Don't go chasing it....

Smiffy

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Committed the cardinal sin yesterday. Chasing a score.
Played in a qualifier at Boars Head, course shouldn't have really been open. It was like a quagmire. But it was the same for everyone so thought I'd give it a go.
Played some reasonable golf on the front 9, came back in 18 points. Quite chuffed considering the conditions.
Started the back 9. Par 3. Hit the green but three jerked it for a bogie (had parred it the first time round).
Said to my mate "I need a par down the next (par 5 where I'm shotting) to get that point back". I regretted saying it almost straight away.
Result? Snowman. 8. Nil points. Bugger.
Hit a good drive off the tee but it was lower than usual. Found a water hazard. Dropped and tried to clear the second water hazard. Off that muddy lie? You're having a laugh. But I tried. And failed. Found the ditch but it was sitting on the upslope and playbable. Hacked a 7 iron a way up the fairway. Fatted my next shot onto the fringe. Muddy as hell. Do I putt or chip? Putted and tanked it past. Missed the return. Got the tiddler. Followed that up with a well worked double bogey on the next par 4 (which I had parred easily the first time round) for another point. Wow! 2 points after 3 holes. Ended up with a measly 13 points on the back to total 31 and out another .1. One more bad one and I'll be off 13. That extra shot could come in handy.
There's another qualifier planned for Wednesday, mid-week medal. I'm tempted, 'cos I'm off for the day. But oinking your way around in all that mud isn't fun. As I say, course is like a quagmire at the moment. Greens are ok but anything around/near the green is just slurry.
Maybe I should start a blog?


 
Very tempting to play wednesday and get that shot back though.....
Playing today and we had a fair bit of rain over Fri/Sat so we'll see.

I'm guilty of chasing too. Wish I could stop it but the brain just takes off!
 
Course closed all day on Saturday because of the rain. Went up Sunday expecting it to be closed, or all temps, but there was only the one. Course not too bad considering the weather. Played ok too. Another 76. That makes 10 games minimum since I shot over 80.

13 suits you. Unlucky for someone.
 
It is hard not to chase, I have the problem as I give away too many unforced errors then I try and play catchup.

Proven by my outing yesterday, sweet driving, sweet putting but everytime I got slightly out of position I turned it into a 7 or an 8. Result 5 pars, scoopfull of net pars and three 7s and an 8.

Must tidy up my game for East Brighton!
 
played saturday, the course was trashed. IM just glad i was visiting another course and not trashing my home course. I know that sounds bad, had the option to play sunday but decided against it. Slept happy saturday night shooting 1 over h/c in those conditions.
 
Chasing a score???

Sounds more like handicap protection to me. Seems like you have decide to play as many qualifiers as you can in these rubbish conditions just to get your h/cap up to give you a better chance of taking the prizes in the forthcoming meets.



;) ;) :p :p
 
I cannot help chasing a score. If I have a bad hole my mind starts thinking 'if I can par the next one I can get back on track' and if I drop a few shots I start trying to play mad shots that I would only pull off once every hundred times to try and get a score. Finally I end up blowing the card, relax and start putting the good scores in again. The fun of competitions. At least all comps are non-qualifiers at the moment (shorter course and only 17 holes open) so I am not creeping back up again.
 
I've been suffering from this. I am very score focussed, I know I shoudln't be, but I can't help it.

Because of all the swing changes recently I've been shooting nowhere near my handicap and just puting more and more pressure on myself. Which in turn makes things worse.

I went out Friday afternoon, just intending playing 9 holes, and for once just took my time, didn't try to push things, didn't try to think about my score.

Result. Shot 40 for the front 9. Obviously couldn't stop there, so set off on the back 9.

Again took my time, played some good stuff and was 3 under my hcp by the 15th when i decided to have a quick add up to see where I was. I knew I was scoring well but didn't know how well. What a mistake. :(

As soon as I realised I was in with a chance of an 80 (something I haven't shot yet) it put the pressure on.

Result, tripple bogey 15, scarped a good par in 16, doubled 17 and bogeyed 18 for an 85.

Don't get me wrong I'm absolutly delighted with an 85, I haven't shot that low since last October, but as soon as the posibility of something good came into mind I was doomed.
 
I used to e terrible for this, often thinking 3 or 4 holes ahead but since I joined Ascot I don't seem to do it. I don't know whether it's because I'm still learning the course but I find myself thinking only about the shot in hand. This is of course a good thing I just hope I don't find myself slipping back to my old habits as I become familiar with the course.
 
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