First comp this sunday!

[SaintHacker]

So I've taken the plunge and entered my first club competition this sunday. Looking forward to it but a little bit nervous as well. I'm planning playing as conservatively as possible, just take it easy and keep it in play, don't want to annoy my partner(s) by spending hours looking for balls! Any one got any other tips or advice?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Use your shots. Rather than take on 400+ yard par fours, and depending on where the drives go, aim to lay up, hit the green in three and hope to make a single putt. 5 nett 4 will do you no harm.

If you are unsure how to proceed with a ruling, don't touch the ball, ask your partner first. Common issues include staked trees, lateral water hazards etc.

Above all, enjoy it. Nothing better than trying to better your handicap

 

[mcbroon]

Don't worry about annoying your partner(s). They all played their first comp once, so they'll know where you're coming from.

Just play your game, concentrate on your shots and count up the numbers at the end.

 

[pbrown7582]

Relax and enjoy, we all spend time looking for our balls so certainly don't worry about that.
Play your usual game and try not to think too hard that you have a card in your hand.

 

[SaintHacker]

Just got back in from a very enjoyable round, even if it did chuck it down halfway round for a few minutes and I realised I left my brolly at home
Shot 97 which is a bit disapointing as I felt I played quite well but my putting let me down a fair bit.

 

[rosecott]

Well played for your first comp - I make that a nett 69. What's the par and SSS for your course? You may be on for a chop, particularly if CSS is up.

 

[SaintHacker]

Par is 69 and css67 i think

 

[macca64]

Played my 1st comp today,43 putts,who wants to buy my clubs? i hate golf!

 

[rosecott]

Par is 69 and css67 i think

Looks like nett 67 or better is your target - not very far away!

 

[SaintHacker]

Looks like nett 67 or better is your target - not very far away!

Cheers, would have been under it if my putter was behaving!
What does the SSS/CSS actually mean?

 

[rosecott]

Cheers, would have been under it if my putter was behaving!
What does the SSS/CSS actually mean?

SSS is a fixed figure for your course and is meant to signify what a scratch player would score in normal mid-season and weather conditions. So your aim to "play to handicap" would be to score SSS plus your handicap - in your case SSS 67 + handicap 28 = 95. However, if conditions are better or worse than expected and the performance of players as a whole are affected, CSS can vary from SSS -1 (66) if conditions are benign or up to SSS +3 (70) if conditions are rough. It sounds complicated but, once you get your head round it, it makes sense. To summarise, to "play to handicap" on your course with your current handicap you need to score between 94 and 98 depending on how the field as a whole have scored.

 

[pbrown7582]

Cheers, would have been under it if my putter was behaving!
What does the SSS/CSS actually mean?

A can of worms don't go there!!!

 

[SaintHacker]

Right, got it, I think!
Cheers