I tried playing boring golf....it kind of worked

[DeanoMK]

Good news and glad you've found something that works. However I would counter that the two triples indicates its not a silver bullet and as I've mentioned it's not something that sits well in my own golfing brain and not for me. I would rather play and take the driver/3 wood off the tee depending on whats required and take it from there. I can still make a double and triple too but having a shorter shot in, I feel makes the approach a safer option

As Canary_Yellow rightly points out I am not a long hitter (average about 220 yards) and so there are still some par 4's I struggle to hit and all our par 5's are three shotters. However on my own course I know where the misses are both off the tee and with the long second shots and can align and plan accordingly. I would still rather get maximum distance off a tee and with a second and leave a simple short shot in. Horses for courses and I am not going to discourage anyone from trying something different, especially as an advocate of the linear method, but I do feel strongly that the concept has to sit well to commit to it. This doesn't with me. It's as simple as that

The first triple was due to me trying a bit of a 'hero shot', completely going against what I was trying to do and it cost me, so that was a valuable lesson.

The second was a 3 off the tee as I hooked my tee shot with my 5 wood, mainly due to me trying to play a draw (based on the lessons I've been having lately) and over-cooked it. And in all honesty it was a short par 4 so in reality I could have hit my 6 iron and still would have had a comfortable number into the green.

I'm all in

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The first triple was due to me trying a bit of a 'hero shot', completely going against what I was trying to do and it cost me, so that was a valuable lesson.

The second was a 3 off the tee as I hooked my tee shot with my 5 wood, mainly due to me trying to play a draw (based on the lessons I've been having lately) and over-cooked it. And in all honesty it was a short par 4 so in reality I could have hit my 6 iron and still would have had a comfortable number into the green.

I'm all in

The hero shot and poor club selection shows it's not a simple process to change mind set though and stick to the plan although I am sure it'll come in time. Are you going to carry this on into your next competition round and see what happens in terms of scoring and any potential cut. As an aside, would it be viable in the winter when there is no roll and surely distance of the tee becomes more important as you would be hitting longer and longer clubs into the greens or laying up more and more

 

[garyinderry]

In practice you should attempt to play two balls.


One being the safety, strategic, course management ball

One being the driver birdie ball.


See what works. See which yields the best scores over time and on what holes.

Then try and adopt the best of both worlds to your game.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In practice you should attempt to play two balls.


One being the safety, strategic, course management ball

One being the driver birdie ball.


See what works. See which yields the best scores over time and on what holes.

Then try and adopt the best of both worlds to your game.

Good idea although playing two balls is frowned upon at my club. You can get away with it on the holes away from the club house and especially if the course is quiet but it could be hard to play say a nine hole round with both balls over the course of a month or so and compare data. I do believe that knowing your miss (left to right or right to left bad shot) and which holes have the biggest danger for that sort of shot is key and the ability to then make a club selection and swing to avoid that is better (for me).

 

[chrisd]

Good idea although playing two balls is frowned upon at my club. You can get away with it on the holes away from the club house and especially if the course is quiet but it could be hard to play say a nine hole round with both balls over the course of a month or so and compare data. I do believe that knowing your miss (left to right or right to left bad shot) and which holes have the biggest danger for that sort of shot is key and the ability to then make a club selection and swing to avoid that is better (for me).

Sorry Homer, I just dont get a Clubs problem with playing 2 balls. You're a fully paid up member and, unless it's holding up play a lone golfer playing 2 balls is kind of essential for practice purposes and no different to a 2 ball going out.

 

[DeanoMK]

The hero shot and poor club selection shows it's not a simple process to change mind set though and stick to the plan although I am sure it'll come in time. Are you going to carry this on into your next competition round and see what happens in terms of scoring and any potential cut. As an aside, would it be viable in the winter when there is no roll and surely distance of the tee becomes more important as you would be hitting longer and longer clubs into the greens or laying up more and more

I agree, it's a big switch from just pulling the driver each and every time - something that I am guilty of myself. It will take some time to adjust to. I've got my Titleist Matchplay game on Sunday and I am genuinely considering taking the same approach.

With regards to the winter months, that remains to be seen but I don't see why it can't be used then.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Sorry Homer, I just dont get a Clubs problem with playing 2 balls. You're a fully paid up member and, unless it's holding up play a lone golfer playing 2 balls is kind of essential for practice purposes and no different to a 2 ball going out.

Because it’s another excuse to ignore some friendly advice.

 

[garyinderry]

Sorry Homer, I just dont get a Clubs problem with playing 2 balls. You're a fully paid up member and, unless it's holding up play a lone golfer playing 2 balls is kind of essential for practice purposes and no different to a 2 ball going out.

Plenty of clubs have that rule and signs up but I'd say very few actually enforce it.


Done on a quiet evening away from prying eyes there shouldn't really be any problems if you dont hold anyone up and take care of the course.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Because it’s another excuse to ignore some friendly advice.

I have made my position very clear and I've provided positive feedback to Deano because clearly it is something he's found to work. Not sure what your "beef" is and no doubt you'll trot out the "martyr" line again. It is simply a method I don't buy into personally.
My club has clearly published notices saying practice on the course isn't allowed. I've already agreed with Gary's point that in principle away from the clubhouse on a quiet evening there is a chance to do it for a few holes and measure the results but I doubt I could get away with it for a whole nine. Sadly, and it may just be my club, but there will always be that one member looking for an excuse for someone breaking a rule to give them a chance to complain so not worth the risk, particularly for me and a method I don't want to try

 

[Orikoru]

I think I can apply this to some holes in our medal tomorrow. Only really on the longer holes though. For the par 4s I can't reach in two, when practising I'll reach for the hybrid on my second shot, but it does tend to get a bit slicey. I think going 7 iron for the second and leaving myself something between 50-90 yards is probably more likely to bring consistent results. I'll probably leave the hybrids in the bag for the most part and play for the comfortable bogey on those holes (it's only about 3 holes really).

 

[Backache]

Sorry Homer, I just dont get a Clubs problem with playing 2 balls. You're a fully paid up member and, unless it's holding up play a lone golfer playing 2 balls is kind of essential for practice purposes and no different to a 2 ball going out.

I agree that it's a silly rule and if the course is quiet why not, but unless you are a very good golfer it is rather different from a 2 ball going out. A two ball the golfers will be walking to their own shot andplaying from there you have to walk to each ball individually which may if you are anything like me be in two different places and play from there. It definitely takes longer than a decent two ball of at least I do compared with when I go out with a similar standard friend.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I have made my position very clear and I've provided positive feedback to Deano because clearly it is something he's found to work. Not sure what your "beef" is and no doubt you'll trot out the "martyr" line again. It is simply a method I don't buy into personally.
My club has clearly published notices saying practice on the course isn't allowed. I've already agreed with Gary's point that in principle away from the clubhouse on a quiet evening there is a chance to do it for a few holes and measure the results but I doubt I could get away with it for a whole nine. Sadly, and it may just be my club, but there will always be that one member looking for an excuse for someone breaking a rule to give them a chance to complain so not worth the risk, particularly for me and a method I don't want to try

I was answering ChrisD and check out the emoji, for someone so dismissive of something not for you, you seem awfully sensitive.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Why you ever want to have to hit your second shot to a par 4 further off a lesser lie than you’ve hit your first shot off a tee?

Not for me I'm afraid. I'm all for playing conservatively especially if not playing well but I'd want to hit longer off the tee and make the second shot easier. In my mind a 3 or 5 wood or even a 3H off the tee and a mid-iron in rather than other way around has to be easier and you'd have more accuracy and control with the approaches

Or you just hit 2 mid irons rather than driver & wedge.

Aim to get on par 5s in 3 rather 2 shots.

Obviously it’s not going to be for everyone.

 

[chrisd]

I have made my position very clear and I've provided positive feedback to Deano because clearly it is something he's found to work. Not sure what your "beef" is and no doubt you'll trot out the "martyr" line again. It is simply a method I don't buy into personally.
My club has clearly published notices saying practice on the course isn't allowed. I've already agreed with Gary's point that in principle away from the clubhouse on a quiet evening there is a chance to do it for a few holes and measure the results but I doubt I could get away with it for a whole nine. Sadly, and it may just be my club, but there will always be that one member looking for an excuse for someone breaking a rule to give them a chance to complain so not worth the risk, particularly for me and a method I don't want to try

but surely the fact that you're playing alone is that you're practicing, there is no 1 ball comps that I'm aware of?

 

[ScienceBoy]

My experiences have skewed my perception. Playing within my limites pretty much rules out triples and makes doubles a rarity. My card becomes a sea of pars and bogeys.

That does mean i am rarely putting for bird outside some shorter holes and will make one a round or less!

Does that matter? Yes and no...

Yes, I am not maximising my chances to go low, and if I played more often I would say no as I would return a more consistent score from round to round.

It really comes down to what matters to you, cuts from a very low round or a slow l average decent from consistent scoring with fewer increases.

 

[garyinderry]

.

It really comes down to what matters to you, cuts from a very low round or a slow l average decent from consistent scoring with fewer increases.

You see the problem with this is that we as amateur golfers are not really rewarded for a whole host of top 20 finishes and buffers with the odd cut thrown in.

We are far better off having 2 car crash rounds then a real low one.



At least until the new world handicap system comes into play anyway .

 

[Wolf]

Played a little boring golf myself tonight, 9 holes at Cobtree Manor. Hit driver and SW at the 1st where I made Par, then driver & 5iron at 2nd where I hit the fairway but put my approach into a bunker made bogey +1 through 2. Then came the so called boring bit...

3rd, Par 5, hit hybrid, 7 iron, GW made par.

4th, Par 3, pull my approach and failed to get up and down, made Bogey so now I'm +2

5th, par 4, 5 iron tee shot, then 8 iron into green made par.

6th, par 4, 4 hybrid, 8iron, made par

7th, par 4, 4 hybrid, 6 iron, chipped on made par

8th, par 3, 7 iron to centre of green made par.

So am stood on tee of our last hole the 9th par 4, which was playing 288yards from the yellows. If take direct route over the corner of trees could have got very close to being on front edge of green putting for Eagle or at least a short chip. However if you don't make carry run risk of being in the trees or fairway bunker.

What did I do, I took the 5 iron which was centre fairway just to left of the bunker , hit a sand iron approach to about 12 feet and holed the putt for birdie. Finished 1over par and didn't really get in any trouble or felt like of played good. It was just sensible golf according to each shot that caused me least issues but gave me best chances.

There's something to this boring course management stuff you know 🤔

 

[Jacko_G]

Play to your strengths and try to eliminate any dangers is surely the easiest way to play "boring golf"?

 

[DeanoMK]

Played a little boring golf myself tonight, 9 holes at Cobtree Manor. Hit driver and SW at the 1st where I made Par, then driver & 5iron at 2nd where I hit the fairway but put my approach into a bunker made bogey +1 through 2. Then came the so called boring bit...

3rd, Par 5, hit hybrid, 7 iron, GW made par.

4th, Par 3, pull my approach and failed to get up and down, made Bogey so now I'm +2

5th, par 4, 5 iron tee shot, then 8 iron into green made par.

6th, par 4, 4 hybrid, 8iron, made par

7th, par 4, 4 hybrid, 6 iron, chipped on made par

8th, par 3, 7 iron to centre of green made par.

So am stood on tee of our last hole the 9th par 4, which was playing 288yards from the yellows. If take direct route over the corner of trees could have got very close to being on front edge of green putting for Eagle or at least a short chip. However if you don't make carry run risk of being in the trees or fairway bunker.

What did I do, I took the 5 iron which was centre fairway just to left of the bunker , hit a sand iron approach to about 12 feet and holed the putt for birdie. Finished 1over par and didn't really get in any trouble or felt like of played good. It was just sensible golf according to each shot that caused me least issues but gave me best chances.

There's something to this boring course management stuff you know 🤔

That's quality. It's playing the percentages and putting them more in favour of ourselves. Golf is hard and we all too often make it even harder for ourselves.

 

[Wolf]

That's quality. It's playing the percentages and putting them more in favour of ourselves. Golf is hard and we all too often make it even harder for ourselves.

Agreed mate actually surprised myself at how straight forward it was to build a score without having to fight for it or hack out of anywhere. Certainly something will be doing again m, got a knockout match Monday so this could be the way I play it.