First round of the club pairs knockout

[Lump]

Finally been able to agree a time to play our first round game, vs a 2 handicapper (was scratch a couple of years ago) and a 8 handicapper.
Myself and my partner (Me off 6 and him off 22) have never won a matchplay together, even just friendlies.
He more often then not tries the impossible shots to beat them on the hole outright rather than beating them with nett scores. Which leaves me fighting 2 players who I normally give shots too.
Undecided what our game plan should be. Its going to be a tough game, the 2 handicapper is very steady and deathly accurate. The 8 handicapper doesn't bother me, he's streaky at best. (fair weather golfer)

What should we be looking at doing? Myself just trying for steady game or flag hunting and hoping my PP doesn't throw holes away with lots of shots.

 

[Alex1975]

Finally been able to agree a time to play our first round game, vs a 2 handicapper (was scratch a couple of years ago) and a 8 handicapper.
Myself and my partner (Me off 6 and him off 22) have never won a matchplay together, even just friendlies.
He more often then not tries the impossible shots to beat them on the hole outright rather than beating them with nett scores. Which leaves me fighting 2 players who I normally give shots too.
Undecided what our game plan should be. Its going to be a tough game, the 2 handicapper is very steady and deathly accurate. The 8 handicapper doesn't bother me, he's streaky at best. (fair weather golfer)

What should we be looking at doing? Myself just trying for steady game or flag hunting and hoping my PP doesn't throw holes away with lots of shots.

If you can talk your partner into using his shots and planning to do so then you should flag hunt imo. Is your partner the chap we played with at the Belfry?

 

[Lump]

If you can talk your partner into using his shots and planning to do so then you should flag hunt imo. Is your partner the chap we played with at the Belfry?

It is Alex. (Matt was the fella).
Having just looked at this weekends scores, both opponents are playing well.

 

[c1973]

Have a word with your partner and tell him your oppos are playing well and you need to think about a strategy. The strategy being you go flag hunting and he uses his shots wisely.

 

[Alex1975]

It is Alex. (Matt was the fella).
Having just looked at this weekends scores, both opponents are playing well.

Meh, they played well last week!

Matt is a capable golfer but in the short time we were together I would say not the easiest guy to temper. He is probably better than 22 on his day so your in the game imo. Your a go at it golfer with skills to match on your day so you have to look at matching the lowest handicap, I still think he has to use his shots and make bank when he one putts or GIRs when he has shots.

 

[Alex1975]

Have a word with your partner and tell him your oppos are playing well and you need to think about a strategy. The strategy being you go flag hunting and he uses his shots wisely.

22 handicappers are often 22 handicappers as they are not wise and have male egos not that they are terrible golfers. That said I think when I was at that level I was both full of ego and poor at the game

 

[Curls]

This is a tough one, I was in a sort of similar situation with my buddy who was off 22 and while he was capable of gross par, was also capable of throwing it away early and as you say letting me fight two players on my own. That's the hardest thing to do, and you should impress upon him that the best way to grind out a win is to keep both balls in play.

Two ways to deal with it, softly softly. Perhaps talk about a strategy beforehand, maybe you should let him play first even if you're further back or visa versa, its yere call as a team who plays so if you think hes more likely to play a good shot having seen you greenside or on, then shoot first. If you think that you hitting a poor shot will put him under pressure to make a miracle shot then let him go first with the pressure off.

That or tell him stop being a lunatic and realise he's 20 shots higher than their good guy for a reason and play the advantage.

Tough love

 

[Lump]

Meh, they played well last week!

Matt is a capable golfer but in the short time we were together I would say not the easiest guy to temper. He is probably better than 22 on his day so your in the game imo. Your a go at it golfer with skills to match on your day so you have to look at matching the lowest handicap, I still think he has to use his shots and make bank when he one putts or GIRs when he has shots.

Thats my fear with Matt. When his golf is good, he's as good as a 10 handicapper, but the mind part of the game just kills him. One bad hole/shot is enough to rock him. If we go down by a couple of holes, I fear its all over. He'll just chase after everything.

 

[G1BB0]

22 handicappers are often 22 handicappers as they are not wise and have male egos not that they are terrible golfers. That said I think when I was at that level I was both full of ego and poor at the game

agreed

just tell him to use his shots as net pars will do nicely, theres no shame losing holes to birdies (gross or net) but losing to bogeys....

 

[c1973]

22 handicappers are often 22 handicappers as they are not wise and have male egos not that they are terrible golfers. That said I think when I was at that level I was both full of ego and poor at the game

True.

In that case, hide all his clubs except the 7I and putter before the game.

 

[Lump]

Finally played this match today, after a couple of canceled times.
We went 3 up after 4 holes, back to all square by the 13, back to 2 up after 15 and then…. lost on the 18th to a 4 nett 3. Gutted!
1 handicappers are just too steady…

 

[Crow]

I feel for you, that's a painful finish however it happened.