How Stressfull Is Golf For You?

[garyinderry]

We have all been there, most cappers around that level have 1 weak area that's holding them, and a lot of the time it's the inability to recover, you will undoubtedly drop shots, your a hc golfer, it's limiting it too one shot rather than 2/3 that will get the scores down.

As an example, you scab a drive off the tee 100 yards into the crap, don't pull a 3 wood and try and flush it 200+' 8i/7i it out and be where your drive would be, the chance of hitting a half decent mid iron back into play from the cabbage is a lot higher than crunching a 3w, most who take the 3w option will scuttle it along the deck 50 yards and still be 100 yards back from where there drive would be and be two shots down the pan.... It's these bad decisions that rack up high scores.

the old 3 wood second shot is one of the biggest handicap killers for high handicaps. one of the best things I did was get rid of my 3 wood. I just didn't have the temptation to try the miracle recovery. it was the start of learning course management. I had 18 shots to play with. if I played smart and picked up the odd par here and there I could get cut. it didn't take too long after that!

ive flirted with 3 woods now and again but always end up binning it because they go a long way but can easily get you in trouble. I have to admit, im tempted again. It must be a winter thing. I bought a nike 3 wood last winter and it lasted a month before I sold it.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Not even when you are carrying your fourball partner.:ears:

Homer and I prop each other up, and not very well at that Unfortunately for him, I am rubbish at all forms of matchplay. I don't know what it is but I don't seem to be able to get my mind in the same place and play with the same focus, determination and intensity as I do when I'm playing my own ball in strokeplay.

 

[anotherdouble]

Homer and I prop each other up, and not very well at that Unfortunately for him, I am rubbish at all forms of matchplay. I don't know what it is but I don't seem to be able to get my mind in the same place and play with the same focus, determination and intensity as I do when I'm playing my own ball in strokeplay.

Good answer

 

[chrisd]

No stress at all, I get peed off sometimes if I play awful or the weathers dire but definitely no stress. Mind, as you get old and have had various body parts replaced, you are just more than happy to be able to swing a club!

 

[In_The_Rough]

Was stressful getting to my 8 HCP but now I have reached it just go out and play now without a care in the world. Life is too short to be getting worked up all the time over a round of Golf

 

[ger147]

No stress at all, I get peed off sometimes if I play awful or the weathers dire but definitely no stress. Mind, as you get old and have had various body parts replaced, you are just more than happy to be able to swing a club!

What he said!!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

All I can say is it's lucky I don't have a dog, poor thing would be kicked black and blue some days when I get back from the course

 

[davidy233]

Golf is a joy not a stress - there are days you play like a donkey and you can't enjoy that but even a poor round on a nice day is a delight - and on the days you play well it's pure joy

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Never stressful as I play/live for enjoying the challenge. Fustration does creep in though following a poor shot decision where my brain has decided to forget my swing and physical limitations and press ahead with an agressive, dimwitted plan regardless. However, I'm only an amateur and will make mistakes - I'm comfortable with that and have learned to forget errors in seconds.

Happiest when playing in the heat of competition.

 

[Hobbit]

Frustration during a really bad round, but a few "bu99er it" usually sorts that out. Stressful - lol... I've learned to laugh at myself, and I get plenty of opportunities.

 

[SAPCOR1]

Not stressful for me at all. Great way to relax and unwind and helps with focus, strategy, and concentration.

Always find myself smiling when I come off the course, sometimes wryly ....

 

[woody69]

I often get frustrated at myself as I think I should be better than I actually am and it annoys me I don't seem to be able to improve, but I never walk off a golf course stressed. As with most things though, when I get frustrated I start playing worse. Perhaps if you took a step back and didn't get stressed things would actually improve for you.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I often get frustrated at myself as I think I should be better than I actually am and it annoys me I don't seem to be able to improve, but I never walk off a golf course stressed. As with most things though, when I get frustrated I start playing worse. Perhaps if you took a step back and didn't get stressed things would actually improve for you.

I had exactly this issue until a few years back, a few bad holes would get me frustrated and I would never recover. Then one day in a comp I double bogeyed the 1st hole and hit my tee shot OOB on the 2nd. I had been playing well in the weeks before and just thought to myself "just forget it and see if you can make buffer". I birdied my 2nd ball on the 2nd for a bogey 6 and ended up shooting 77 (+7) and getting cut 0.6. From that day on I've had absolute faith in my ability regardless of how I start or a few bad holes, my scores have improved and my handicap has dropped. I still have a swear at myself after a bad shot or hole but I leave it all on the previous green and just get on with it.

 

[harpo_72]

I have had a few bad years, the game was something I played well. It was effortless, the hours of range time had given me a swing that was just predictable. I got into the forum thing and shared my obsession but somewhere I lost my swing, listening to endless tips and pointless over theorising about a movement that should IMHO be simple and natural. I was getting bad tempered on the cause, frustration was taking its toll. My wife hated it when I came back, she didn't know if I was going to be happy or be dark and angry. It came to a head, bit of a barney and me nearly missing my tee time for a competition. I wondered onto the tee, shook hands with my playing partners Jim and Jim ( that was easy to remember). I proceeded to play my old game, of just greens in regulation and two putting out. It seemed that the old par machine had turned on and when I got to the 17th tee, on 36 points I just let loose and attacked the last two holes to card a 41 points and 72 strokes. It was that round that changed me, I now have a smiley ball marker to remind me to just enjoy it. In every round there is a shot that you will remember and bring you back ... Also remember you can't win all the time and every dog has his day but you can enjoy yourself.

 

[Matty]

Zero stress for me. I have a high handicap and honestly believe I can play a little better than this. I'm aiming to reduce my handicap in 2014 but I try to do this while just enjoying the game, being outdoors and having some fun. golf is a hobby for me, a time to forget about home and work. If I let golf stress me out why am I doing it? I might as well be in work and get paid for being stressed!

 

[cleanstrike]

None for me either. I walk around golf courses as a means of getting some exercise and I take a bat and ball along so I have something to do with my hands on the way.

 

[One Planer]

Now - Zero

2011 - Lots

Mainly putting too much pressure on myself and the end result rather than playing the game one shot at a time.

Now I just focus on playing each shot on its own merit, to the best of my ability and let the score take care of itself.

 

[Foxholer]

Golf is a joy not a stress - there are days you play like a donkey and you can't enjoy that but even a poor round on a nice day is a delight - and on the days you play well it's pure joy

This is the way to think of it.

Golf is only stressful when I can't play it!

 

[Robobum]

How do you feel when you have a total mare and shoot over 80 if you ever do? Then imagine doing that for ten or twenty rounds on the run.

I know when I have a nightmare it just makes me want to practise harder and play better next time, I find it hard to quit on anything.

Exactly my point, I wouldn't enjoy it and doubt that I would look forward to playing as much as I do now. I almost definitely wouldn't be a member so the hh'cap would lapse and would become an occasional golfer

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Now - Zero

2011 - Lots

Mainly putting too much pressure on myself and the end result rather than playing the game one shot at a time.

Now I just focus on playing each shot on its own merit, to the best of my ability and let the score take care of itself.

Good way of thinking :thup: I have tried my best to adapt that attitude.