Medal tomorrow - How do you tackle it?

[JohnnyDee]

Medal tomorrow and I have my strategy in place. I need to shoot 5, 4, 5 on the first three and if I do then I can build off that.

Do you approach your own course in a similar manner or do you come out of the blocks attacking?

Our first is a par 4 brute, the 2nd is a short but tricky par 4 also, and the 3rd, another par 4, needs a really good drive to get a result.

Our start is undoubtedly one of the hardest in the county and really puts the willies up you big style, particularly with a card in your hand.

 

[duncan mackie]

Medal tomorrow and I have my strategy in place. I need to shoot 5, 4, 5 on the first three and if I do then I can build off that.

Do you approach your own course in a similar manner ....

No, and I don't come out the blocks attacking either.

I play each shot on its merits and take the final result that comes.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Medal tomorrow and I have my strategy in place. I need to shoot 5, 4, 5 on the first three and if I do then I can build off that.

Do you approach your own course in a similar manner or do you come out of the blocks attacking?

Our first is a par 4 brute, the 2nd is a short but tricky par 4 also, and the 3rd, another par 4, needs a really good drive to get a result.

Our start is undoubtedly one of the hardest starts in the county and really puts the willies up you big style, particularly with a card in your hand.

I like the idea of playing a round in bite size parts but I wouldn't go "needing" to shoot a particular score. Would seem to put a lot of pressure, especially on what you describe as a "brute" of an opener. Surely you need to hit the tee shot and go from there. If you don't go, 5,4,5 what then?

The opening four at my own club aren't easy and I always want to get through in +2 which is level handicap but we have a par five as the fifth which is a good chance to repair any early damage so if I do slip behind where I'd like to be there's still a chance to build. Ultimately though medal is about keeping big numbers off the card

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Tee up the ball then hit it

Walk up to the ball and then hit it again

Play each shot on its own merit and let the score take care of itself

Wouldn't bother thinking about what score on any particular hole - just let it happen

 

[JohnnyDee]

No, and I don't come out the blocks attacking either.

I play each shot on its merits and take the final result that comes.

Can't fault your strategy in all honesty. However I have played so many courses in the past with such a relatively benign start that I always feel under pressure right from the tee shot on the first.

Our course is a Harry Colt layout and sometimes I wish it was a Harry Potter 😄😄

 

[Craigg]

Driver off the first and enjoy it :thup:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Do you normally hit some balls and warm up?

 

[duncan mackie]

Can't fault your strategy in all honesty. However I have played so many courses in the past with such a relatively benign start that I always feel under pressure right from the tee shot on the first.

Our course is a Harry Colt layout and sometimes I wish it was a Harry Potter 😄😄

Most Colt designs change dramatically with pin position and wind. To my mind it's only once you stand on the first tee knowing those, and understanding the likely fairway roll, green holding and, to a degree, how you swing feels, that you can consider that days targets and implement your strategic decisions to achieve them :thup:

I have a knockout final tomorrow morning - but I don't even know what club I will hit off the first tee (relatively wide 400 slightly down hill to a severe front to back green) until I stand there!

 

[pokerjoke]

Medal tomorrow and I have my strategy in place. I need to shoot 5, 4, 5 on the first three and if I do then I can build off that.

Do you approach your own course in a similar manner or do you come out of the blocks attacking?

Our first is a par 4 brute, the 2nd is a short but tricky par 4 also, and the 3rd, another par 4, needs a really good drive to get a result.

Our start is undoubtedly one of the hardest in the county and really puts the willies up you big style, particularly with a card in your hand.

The trouble is what happens if you go 6,5,6 then you need a new plan

 

[BrizoH71]

Always happy if I cover the first three holes in 15/16 strokes (lower obviously better) ... all three are par-4s, but holes 2 & 3 are rated SI 1 and 3 respectively. The second hole can kill a round before it's even got off the ground.

 

[J5MBF]

Why not just go out, play and enjoy,yourself rather than burden yourself with thinking what you must do! Could ruin your round before its begun with one errant drive! I don't play as a job, I play golf as a hobby, try it, it's good fun!

 

[Imurg]

All I need is to decide if its a 7 or 8 iron to lay up in front of the ditch.....

 

[Oxfordcomma]

Our start is pretty hard as well, I've played with a few people who consider 6 points at the top of the hill (after 4 holes) to be a reasonable start.

Personally, in tomorrow's medal I plan to rock up, hit a few 7-irons in the net, have a few putts to get the speed, complain bitterly about a hangover, then hit a low fade into the first fairway bunker. It's a tried and tested method .

 

[JohnnyDee]

To elaborate. I have shots on 1 & 3 and if I don't make the 5,4,5 it's not the end of the world, but nevertheless it's the ideal I have in my mind. If I don't make it or even better then I simply have to dig a bit deeper.

But rest assured, it's always hit the big dog on the first. Hitting less always leaves a rediculously long second and a really big ask to secure the 5.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

To elaborate. I have shots on 1 & 3 and if I don't make the 5,4,5 it's not the end of the world, but nevertheless it's the ideal I have in my mind. If I don't make it or even better then I simply have to dig a bit deeper.

But rest assured, it's always hit the big dog on the first. Hitting less always leaves a rediculously long second and a really big ask to secure the 5.

Do you hit balls on the practice ground to warm up?

 

[JohnnyDee]

Do you hit balls on the practice ground to warm up?

Normally warm up in the net by hitting a few 7-irons but get very bored very quickly. My own worst enemy I know.

 

[Stuey01]

Club champs tomorrow. Got a later start than usual so will have a decent warmup. Other than that my only plan is to play quite conservative off the tee, try not to chuck too many shots away being too aggressive.

 

[ScienceBoy]

If the hole is over 360/380 (depending on how good the game is) off the tee hit a driver, less than 360/380 hit a 3 wood. (my standard strat anyway).

That plus a modified three goals method applied to each shot (modified to shoot a round in the 80s or better).

Focus hitting the shot at hand and where I want to hit the next one from.

Oh and a brick wall follows right behind me round the course, what happened behind the wall has no effect on my current situation.

 

[IanG]

Level 5's after three at my place and I'm satisfied. Any better than that is credit in the bank for later screw ups. With our normal West wind I can't reach the 2nd or the 3rd in two anyhow so 5 is acceptable.

 

[chrisd]

I played with Duncan Mackie at Cooden last week and in the morning round he saw my normal game- pretty much go for everything golf. In the team game in the afternoon we spoke about a more strategic approach on certain holes, the idea of playing the sensible shot more often, the shot that gives me the best chance of the best outcome. I have tried it as a plan since and it golf me a cut on Wednesday and yesterday at North Foreland golf club the holes that I thought about the strategy of each shot were played best. That doesn't mean not going for big shots, it just means working out whether the big shot (or lay up) is the clever shot and likely to be most rewarding.

So I'd say Jonny to take that advice as I did, Good old Duncan