just having a moan

[steve7]

morning all,just a quick moan,being playing more often for last 12 months got handicap of 24 in April since then played in 10 comps and hence now 25 gone up 0.1 each round.I play with my brother in law most weeks once/twice and since april he has seen his handicap come down from 22 to 17.3 .I don't seem to be able to play when it comes to comps.Is this something all have gone through as I don't seem nervous when playing with others in comps ?Am I expecting too much too soon ?

 

[GreiginFife]

Afraid that only you can answer that last question.
Yes, I think we have all gone through poor(er) performances when the card it in hand. You maybe need to take a step back from your play once that card comes in to it. Are you over thinking things? Are you maybe trying to take fewer shots than you are capable of? Ok so that last part might sound nonsenicle but bear with me. I used to try and go for the green in as few shots as possible, that often meant riskier shots that had less than a 50% success rate. I now reason that I am better off knowing that I will take three to reach the green and possibly 1 or 2 putt, rather then go for the glory shot and not know what I am going to end up with.
It's not Poka Yoke but it's probably the next best thing.

The best advice that I can give (or has been given to me) is to know your current ability and limitations and play to them.
Understand where you go wrong and think about how to prevent (or at least minimise) it the next time.
If you have one or two horror holes, work out why they are horrors and how you can mitigate the horror.

Most of all, enjoy your game. If you don't enjoy it, you won't play well.

good luck

 

[steve7]

thanks GreiginFife for advice will take on board.

 

[Duckster]

If you're having a few issues in keeping your round going then what I do is try to break it up into a series of 3 holes at a time. Try to get (off 24) each 3 holes in 4 over or better. Once they are done, forget about them and think about the next 3 holes. If you can stick to the 4 over per 3, then you'll hit your handicap.

Trust me, all of a sudden things just start to click and it'll come down in bursts.

 

[My_HarrisTweed_Cap]

Golf is as much mental as it is physical. You need to have the correct mindset and belief.

Pick your target, focus, hit it and walk on. Once you hit the shot you can't do anything about it - its gone, so walk on, find your ball and hit it again. Scores will take care of themselves if you just focus on the ball.

It's like that thread about consecutive point ones, that's a mental thing as well and some people are clearly needing to have a word with themselves as it reads like they're going out expecting and settling for a point one increase before they even strike a ball.

The mind is a wonderful thing.

 

[Junior]

Mossack Hall is a nice track and quite fair. I think if I was you, i'd just play conservatively and try and knock it round in bogey's. Dont take on any 220 yard carries over water or 3 woods from the rough to green'. use your shots wisely and your handicap will tumble !!

 

[Rooter]

Comparing your progress to someone else is not a wise move, do you practice? Does he? Do you go for the 1/10 shots where he would lay up? To many variables to compare yourself. As for playing in comps, no advice other than enjoy it. It's supposed to be fun remember!

 

[Allanxyz]

If it is a case of scoring good in practice rounds but not bringing it to the comps then I think all of the advice is given is good but you do also need to be patient... think about how you can score when things aren't going too well...so minimizing the impact of bad shots... don't follow a bad decision with another one by being too agressive.

I started on an 18 handicap rather than 24 but it was a fair old while before I did anything in a competition... enjoy the competition and think about grinding out a score no matter how the swing is looking that day.

 

[GreiginFife]

While I agree that the mental side is important. Just walk and hit is not a method of improvement IMO. As well as embracing the mental sude you also need to engage the problem solving function of your brain to think aboit what went wrong.
If you do not understand what the problem is, how do you propose to fix it.

Knowing your limits and applying those limits to the course is just as important in the early stages of playing this great game
This is just the opinion of a humble 12 handicapper of course. Other opinions are available.