Foursomes Rhythm

[kid2]

I made a promise to myself last year that if i got any bit of consistency into my game that i would put my name forward for the club team......

Here in Ireland there are 2 types.....The Pierce Purcell Cup ( Combined handicap of not more than 27 with the lowest being off 12)

And the Jimmy Bruen (Combined H/Cap of not more than 17 with the lowest being 6)

Anyway its the Former that i qualify for......So tonight there was a trial and it will be trials for the next 4 weeks every Tuesday evening until the weekend of the competition...
I was paired with a chap off 13......No matter how hard i tried though i just couldnt get any rhythm whatsoever going with my game..... I had no fluid swing like i did the past few weeks.....I was topping shots, thinning them, Knocked a drive off the tee on one hole ........

The only thing i really contributed were good putts...Which is a strong part of my game.....I would hate to make the team in some way or form and end up playing like this in front of other clubs and spectators......As confident as i am i know it would have an effect on my game....

There are some positives that i can take away from the round but there needs to be a serious rethink of my game for the next night....
I suppose working through my lunchbreak today to finish at 5 in time to make it to the club for 6 didnt help my cause either....

 

[Chris1980]

Played in the Purcell team last year for the 1st time and enjoyed it even though id never really played that format before. Also in for the purcell and bruen this year. Sounds like its only ur 1st practice so wouldnt worry bout it! Especially if uve never played with ur partner before!

 

[pbrown7582]

rushing around and nerves seem to have hindered you, although it is difficult to get into your rythmn playing foresomes, hope for better things next tuesday.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Foresomes can be like that, which is why I stopped playing it. It's like half a round of golf

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I love foursomes and it is a shame that it seems to be less popular.
Scratch foursomes to me is the purest form of golf.

You have to be relaxed and confident with each other.
If you hit a poor shot don't worry as your partner will probably hit one later.
One of you will play better, if it is not you, don't beat yourself up, it will probably be your turn next week.
Try to play with the same partner all of the time.
Keep 'body language' to a minimum, nothing encourages your opponents more than seeing someone having a hissy fit or sulk. Same with over the top celebrations, high fives etc. Just quietly get on with it.

 

[BTatHome]

Our scratch league got changed from foursomes to better ball this year. Everyone always companies about the foursomes format for such a prestigious league, and they relented.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

4BBB allows poorer golfers to win, that does not happen in foursomes.
There is no hiding place in 4somes, plenty of places to hide in 4bbb.

 

[bladeplayer]

I pulled out of the Barton cup trials this year because I wasn't playing well , have played JB a few times , qualifiers are in Castlecomer this tear , hard hilly track , good challenge ..

Foursomes is bout being comfortable with your partner rather than handicap ..

Wouldn't worry bout the 1st trial mate it means nothing ,

 

[cookelad]

My best piece of advice for foursomes?

They are a 4 but they're only playing 2 balls so should be quick enough so don't worry about booking the tee time immediately after a foursomes competition!

 

[Curls]

I quite enjoy foursomes, its something different. If you don't mind looking a bit of a numpty to some then you can always take practice swings while its your partners turn. As long as he's okay with it its keeps you swinging. I know its not the same as hitting a ball but I find this works well if you are being held up. If ye have an empty course it might slow things down too much. Just imagine the shot he's about to hit is yours and plan accordingly. Keeps you fresh, but like I say only when the course is busy and youre waiting on every shot anyway. As far as I know there's nothing to stop you practicing putts either once you've holed out (even if your partner was the one who holed out).

The most important strategy in foursomes is who takes the odds/evens. Of course you're in a difficult position because you don't know who you're playing with, but you might chat to them first about the decision. Obviously if there are holes you hate/love driving on that should come into play, but more importantly is figuring out who approaches more often. Take our home course for example. There are a few par 4s that play more like 5s, i.e more often than not the second shot is a lay up to 100-50 yards. You want the better "approacher" taking these shots and obviously the regulation ones. So even though my buddy doesn't like driving the first, he does because it means (more often than not) that I approach every hole bar the 6th, 16th and 18th! Of course there's going to be mess-ups along the way, but you deal with them as best you can with as much patience for your partner as you would like to him to have for yourself.

On the front I approach in regulation on 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, again on 8 as its a par 5, and again on 2 and 4 because into the wind theyre often too long to reach in two. Then on the back the 10th and 14th are par 5s, and I approach 11, 13, 15, 17 in reg. think about the course you're playing and the strong/weak points of your game(s) and you might be off to a better start before you even tee up.