Mindset and Ability of a Bogey Golfer

[virtuocity]

Course management - Best advice I ever received was to avoid half/two-thirds swings close to the green but instead to try to leave a full wedge into the green whenever possible (rather than trying to match my lower-handicap mates). Also tends to mean less chipping (high-handicapper's usual weakness).

Good point and THANKS to everyone who has contributed to this thread.

If I'm 100 yards from the green, I'll pick up the SW, full swing and plonk it straight on the middle of the green. Confidence sky-high, I'll one or two putt and walk off with a well-earned par/bogey.

Yesterday, I hit a drive 280 yards (unheard of for me with an average of 210!!!) on a short par 5. Took a 6 iron on the second shot and hit it fat, landing 20 yards from the green. Walked off with bogey.

However, I never thought of PLANNING to leave myself with a 100 yard shot to green. I always thought that it was time to take a crash course in chipping/pitching. Mind you, I once heard GMAC saying something like that on the last hole of his US Open(?) win, he made sure that he laid up to 100 yards as 'I can hit those shots in my sleep'.

Interesting stuff folks.

 

[duncan mackie]

Good point and THANKS to everyone who has contributed to this thread.

If I'm 100 yards from the green, I'll pick up the SW, full swing and plonk it straight on the middle of the green. Confidence sky-high, I'll one or two putt and walk off with a well-earned par/bogey.

Yesterday, I hit a drive 280 yards (unheard of for me with an average of 210!!!) on a short par 5. Took a 6 iron on the second shot and hit it fat, landing 20 yards from the green. Walked off with bogey.

However, I never thought of PLANNING to leave myself with a 100 yard shot to green. I always thought that it was time to take a crash course in chipping/pitching. Mind you, I once heard GMAC saying something like that on the last hole of his US Open(?) win, he made sure that he laid up to 100 yards as 'I can hit those shots in my sleep'.

Interesting stuff folks.

even my basic Skycaddie has the facility to input 'lay up distance' into it (in my case 92yds) and gives me the distance to that at the touch of a button (comparing it to hazard distances in the area too...

it's a facility that few higher handicappers actually program or use automatically - yes they may think about it, work it out when the situation arises etc but it's not their automatic reference alongside distance to the centre of the green; as it really should be.

 

[virtuocity]

Just thinking aloud now....

Would be interesting to go Driver, SW, SW, putt, (putt) on par fours.
There is one short par 5 at my course where I could go driver, 9 iron, SW, SW, putt (putt)

I would still have a chance to make up for any three-putt double bogeys with pars at the copious amounts of par 3s.

Seems like an easy way to play golf.

 

[JustOne]

Yesterday, I hit a drive 280 yards (unheard of for me with an average of 210!!!) on a short par 5. Took a 6 iron on the second shot and hit it fat, landing 20 yards from the green. Walked off with bogey.

If you can't get up and down in less than 4 shots from 20yds there's no helping you!!!! :rofl:

You don't lay up to 100yds if you can comfortably reach the green you knobber!!

 

[louise_a]

Just thinking aloud now....

Would be interesting to go Driver, SW, SW, putt, (putt) on par fours.
There is one short par 5 at my course where I could go driver, 9 iron, SW, SW, putt (putt)

I would still have a chance to make up for any three-putt double bogeys with pars at the copious amounts of par 3s.

Seems like an easy way to play golf.

you have more faith in your sandwedge than I have.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

When I was aiming for 18 hcap I would treat EVERY hole as a Par 5 regardless of actual par for hole. If I got a three that counted as a 2 under, a seven (even on a par 3) was 2 over. Completely a 'mental thing' for me. As the three on a Par 3 was a 2 under, that felt brilliant, and conversely the seven (even on a par 3) was only two over and so I didn't feel that bad. And as I walked round I kept my running score relative to 5s in my head. So on a par 72 course being 10 over (against my par of 5s) I would have knocked it round in 100 (28 over). I soon found myself getting to 5 over with only a few holes top play. In my head 5 over sounded great (single figure handicap ) even although finishing 5 over was 95. But soon I would be level - 5s - round in 90 and 18 over.

 

[Foxholer]

Birdie, great, par, more than happy, bogey, hmmm it'll do, worse, <deleted> , lets really concentrate next shot.

Careful. Heavy-handed-erators about! :mmm:

If 'playing for bogey' then I believe it's more likely that something like 22 will be the result - from a couple of 'disasters'.
Better to start with Par (or even Birdie) as the goal but adjust if a poor shot happens. I believe it should only be under exceptional circumstances that anyone at this level should be planning to go for Par 5s in 2 though.

 

[Val]

There is a tight par 5 at a course I used to play (Falkirk Tryst) where I had more pars hitting a long iron off the tee that I had using a driver, it is 501 yards long but very tight.

Course management is something that gets spoken about often but often overlooked.

 

[cookelad]

Just thinking aloud now....

Would be interesting to go Driver, SW, SW, putt, (putt) on par fours.
There is one short par 5 at my course where I could go driver, 9 iron, SW, SW, putt (putt)

I would still have a chance to make up for any three-putt double bogeys with pars at the copious amounts of par 3s.

Seems like an easy way to play golf.

The 9th at Aldersey Par 5 490yards (tough hole despite it's lake of length) one day during a friendly knock 2 of us decided we could make it easier - par 5 so we're looking to get up in 3, ok! so whats 490/3? 165 for easy numbers sake! so what club do you hit 165? that would be a 6 iron so we started playing the hole as 3x6irons! It might not be glamorous but it was effective and the number of bogeys we recorded on that hole dropped through the floor!

 

[virtuocity]

I would add that if I took my best score at every hole on the course (taken from the last 4 rounds of golf) then I would be +6 gross.

Annoying to think about it really!

 

[GreiginFife]

your first season with a handicap. just play golf enjoy it. at the end of the season have a think where you want to be, then set some targets.

Spot on for me. If you haven't had a HC before then you need to see how you perform in COMPS first, no point basing it on bounce games or rounds on your own. Get that card in hand and see how it goes but most of all, enjoy the game you play.
Too much pressure on your self to meet goals too early on has been the death of many a person's love of the game.

You say you are probably 28, but you don't know that yet. You may well already be a good comp golfer and be 18. Conversely I've seen many a guy think he is low teens based on playing bounce games each week only to crumble in comps and walk away with a 19 or 20 HC and have a fit about it.

Just see what happens mate, that's all you can do and then start to analyse and set goals.

 

[virtuocity]

Cheers again everyone. One thing I will definitely take away from this thread is to try and calm down on the crazy shots e.g. 2 hybrid with steep uphill lie which (if I connect correctly) could leave me needing to flop a shot over two high bunkers to reach a tiny bit of green. Perhaps better to hit two 9 irons instead.

Good thread. Credit goes to the OP.

 

[bigslice]

Cheers again everyone. One thing I will definitely take away from this thread is to try and calm down on the crazy shots e.g. 2 hybrid with steep uphill lie which (if I connect correctly) could leave me needing to flop a shot over two high bunkers to reach a tiny bit of green. Perhaps better to hit two 9 irons instead.

Good thread. Credit goes to the OP.

lol ure good,

 

[GreiginFife]

Cheers again everyone. One thing I will definitely take away from this thread is to try and calm down on the crazy shots e.g. 2 hybrid with steep uphill lie which (if I connect correctly) could leave me needing to flop a shot over two high bunkers to reach a tiny bit of green. Perhaps better to hit two 9 irons instead.

Good thread. Credit goes to the OP.

Never think it's that easy - another bit of advice. Play the course as you find it that day. No point thinking "right I've played this hole x times and it's a Drive, 9, 9 and putt..." if there is a 3 club wind blowing in your face.
Plan your shots as you approach them taking in to account the conditions and where you want to put the ball.
Example of exactly that on Sunday, 5th at ours up the hill, par 4, not overly long - "normally" a drive and easy 8i. Sunday was Drive and 3H just to get it to the fringe. If I had gone with 8i the ball would have gone 60yds.

 

[bigslice]

lol ure good,

you should be carefull with your posting of 280 yard drives etc, as if you choose my away club as your home club. i will use them as evidence for your handicap

 

[chrisd]

My mate plays off 6 and his plan is that he will never take on a shot that has less than a 60% chance of success. Less than that he plays the safest option.

 

[pokerjoke]

Interested to get everyone's views on how an 18 handicapper performs and think's their way round to play to their handicap.

I'm aiming to be at this level by the end of the year.

As I'm probably a 28 handicap, my main goals are:

-To make a good connection with as many shots as possible (i.e. no duffs, tops or fat shots)
-To make my putting average 2.0
-Shoot no more than double bogey on any hole

As an 18 handicapper, the goals / performance requirements must change a good bit in order to play to HCP. Would be interested to read the difference between a 28 and 18 hacker.

As im in sales its always good to have a goal,however it has to be realistic.
If its too far away i probaby wouldnt believe it possible.
Also if im not on target,how do i deal with it.
I would say as a 28hcp golfer,non of the above is going to happen.
Even single figure golfers,duff,top,shank etc,so thats definately going to happen.
It will be what happens next that will effect your 3rd target.
Aiming to never get higher than a double bogey,that wont happen either,it will be how you
handle a 7 or 8 on your card that makes a difference.
The 2nd oblective of averaging a 2 putt,very difficult.
I see you want to get to 18 from 28 fair play thats realistic,the others are hopeful imo.
Sorry to be negative when most of the replys are positive,but golf really can kick you when
you think you have nailed it.

 

[TheClaw]

Leaving full shots is a good idea if you can't reach the green comfortably or it's too risky to go for it. I would say if you can get to 20 yards of the green in 2 surely that's the best play?

Hitting the green from 100 might sound easy but if you mess it up you might still be left with the 20 yarder you didn't want but you'll have taken one shot more. A stab with a putter would find the middle of the green from 20

Avoiding 60-80 yard shots, fair enough.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've always advocated treating every hole as a par 5. Make that all the way around and you shoot 90 (less 28 and hard to beat!). What you make up on the par 3 and short par 4's you can give back on the longer par 4's and the 5's. Basically as others have said it is all about understanding your strengths and weaknesses and having a game plan. Course management can help save numerous shots

 

[Oddsocks]

Getting from 28 to 18 is pretty easy if you change your mindset, it was the same mind set that got me from 21 to 15 in six months.

Play your strong shots as much as possible - if you hit a short ball, don't go for long carries over water/dykes , if taking on par 5 in 2 requires a big accurate 225 yard approach, this will no doubt bring hazards into play, play up to your happy distance.

Avoid your weak points as much as possible - if you can't hit a specific shot, practice it at the range and avoid it in competitive rounds

Take your punishment - if your in the cabbage, wedge it back into play, if your in the wood and you need to fizz one 170 yards 10ft high through a2ft gap, come out sidewards and get back in play

Try and have a go to club for tee shots when the driver isn't firing, hybrid/fairway or long iron. My go too is always a 3w, its nice to know on bad days you have a go to club.

Miracle shots from rough, woods, other fairways etc wreck potentially good cards, dropping one shot getting back into play is allot better that losing the ball