind of wind blowing at you.

At this time of year even if I'm driving well, if there's any wind I either go for a high soft drive or a 3 wood to land short of the ditch and then take a wedge to lay up infront of the lake. It's then an approach or sand wedge onto the green hoping to be close enough to sink the ball in one put.

It can be a difficult choice however if it's a case of dropping one shot or possibly 3, I'll take the one every time at this time of year.

In the summer I go for it every time as it's one of those holes where a birdie makes the risk a worthwhile reward.

 

[Imurg]

Trouble is. Al, if you'd gone for it you'd have been 30 yards through. Chipping back on frozen ground towards the pond - you'd have gone in it.
A bogey on that hole is never a bad score.

 

[MarkHK]

Good course management, I have played that hole many times and its not easy in perfect conditions.

 

[fundy]

Dont play when the course is frozen!!! if you have to, get to the back edge in 2 and try and make up and down but be happy with a 5

 

[pbrown7582]

everyone see things differenly you route got you and a half and ultimately you won the match,

but giving it a go in a friendly round would be my preferred option to increase confidence when/if it comes off for a competative round that said if it goes wrong you are left with nagging doubts for when it matters.