Medal or Social - what's the difference.

[Imurg]

Apart from playing from a different tee - although not always according to reports - what real difference is there between a Friday Roll-up round and the Saturday Medal?

Are you not going out with the notion of shooting as good a score as you can each time? Isn't that what the game is about?

Why does the fact that it's a competiton make it any harder than a normal game? Do you treat the round differently? If so, Why?

You're playing the same course, albeit a bit longer - again not always the case - so why do people often crumble with a "Card" in their hands?

I play each round (unless I'm playing solo) as a "competitive" round. I'm always trying to shoot the best score I can - whether it's a Friday with Fragger/CVG or a Medal, a Forum meet or the Centenary event.
My aim is to post the best score I can, I don't feel any extra pressure because it's an officail comp.

Discuss.........

 

[Val]

No gimmes in a medal so potential for extra shots there, always a chance to try the miracle shot you wouldnt dream of in a medal eg, missing the green wide with a tight pin and try a big flop shot as opposed to a delicate chip to the green.

 

[Birchy]

I find thats theres more pressure when i play a social game with friends because there is huge bragging rights at stake. Add to the fact that i work with my two main partners who i golf with and the thought of losing makes me feel sick as it gets slapped in your face all day every day

Having said that i have only played in stableford comps and roll ups so far so i cant comment on the proper medal pressure.

 

[Imurg]

No gimmes in a medal so potential for extra shots there, always a chance to try the miracle shot you wouldnt dream of in a medal eg, missing the green wide with a tight pin and try a big flop shot as opposed to a delicate chip to the green.

My point is that I don't do that. I'm always looking to score as low as I can and will only take on those shots if I think I can pull it off. The time for practicing them is when I'm out solo.....
Why take on the miracle shot when you're trying to shoot as low as possible..?

I also don't take gimmees - I'll putt it out.

 

[USER1999]

Up to 600 yards difference on my track. Serious golf, no little side bets, so no relief. One focus, medal, racks up the tension. You know that one, just one, bad shot is going to stuff your day. Tricky.

 

[Val]

My point is that I don't do that. I'm always looking to score as low as I can and will only take on those shots if I think I can pull it off. The time for practicing them is when I'm out solo.....
Why take on the miracle shot when you're trying to shoot as low as possible..?

I also don't take gimmees - I'll putt it out.

Not everyone thinks like you though, bounce games are for fun as well as trying to score well.

Many bounce games I play are straight matchplay with friends so if the hole is won then you have a chance to try on the course things you cant practice on the range or practice area.

 

[duncan mackie]

My point is that I don't do that. I'm always looking to score as low as I can and will only take on those shots if I think I can pull it off. The time for practicing them is when I'm out solo.....
Why take on the miracle shot when you're trying to shoot as low as possible..?

I also don't take gimmees - I'll putt it out.

agree (apart from the gimmees - they are given because they won't be missed)

the social games always have more at stake than the competition rounds as well! in many senses the ones with the least financial investment are the hardest emotionally - both league and mixed matches...

 

[HickoryShaft]

For me the social games are all about just that - chatting with mates etc.

I still do try and score as well as possible but use them to try shots that I may not attempt in a comp - I am not talking about trying a crazy shot just different positioning or going for a green that is makable with a decent hit rather than laying up for a safe chip on to save par.

I still (over) analyse the game each time though and see where I went wrong or right and try and learn from that. I still try to putt out (depending on format of course)

 

[G1BB0]

I find I play well socially but medals/stableford comps where a potential (and long overdue) cut are available cause me to balls up. I am trying to get the 85 I fluked once instead of accepting a 95 or less will drop me a full shot off my h/c.

 

[Tiger]

I think Murph is right. Everyone is a little more reserved in a medal, partly because they want score well and partly out of courtesy to their playing partners. This usually means less banter and a more tense atmosphere. Add to that the nagging dread that a bad shot can send your round spiralling out of control...

Also on nine of our holes the white tees make a significant enough difference to how you play it and for me it's a different beast.

I think if you get on a roll like Achilles did your confidence helps you deal with those things. I played really well in team comps just before, Christmas and then went and won the January medal. We then had snow and cancellations and by the time I teed it up for competitive golf again in March that confidence had evaporated.

 

[Smiffy]

As Murph says, the pressure in a medal is greater. If I'm playing a friendly with mates and I am playing like a knob I put it down to just being "one of those days". It might cost me a couple of quid, and I might get the pee ripped out of me if I've played particularly badly. But that's about it.
In a medal, walking off the 9th green conscious of the fact that you may have used up most of your shot allowance see's you chasing a score. And 99 times out of a 100 that doesn't work.

 

[Oddsocks]

We are lucky that our weekly Roll ups are always off the whites this releives pressure. What kills me is during the competitive season we have a comp every week, 42 in total I think, so I tend to play with medal pressure week in week out, unless of course we are on your playing an away club then it tends to be off the yellows for a giggle

 

[Little Jockey]

A key difference for me is a friendly knock is with friends. You all know each others games, how quick/ slow you play and there are not many suprises.

In a medal you often play with folk you might not have played with before and are more conscious of your game and how you come across.

Medal much more of a challenge.

 

[Hobbit]

Course mgt might change a little but to be honest I don't feel any different or partake in less banter in a medal as I do in a social knock. Admittedly if I have a good medal score going with a few holes to go I'll be more focussed on the shot in hand but its just another game with mates.

If I did it for as living it might well be very different but, for me, its only a game.

 

[Qwerty]

For me there is a lot more satisfaction in winning a medal as opposed to winning a few quid off your mates in a social knock or in a roll up. I suppose for me that is what raises the pressure.

If you've got a good score going in a medal, and you're in with a shout of winning and the inevitable handicap cut,In this situation Surely most Golfers feel the added pressure coming through the last few holes.
I just don't get that same feeling in a bounce game or roll up.

 

[Neddy]

Up to 600 yards difference on my track. Serious golf, no little side bets, so no relief. One focus, medal, racks up the tension. You know that one, just one, bad shot is going to stuff your day. Tricky.

And here is me thinking I play the game for fun....!

I play "properly" every time i go out on the course, even when I'm by myself I try and shoot the lowest score possible (unless I am out with the deliberate intent to just practice).

But I will leave the "serious" golf to the pros.

 

[Region3]

I'll try to play as well as I can in all games, but there's just something about it having a meaning for your handicap that makes each shot (particularly tee shots for me) just a little bit harder.

I suppose it depends how much importance you place on your handicap. For someone who doesn't care what it is I guess there's a bit less self-imposed pressure.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

It's all relative to the level you are playing at. Some people just like to go out with their mates and have a knock and enjoy the banter. Some want to play medals every week, some are only interested in scratch team golf. Above that there is county level and then national level competitions.

So the pressure is relative to the level you are playing at. For club golfers, they are mainly playing to improve their handicap and that is why they feel pressure when they have a card in their hand.

 

[Golfmmad]

Although I enjoy a friendly round, there is nothing like having a card in hand for a medal and trying to reduce my handicap.

In any round of golf I try and get as best a score as possible and focus the mind even more in a medal round, but, after the round I will say it's just a game and not get stressed about the score.

It is though, much more satisfying having played well and getting a subsequent handicap cut after a medal round, much more than just playing well in a bounce game.

As for those gimmies that somebody said are never missed - get outta here I've seen many a putt of less than a foot being missed in a medal round.
And I always, always putt out, otherwise you never have the pressure and the practice for when you have a card in your hand.

 

[pendodave]

You know that one, just one, bad shot is going to stuff your day. Tricky.

Maybe this is the problem ? It probably isn't (I don't think I've ever played a round without one bad shot), but just thinking that it is will probably increase anxiety etc. None of us are likely to hit 18GIRs, so why go into a medal thinking that anything less is an issue? Even a single figure handicaper has a bit of scope for some old rubbish here and there...

Mind you, convincing myself that this is in fact the case is another matter....