TomC
GM Staff
Great article by Fergus Bisset that we could all learn from
http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/tours-and-...pectations.html
http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/tours-and-...pectations.html
Manage your expectations!
- Thread starter TomC
- Start date
B
birdieman
Guest
To be honest I think most of us go out hoping to play to our handicaps or hit the buffer zone and if things go well take 1,2 or maybe 3 shots less and get a wee cut.
Most of us believe we can improve so you have to think positively and believe you can go lower without being silly about it.
A bit of good course management is all thats needed for many players to score better.
Most of us believe we can improve so you have to think positively and believe you can go lower without being silly about it.
A bit of good course management is all thats needed for many players to score better.
bobmac
Major Champion
I totally agree.
A few less 3 woods from the deep rough, a few more lay-ups on par 5s and a few less lob wedges from just off the green.
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
I manage my expectations just fine.
Why give yourself targets and goals that you can't hit. Far better to shoot first, and whatever you hit; call that the target!!
Why give yourself targets and goals that you can't hit. Far better to shoot first, and whatever you hit; call that the target!!
Herbie
Tour Winner
I did some of this today, I went to the course on a beautiful day only to find all 18 greens being worked on and those horrible temp greens that are like putting on cobbles.
So my day was scuppered, so I changed tac and went round trying all sorts of different club shots, lay ups, chip and run from longer distances and only concerned myself with accuracy and not concerned with the greens. Had some fantastic golf and in the process hit 13 fairways with carry and stayed on 10 of them, only one toed drive that I got away with anyway but I am finding a new accuracy using long distance chip/pitch and run with half swings on a range of clubs. So even with our greens out of use today I had a day of managing the course differently and having a good time.
So my day was scuppered, so I changed tac and went round trying all sorts of different club shots, lay ups, chip and run from longer distances and only concerned myself with accuracy and not concerned with the greens. Had some fantastic golf and in the process hit 13 fairways with carry and stayed on 10 of them, only one toed drive that I got away with anyway but I am finding a new accuracy using long distance chip/pitch and run with half swings on a range of clubs. So even with our greens out of use today I had a day of managing the course differently and having a good time.
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
Sounds like a very useful and productive day then. Interestingly, would you have tried all these different techniques if the greens had of been in play, or justgone and played a you normally would of?
Sounds like the enforced 'keep off the greens' was a good thing.
Sounds like the enforced 'keep off the greens' was a good thing.
Herbie
Tour Winner
Very good point hapless and after today I am having a think about some shots. No I wouldnt normally vary shots like I did today though some holes it would be hard to anyway when greens in use but there are a good few that I may play differently in future, I cant wait to give it a go next time when the greens are in use.
I think that is always a danger of being a member somewhere. You become lazy with club selection and shot making. You know the first is a drive and a 7 iron so thats what you play when really a lower shot with a closed 6 or a 5 when the wind is blowing would be a higher % shot and probably produce a better outcome.
I have been using SC and my yardage book to mark out some key lay up areas on all the par 4's and 5's so that if I'm in trouble I can see clearly what distance I would have from specific areas and can recover accordingly. Its stopped in an instance even contemplating a hybrid from an OK lie in the rough (on the 5th at Ascot as an example) as it would leave me around 80 yards or so if I catch it cleanly which is a fiddly distance for me. A 5 iron leaves around 120 and is either an 8 or 9 depending on the flag and conditions but those two clubs are "go to" clubs for me and I'd be confident of knocking it close.
It really is a simple game when you learn how to think your way around the course and I guess to manage expectations about ones ability and estimation
I have been using SC and my yardage book to mark out some key lay up areas on all the par 4's and 5's so that if I'm in trouble I can see clearly what distance I would have from specific areas and can recover accordingly. Its stopped in an instance even contemplating a hybrid from an OK lie in the rough (on the 5th at Ascot as an example) as it would leave me around 80 yards or so if I catch it cleanly which is a fiddly distance for me. A 5 iron leaves around 120 and is either an 8 or 9 depending on the flag and conditions but those two clubs are "go to" clubs for me and I'd be confident of knocking it close.
It really is a simple game when you learn how to think your way around the course and I guess to manage expectations about ones ability and estimation
bobmac
Major Champion
So you didnt do any putting at all?
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I've done that before.
I remember when our greens were very ropey and diseased. If I was playing solo, I'd hit onto the green, pick the ball up and move on. No point putting on really dodgy greens if you don't have to.
I remember when our greens were very ropey and diseased. If I was playing solo, I'd hit onto the green, pick the ball up and move on. No point putting on really dodgy greens if you don't have to.
mono217
Journeyman Pro
Course management is what i need to learn more of.
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
Realisticaly, I think most of us know what to do regarding course mgt. However our, for want of a better word, egos take over and we try to pull off that one in 50 shot,in the vain hope that it will come off.
As in any situation, it takes a bigger man to asses the situation and decide which fights are worth trying and which are best left to another day.
Profound lesson for today over with!!
More from Yoda tomorrow!!
As in any situation, it takes a bigger man to asses the situation and decide which fights are worth trying and which are best left to another day.
Profound lesson for today over with!!
More from Yoda tomorrow!!
Herbie
Tour Winner
Oh yes I did, on the putting green and in front of an audience
and even you would have been impressed Bob. I did long ones short ones, then the clock face like Phil does and sank 6 in a row from 6', then I hit two balls at once to check how square I was hitting getting both balls to follow parallel and the inner ahead of the outer, looked mighty impressive Bob.On the course I had a go at two of them but as soon as I noticed my ball was behaving like a FLUBBER ball on speed I didnt bother any more and just focussed on other stuff.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
More from Yoda tomorrow!!
For that, Hapless, Thank You we do.......
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
U takin t' mick geezer!!
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
It isn't course management I need, it is anger management. Totally different.
bobmac
Major Champion
Want to be wicked?
go to the library and hide all the anger management books
Cernunnos
Journeyman Pro
I totally agree.
A few less 3 woods from the deep rough, a few more lay-ups on par 5s and a few less lob wedges from just off the green.
I also agree, but its a case of easier said than done. Though the irony of some layups, is that it will be the lobwedge over the bunker to the narrow landing area of the green we may need to produce.
Each of us need to try & play to our strengths, but still easier said than done. Which brings us back to good course management & positive thinking.
From a personal standpoint, chip'n'runs used to be a strong feature of my game & yet currently the meassured sandwedge & lobwedge shots are the stronger & most relyable part of the shortgsme for myself & I need to concentrate on more chip'n'run & other feel shots when practicing again.
