how to win?

[birdieman]

Currently embrolied in our 4 round club championships at Ballater GC.
Found some form round 1, played very steadily(3 birdies,4 bogeys) and surprisingly came in first with a one over 71. Was quite anxious going into yesterdays round 2. Started brilliantly and was -2 after 7, by 14th I was +2 but then thinned a gap wedge lost for a DB 6 on 14 and scrambled in with more weak bogeys but managed a jammy birdie on the last for a 5 over 75. That birdie really helped cheer me up leaving the course on a positive note after a torrid back 9. Front 9 was four birdies four bogeys and one par so very up and down! Back nine (the easy 9) I was +5 . Disappointed with it in light of the score early but truth be told I wasn't hitting irons nearly as well as Sunday.
Anyway now lying 3rd just 2 shots off the lead going into tomorrows round 3. A one handicap away player I dont know is leading and a 5 handicapper I can usually beat is 2nd after a 68 (where did that come from!). There is then a gap of 5 to the next player. The favourite (2 h'cap) and holder NR'd so is out of the equation.

What advice can anyone give me on how to stay calm and focused, Rd 3 is going to be critical to stay in with a chance.

Can someone put a hoodoo on my opponents.

I haven't been in this position since 1987 when as a mere nipper of 17 I battled to 2nd at Grantown on Spey!

My best finish at Ballater is 4th which I've done twice but have not really been in contention to win.

Thanks
BM

 

[Doh]

Great play BM.

Just go out and play the course the best you can let the others make the mistakes.

Good Luck.

 

[DCB]

Stu,

Just take it gently. You know you can play the course, you know you can play the necessary shots, so just go out there and play the course. Don't worry about who is doing what. Just get your head down and grind out a good score.

Remember it's consistency that will get you through this event. Go out and do it. You have it in you.

dave

 

[birdieman]

I'm terrible at pressure - I admit it!
Hit some shockers yesterday but pitched, chipped and putted very well.
Wee practice this evening with the irons.

These 4 rounders really bring it home about how much you have to focus all the time. On Sunday I threw away 2 shots, yesterday I threw away 3 but got lucky with a chip in on 4. Not dwelling on that but that's where scratch to 2 h'cap players get it right, they just don't do the mistakes.

Onward!

 

[USER1999]

You think they don't, but I bet thet do make the errors.

 

[triguy]

I think you need to have a couple of beers before you go out, a couple beers on the way round and give the rest of us a chance!!!
Seriously, keep hitting the fairway as you seem to normally do, I don't imagine that the 5 handicapper will stay the distance and the 1 handicapper will do what he does (you can't control that), play your game and dont force it.
By the way watch out for the 6 handicapper

 

[Herbie]

Birdieman, you are playing real well, so just keep it up, dont worry about their game as you are not playing their game. keep your form going and make it so they have to beat you, not the other way round.

 

[jammydodger]

Just stay loose and try to relax and enjoy the round. Make a point of having a laugh with your oppos to keep your mind off things. Dont be too hard on yourself , ignore the mistakes. One hole at a time and most of all...Trust your swing , just believe you are going to hit a good shot and let the good golf out.

Dont forget the others will be nervous aswell

 

[HomerJSimpson]

FOcus only on the things you can control. You have no power over what anyone else is scoring and as long as you are keeping your ball in play and not making too many errors you'll be fine.

Be patient. You know you are hitting well so let the birdies come along. You know they will so don't lose shots chasing them. At the end of the day a bit of pressure is good. Enjoy the uncomfortable feeling and enjoy the moment

 

[julsk10]

pitched, chipped and putted very well.


[/QUOTE]
Try to focus on what you have been doing well, if irons not going to well just remember that you're short game is good, this should take pressure off irons. - easier said than done all the same. Good luck!

 

[backwoodsman]

Just keep the thought that it's them who are under pressure - not you. It's them who are having negative thoughts. You know the course, you know the shots - just play your game and let them do the worrying.

 

[CrapHacker]

Any chance of getting a mate to caddy for you ?

He can distract you if you're getting too intense, or call you to concentrate if you're playing too loose.

 

[AlexanderAdair]

It'l sound daft, but try and not think about anyone else.

Focus soley on each and every swing YOU make, Don't think oh theres so and so, wonder what score he's on.

Day 3 is all about YOUR score, On the final day yeah you might need to think about what everyone else is scoring.

However i strongly recomend trying to block out anyone else at all and concentrate on keeping yourself in contention today, Best of luck

 

[viscount17]

you need to concentrate for 70 shots, maybe an hour or less, not for the whole round.

give yourself a chance to smell the daisies

 

[birdieman]

Thanks for the tips.
Alas to no avail. Slipped to a poor 76. Still lying 3rd but now 8 behind the leader. Front 9 struggled again to 6 over with a lost drive on 7, back 9 was much better level par.
The lad who's winning is only 17 and from somewhere near Middlesborough, family come up for holidays, you should see some of the members faces with the prospect of an 'outsider' taking the title .
To be fair he's a nice lad and a much better player than me but he's a little wild off the tee. Unless he has a very bad day at the office and I turn into Tiger Woods overnight I can't really see me or anyone else catching him. He's not a 1 handicap for no reason!
Oh well, that's life...one can only dream

 

[AlexanderAdair]

Sorry to hear it didn't go so well mate, Just relax for the final round. Maybe a 17 year old won't have the bottle to hold the lead? Anyway mate, best of luck for the final round.

 

[birdieman]

Oh well finished 2nd gross 8 shots behind winner. Slight sweetener is I'm 1st equal on handicap. Have to play an 18 hole play off with a 7 handicap to decide the handicap championship.
Not so happy with three 0.1's on the trot putting me back up to 5 hcap, missing buffer by only 1,2 and 1 shots .
Worn out with trying to do well in this one, a lot of nervous energy used up over the week. Need a rest but have to play a team match tomorrow.

 

[JustOne]

Not dwelling on that but that's where scratch to 2 h'cap players get it right, they just don't do the mistakes.

You'd be surprised!

I think Stenson shot at least an 84 at Wentworth and he plays off about +5.

Sounds like you had 4 pretty consistant rounds and simply being up there on the leaderboard with a pop at the title is what it's all about... well apart from winning

Nice shooting, good luck in your playoff.