Nerves.

[Oddsocks]

So after the great big debate about summer h/caps and winter h/caps and the point made that if your handicap isnt official how can you protect it (Yawn bla bla bla)

I've joined my local club which offers 35 comps at a pay and play course for £60.00 a year plus your green fee's (BARGIN, and i can still tour the south east as i have been because im not committed to feel i need to get the most of my £1k membership for 7 days)....

But anyway, as they wont accept any of this years cards i need to put in 3 cards which is fine, but this is where it gets amusing!

Ive played this course from when i was 14 to now (30) around 5 to 10 times a year, but ive never played it off the whites. Now this has never bothered me at any of the courses i have had memberships for in the past, but now ive been shooting low 80's and a couple of late 70's (around this course) but my thing is now for some reason im bloody nervous about playing off the whites.... Why?

 

[Swinger]

I'm sure there is a good bit of difference between the whites and the reds. I'm sure the nerves will go after a round or two.

 

[Oddsocks]

I'm sure there is a good bit of difference between the whites and the reds. I'm sure the nerves will go after a round or two.

And the reds... cheeky sod.

to be fair most holes use the same tee base just further back, i can only think of about 6 holes that have a seperate tee base for whites, and its about 50 yards back on some holes.

 

[Swinger]

Haha, thought you'd like that.

It shouldn't take you long to adjust to the extra yardage. Once you feel comfortable doing that then your scores will only be around one or two shots higher on average.

 

[birdieman]

Don't understand why you're nervous about the course being longer. If you'd said you had to play with 100 people watching, that I would understand.
If you're shooting high 70's you probably won't notice any difference, playing a couple of longer irons in - so what?You'll enjoy the challenge of playing the course a bit longer I think.
You should find the SSS changes going back to the whites which will negate any extra length you're playing.

Most of us would prefer playing tougher courses, even if it costs us a couple of shots as you will have a better sense of achievement getting pars or birdies on harder golf holes.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

One tip I was given for getting used to playing off whites was to play a couple of rounds hitting shorter clubs from the yellow tees (obviously not on par 3s).
For example, if you would normally play a driver on a par 4, use your 3 wood and get an idea of what club you'll need for your 2nd shot.
Also you'll learn what dangers/hazards there are in your new landing area which you may never have really considered in the past as you just boom over them off whites.

 

[Oddsocks]

Birdie & swinger - This is the problem i dont actually know why im nervous...

Gil, i was thinking this about the longer tee shorter clubs thing, i think what is unsettling me is for around 2-3 years ive hit long drives then 9i/pw/gw to most greens with the 0dd 8i but its just all of a sudded jiggled my game.,

Was going to try and snatch a twilight there tomorrow, do you know if its against the rules to play from whites prior to a comp... im assuming it is.

 

[Robobum]

Nothing against the rules to play from white tees before a comp (no practice on the day of a strokeplay comp though)

It may be a club rule where the only tees for daily use are the yellows. Best bet is to ask the pro, if he says no, explain why you want to go off the whites and he may relent.

 

[Oddsocks]

i think techically it wouldnt matter anyway. for this weeks comp im excluded and only taking part for card purposes only as i havent an offical valid h/cap, so its not like im trophy hunting.

 

[RGDave]

but my thing is now for some reason im bloody nervous about playing off the whites.... Why?

1) Well done for opting for this plan. I was at a P&P for years £35 subs £10 a game. Without this, I'd never have got my **** in gear.

2) Forget the "white tee" business.....seriously; you are probably just anxious about knowing what you are capable of around this course and don't want to disappoint yourself.
t.b.h. without wishing to sound too negative, you probably won't get anywhere near your best playing for your 3 h'cap cards. No-one (or hardly anyone) ever does.
Bear in mind that should you throw in an 8/9/10?? it'll be cut down to a double. You almost certainly will find yourself a little further back on a few holes, but hey, just have to hit your normal shot with one more club.

Relax a bit, give yourself a break. Go and play and accept what happens.

and......

if you want my honest advice....don't go MAD practising and whatever in the hope of making a really tidy score (for your standard). I did this and it was the worst mistake of my golfing life. Treat it like a normal day. If you play to 18 when you know you can play to 10 then you'll start off a little high. Better than starting a little low. I played to 14 (and 15 twice) but because of a cheeky birdie at a hard hole and therefore playing the "back" 9 3 over gross, they put me off 11.5. I've never birdied that hole since.

 

[Junior]

Just relax, play enjoy and get your cards in and go in some comps. Once you have a couple of holes out of the way you will be fine.

If you get nervous now, just think what will you be like when your in a medal, 2 under your handicap with 3 holes to play

 

[Tommo21]

If you don’t get a little nervous then you’re not taking it serious enough, so it’s a good thing. The more comps you play the more you’ll be in control. What will be will be, just get out there, hold your head up and enjoy. The way I look at it, there’s lots of people who would like to be in the position of getting round the golf course never mind being nervous.