I don't understand this game!

[washathi]

I came back to golf 2.5 years ago, after a long break, determined to get a "decent" handicap. Over the last Summer my progress pretty much stalled, with me on a handicap of 20. I'd love to do better.

I've been forced to have a break from playing over the last month thanks to illness/work/weather. I knew I was going to play today so I went to the range last week. I was terrible, slicing the ball like I did when I first came back to golf, I even did a few shanks....I still played this morning.....and hit my best ever score. No slices, no shanks, a birdie and a handful of pars. How does that work? The course was windy and wet, it should have been a disaster. I'm really chuffed....but I really don't understand this game at all...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I came back to golf 2.5 years ago, after a long break, determined to get a "decent" handicap. Over the last Summer my progress pretty much stalled, with me on a handicap of 20. I'd love to do better.

I've been forced to have a break from playing over the last month thanks to illness/work/weather. I knew I was going to play today so I went to the range last week. I was terrible, slicing the ball like I did when I first came back to golf, I even did a few shanks....I still played this morning.....and hit my best ever score. No slices, no shanks, a birdie and a handful of pars. How does that work? The course was windy and wet, it should have been a disaster. I'm really chuffed....but I really don't understand this game at all...

Give up trying to understand it and save yourself a lot of time and angst. Just roll with it and enjoy days like today. Well played. Was it a qualifier? Sometimes going in with no expectations can really help you relax and play to your potential

 

[ScienceBoy]

I came back to golf 2.5 years ago, after a long break, determined to get a "decent" handicap. Over the last Summer my progress pretty much stalled, with me on a handicap of 20. I'd love to do better.

I've been forced to have a break from playing over the last month thanks to illness/work/weather. I knew I was going to play today so I went to the range last week. I was terrible, slicing the ball like I did when I first came back to golf, I even did a few shanks....I still played this morning.....and hit my best ever score. No slices, no shanks, a birdie and a handful of pars. How does that work? The course was windy and wet, it should have been a disaster. I'm really chuffed....but I really don't understand this game at all...

Where did you play?

I've scored well in those times, I tell myself my advantage over others is that I don't let the condition get to me and I can score whatever the course condition/weather. If you are used to a slow soggy course then a well manicured fast course can be very tricky! That is the challenge of playing away!

 

[washathi]

Give up trying to understand it and save yourself a lot of time and angst. Just roll with it and enjoy days like today. Well played. Was it a qualifier? Sometimes going in with no expectations can really help you relax and play to your potential

Thanks Homer - that sounds good advice. I could have opted into a competition but was feeling at a low ebb before I played.....now, of course, I wish I'd entered!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Thanks Homer - that sounds good advice. I could have opted into a competition but was feeling at a low ebb before I played.....now, of course, I wish I'd entered!

Always the way. My advice would always be to enter. 0.1 is the worse that can happen

 

[washathi]

Where did you play?

Chilworth, just North of Southampton. The course is holding up pretty well, its just very different playing now than back in, say, September, when both the course and weather were dry and it wasn't so windy.

 

[Ethan]

Bizarrely, once you realise you don't understand this game, then you actually are beginning to.

 

[bluewolf]

Bizarrely, once you realise you don't understand this game, then you actually are beginning to.

Exactly.. I was about to say that it sounds like the Op understands the game perfectly well.. Its only constant is its inconsistency..