Course practice before a medal.

[Oddsocks]

Over recent weeks its become very obvious that my swing downs kick in of even attempt to show until about the 5th hole. by then ive thrown away a good 5/6 points/strokes and spend the round playing catch up to try and get a good score in.

Our course has a 9 hole that is a nice ease course with just par 4's and 3's. It would make an ideal warm up round beofre hitting the course instead of just hitting the range with a bucket of balls. Now my question is

A) would playing the 9 hole the same morning of the medal DQ me for knowing course conditions

B) would i be better of on the 9 hole instead of the range.

For me on the range i can find a good swing but then by the time im back to the club and onto the tee, it seems to have gone on holiday, im wondering if course practice with changing lies and the opertunity to just pump 4 or 5 wedges into a green to get a feel would be better for warming up.

 

[StuartD]

If the 9 hole course you mention does not form part of the course you play in the Medal, then you are ok to play it if you wish

 

[Oddsocks]

no our course has an 18 and a 9, the 9 is a great starter course and would also make a good warm up course.

 

[bobmac]

Play the 9 holer every time.
The range is ok for grooving that magic move, but for warming up, go for the 9 holer

 

[patricks148]

Yes you can play the 9 holer no problem.

I on the other hand don't tend to hit balls on the practice ground or nets before a round. Just do a few chips around the practice green with a few different clubs, have 5 mins putting then go straight to the first tee. I stretch a bit before teeing off.

 

[Aztecs27]

Our course has a similar setup. A full 18 and an 18 hole par 3 course which would be ideal for warm up and which I will be using for warm up before comps this year.

Don't get the chance to warm up with the driver, but that's perhaps a good thing!

 

[Robobum]

I don't think I'd go and play 9 before a round, that'll be another 2+ miles or so of walking you're doing there.

I've started playing 5 holes on the range in the 20 mins prior to my tee time. Our range is literally 15yards away from the 1st tee so it does make it easier.

I don't "warm up" for it as such by hitting easy wedges etc, just play the shots for the 1st 5 holes as I would if i turned up and went staright to the 1st - 3 or 4 air swishes with the driver then hit one, then a wedge, a pitch, 8 iron, pitch, driver, rescue, pitch, driver, 6 iron, chip, 3wood, wedge and chip.

 

[bobmac]

Don't get the chance to warm up with the driver, but that's perhaps a good thing!

If you bring it with you when you come up to Lincolnshire, I'll put a couple of marks on the sweet spot for you

 

[Oddsocks]

I don't think I'd go and play 9 before a round, that'll be another 2+ miles or so of walking you're doing there.

I've started playing 5 holes on the range in the 20 mins prior to my tee time. Our range is literally 15yards away from the 1st tee so it does make it easier.

I don't "warm up" for it as such by hitting easy wedges etc, just play the shots for the 1st 5 holes as I would if i turned up and went staright to the 1st - 3 or 4 air swishes with the driver then hit one, then a wedge, a pitch, 8 iron, pitch, driver, rescue, pitch, driver, 6 iron, chip, 3wood, wedge and chip.

Our 9 hole is about the same length as 4 average par 5's, and in all fairness is nice and flat so nothing other challenging that would make you tiered.

The think i see is you would be hitting off grass so would be able to assess how heavy the ground is. Our putting green is totally unique to every green on the course. You could practice putt for an hour and the greens would no resemble anything you have just practiced. Atleast with the 9 hole course the greens resemble the main 18hole greens.

 

[Robobum]

....Our putting green is totally unique to every green on the course. You could practice putt for an hour and the greens would no resemble anything you have just practiced. Atleast with the 9 hole course the greens resemble the main 18hole greens.

In what way?? Slower/ faster/ slopier??

 

[Oddsocks]

ultra fast - when all overs will be soft to very soft
untra flat - no movement at all
untra dry - when the rest will all be soggy
perfectly cut holes - .....

the list is endless

 

[john0]

Don't get the chance to warm up with the driver, but that's perhaps a good thing!

If you bring it with you when you come up to Lincolnshire, I'll put a couple of marks on the sweet spot for you

What with a sharpie pen?

 

[funkyfred]

I don't think I'd go and play 9 before a round, that'll be another 2+ miles or so of walking you're doing there.

I think somewhere Oddsocks said he was 31. So he shouldn't have any trouble doing 9 holes before his match.

 

[Bacardibatman]

....Our putting green is totally unique to every green on the course. You could practice putt for an hour and the greens would no resemble anything you have just practiced. Atleast with the 9 hole course the greens resemble the main 18hole greens.

In what way?? Slower/ faster/ slopier??

ultra fast - when all overs will be soft to very soft
untra flat - no movement at all
untra dry - when the rest will all be soggy
perfectly cut holes - .....

the list is endless

ok you're never going to get a perfect representation but if the practice green is so unrepresentative ...

then it should be raised at the club and if in the clubs budget(during these financial times) instruction given from the club to head greenkeeper to try and make it as representative as much as possible to the course greens

and if it means changes to the putting area
ok you'll lose half the green while work is carried out ,as they should only do half at a time to still leave a putting area

but eventually you'll have a representative one to practice and warm up on

its in the best interests of the club to provide the best facilities to attract new members to the club by it being thought of one of the better clubs in the area with the best facilities (although it might be that already,me not knowing) possibly by attracting more members,charging higher green fees /membership (ok not good for members but alot wouldnt mind paying a little extra to have improved facilities) making the club more profitable

also good for the club to have their members improving their game,feeling good & confident - especially if its helps their players who play matches/tournaments


<u>And as for on course practice</u>
"Get the right mind set about it...its just a warm up /practice"


ive seen ppls confidence destroyed by not playing well on the warm up holes & then transferring how they played to their proper round "oh im not swinging well today" (no u didnt swing well that time or practice holes),rather than having the right attitude .... that its practice. & not worry how you played it score wise its just warm up
your proper round is a completely different one

but for getting the in the zone & course/shot management personally think it can be a gr8 help as your aiming for proper targets greens/fairways with proper hazards rough etc that a practice ground does not have

 

[Robobum]

I don't think I'd go and play 9 before a round, that'll be another 2+ miles or so of walking you're doing there.

I think somewhere Oddsocks said he was 31. So he shouldn't have any trouble doing 9 holes before his match.

Fair enough, but 21, 31 or 91 you'll still be more tired towards the end of your round than if you didn't do 9 holes first.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
Just make sure there is not a local rule about playing on the 9 holes before a comp on the main course they may not be happy with half the field hitting 4 or 5 wedges into each green.
Mike

 

[Oddsocks]

Bacardi man, my course is a pay and play and budgets are limited , personally with a green that is so far from the conditions you play I'd rather them take the green out and put 4 nets in as it's right next to the first tee

 

[Bratty]

Bacardi man, my course is a pay and play and budgets are limited

Where are you a member, mate? Can't remember for the life of me!

 

[Bacardibatman]

bit of a shame ...tho still maybe worth mentioning about the green they might take notice and improve things

after all its still a business they want to make more profitable and improving things is one way to do so

yeah deffo agree about having a practice green that doesnt really help.i used to hate it at the club i was at, when they used to cut the greens and not the practice green so they'd be completely different paces

 

[Oddsocks]

Bacardi, our course is crown golf owned and one that is for sale so I doubt they will put anything into improving it. The pro's had to buy their own target nets for the range.

Bratty, it's addington court at the moment although this should be changing shortly