On the verge of giving up again

[Piece]

What about trying something that doesn't require any swing lessons? Course management. For example, try and leave your favourite club distance into the green. Work out what holes you can be bold on and those you can't. Take your medicine and get back in play ASAP - don't risk the Seve shot....

Apologies if you're already doing this.

 

[Smiffy]

The point is I can't make a score the work I've put in deserves.

So there is your answer.....
Don't put in the work.
Then, if you "implode" or only score 24 points it won't bother you so much.

If you keep banging your head up against the wall, eventually it's going to hurt and you'll have to stop.

 

[FourPutt]

Besides, Homer, you owe me a round at Ascot!

 

[billyg]

Homer, my old mucker.

You need to re-assess WHY you play golf.

Reading your OP, I get the impression that you are doing everything you can to reduce your handicap rather than to make your game more enjoyable.

Whether or not I practice, I'm still rubbish. But the practice helps improve the rubbish a bit. The main thing for me is that I ENJOY my golf - being out for a nice walk in the fresh air and (usually) in pleasant company. OK I'm competitive and want to win but, if I don't, it doesn't matter. It's not the end of the world. Win or lose, handicap increasing or decreasing, I'm out there to enjoy myself and not beat myself up over bad shots.

Get out there and enjoy it mate. Life's too short and we only come this way once.

Check out my sig. The older you get, the truer it becomes.

Think I would pretty much second this verbatim.

Loosing a loved one to cancer in the blink of an eye made me take stock of a lot of things and not least golf.

Your motives and drives for playing are clearly your own but it might be worth taking stock and examining them. If, 'just having some fun' isn't fairly high on the list then it's becoming a very expensive form of self-flagellation.

With statements like this, 'I always enjoy the anticipation that this might be the day' I'm left wondering what that day might be and chilled by the thought that should you have such a day that it may then it may become a rod for your own back and fuel even further intensity and masochism.

Placing so much pressure on the game to deliver so much on so many levels can't be good for you in the long run can it old chap?

As much as it grates me to quote this charlatan, 'Golf is not a game of perfect'...and it really isn't.

If you want that kind of reward where output is proportional to input in a measured, quantifiable and systematic way then for the hours and money you're spending you could do worse than buy something like a Dax Cobra in kit form and spend the next five years tooling up and acquiring the know-how to make a classic.

Take it easy Home's

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Well now I know the golfing gods are a set of p**s taking bas***ds. Having decide to call it a day for the foreseeable, I went out as a marker for one of the guys playing his 2nd round in the weekend comp. There was a couple of groups from our usual Saturday swindle so assumed we'd have the normal £3 per head on it.

Of course I only go out and shoot the place apart. 75 (+5 gross - out in 37, 2 over and back in 38 - three over) and 43 points. Had I waited 24 hours and played today that score along with my first round of 31 would have seen me in second place as I left. I kept saying it was in there and so I guess it was a fitting way to hang up the clubs for a while withe the exception of the medal next Sunday I'd already committed to and the Volvo matchplays with Hawkeye (and of course Blackmoor).

Before anyone says it was because there was no pressure on, it was exactly the same as playing on a Saturday for the kitty and so why should today be any different to those rounds when I'm always trying to clean up. As it turns out they had decided that as it was a comp they weren't putting any money in having already paid to enter and so I couldn't even finish a few quid up.

 

[Leftie]

Just possibly, something someone said may have unknowingly got through to your subconscious mind.

Perhaps you went out knowing that you were going to give the game a rest for a while so there was no need to try to reduce your handicap.

Did you just go out to enjoy a game of golf? Have a bit of fun?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Went out trying to win the pot and so had exactly the same mindset I would have had on any Saturday swindle and so was trying on every shot and had the normal thoughts about making sure I don't muck this drive up or don't go there that infect every round I play. It happened that everything just fell into place and a very, very rare chip in for 4 points didn't go amiss. Nothing changed and definitely not a result of going out in a more relaxed frame of mind. I was trying to beat my partners too as we always have a bit of rivalry between us anyway. Just gutted if I'd waited 24 hours for less wind I'd be 2nd. Had looked at the forecast for heavy showers due for today and decided I might have struggled in the wet. Not sure weather to blame BBC weather/Metcheck for lying or the golfing gods for mocking me

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Nice one Homer, I told you it'd come good sooner or later

 

[Smiffy]

Nice one Homer, I told you it'd come good sooner or later

Wait 'til the medal next Sunday

 

[chrisd]

Homer .. I went through a period a while back where I kept telling myself that I was playing well and when I stood on the first tee in competition that I've got to play well and get my handicap down - this, of course, never happened as I got down after the first bad shot.I then was lucky to keep in the buffer, let alone get my handicap down

I then saw a golfer (can't remember who) being interviewed before the final round when he was leading, and when asked how he was going to approach the day he said that he was just going to enjoy it and see how it went, if it was good enough he would win.

I'd heard this said loads before by golfers, footballers etc and then the penny dropped - you can only play well when you are relaxed and enjoying the game, the good and bad shots will happen in every game but you can't "make it happen" - with the more carefree attitude a few weeks later I won one of the Gold Letter comps at our club

Go out and enjoy the round HJS the score will take care of itself


Chris

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Nice one Homer, I told you it'd come good sooner or later

Would be well up there if I'd played today. Just all clicked and never really in too much bother for a change. The putts dropped and I even managed a chip in!!! Gutted I guess that I played yesterday but the forecast was for the rain to arrive mid-morning and the wind to remain as strong as yesterday so thought it was the right call. Smiffy probably has it right though - Saturday's roll up will be the same old, same old and the medal will be another 0.1. That was probably IT for the year now and would have got me a 1.8? cut to 11.7

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Nice one Homer, I told you it'd come good sooner or later

Would be well up there if I'd played today. Just all clicked and never really in too much bother for a change. The putts dropped and I even managed a chip in!!! Gutted I guess that I played yesterday but the forecast was for the rain to arrive mid-morning and the wind to remain as strong as yesterday so thought it was the right call. Smiffy probably has it right though - Saturday's roll up will be the same old, same old and the medal will be another 0.1. That was probably IT for the year now and would have got me a 1.8? cut to 11.7

That's golfs other frustration mate, not only do you have to wait for a decent knock, you have to time it with a comp. You really now have to believe it is in there and not get too down on yourself when you get a bit of bad luck. You probably won't have another 75 this year but a couple of 80s are well within your capabilities you just have to believe it.

 

[coolhand]

Homer,

You seem like a decent bloke and always offer your support to others but (without wanting to cause offense) you need to look at your attitude to golf.

By your omission you've shot your best round in ages yet rather than focus on the positive your last 3 post have been more about the negative of it not being competition round.

I seem to remember you've read some physiologycology books - imagine they must cover this area maybe you should read them again. Or just take the common sense approach of (in the words of Monty Python) always looking on the bright side of life.

If you can't, as others have said, you should quit or you'll always be a miserable golfer.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Saturday's roll up will be the same old, same old and the medal will be another 0.1. That was probably IT for the year now and would have got me a 1.8? cut to 11.7

Turn that frown upside down mate or you'll be beaten before you've tee'd off on the first.

 

[funkyfred]

I haven't shot a competitive round in the buffer zone,let alone to handicap, since last year. 20 stableford points yesterday was my nadir. Every time i play my shoulder kills me the next day, but for some reason i can't wait to play again.

Years ago i didn't get this feeling and i gave up. If the enjoyment doesn't out weigh the pain and frustration there is only one option.

richart

This is probably to far down the list to be read for Homer's problems, but your 20 points make my last 3 competition scores of 21 points look freighteningly good.

However in those 3 rounds i have played with some really nice people (and an idiot)and have thoroughly enjoyed myself. Of course I wished I had played better, and know I can but my poor form will not stop me from going out and enjoying myself, which surely is why we play this game for in the first place.

Whoops, forgot to say, hit 3 balls (2 in woods, other OOB) on our 12th but still managed 29 points with some friends on Sunday. Looks like I'm coming in to some form for the 27th June at your gaff.

(h/c 24.4) +

 

[richart]

I haven't shot a competitive round in the buffer zone,let alone to handicap, since last year. 20 stableford points yesterday was my nadir. Every time i play my shoulder kills me the next day, but for some reason i can't wait to play again.

Years ago i didn't get this feeling and i gave up. If the enjoyment doesn't out weigh the pain and frustration there is only one option.

richart

This is probably to far down the list to be read for Homer's problems, but your 20 points make my last 3 competition scores of 21 points look freighteningly good.

However in those 3 rounds i have played with some really nice people (and an idiot)and have thoroughly enjoyed myself. Of course I wished I had played better, and know I can but my poor form will not stop me from going out and enjoying myself, which surely is why we play this game for in the first place.

Whoops, forgot to say, hit 3 balls (2 in woods, other OOB) on our 12th but still managed 29 points with some friends on Sunday. Looks like I'm coming in to some form for the 27th June at your gaff.

(h/c 24.4) +

If i had 4 putt the last green i would have had 21 points. I did manage to recruit one of my playing partners to come and watch Reading next season. Odd thing was that he didn't seem in a hurry to play golf with me again.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Seen the results and my round would have won it with ease if I'd played yesterday. Never mind. I saw where Hawkeye came and the effect having a double bogey on the last (from 90 yards in two on a par 5) had on his position and where he would have finished. I've sent the news by PM and pretty sure I can hear the nashing of teeth from here. Almost as disappointing as being a Reading fan

I am pleased with the round. My lowest ever round at Ascot so a good personal best and yes what I lose on the one hand I gain on the other in terms of renewed confidence albeit for the last medal round for the foreseeable and one of the last rounds at all (pending a triumphant run in the Volvo) until further notice

 

[Smiffy]

I am pleased with the round albeit for the last medal round for the foreseeable and one of the last rounds at all (pending a triumphant run in the Volvo) until further notice

I've put my thoughts out to the great and the good on the Golf Monthly Forum (http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/) and the general opinion is I'm trying too hard and thinking too much.
Some have said have a break. No chance.
Some say don't play competitions for a while. Again not really a starter if I want to get back the shots I've added to my handicap to date.

 

[richart]

I am pleased with the round albeit for the last medal round for the foreseeable and one of the last rounds at all (pending a triumphant run in the Volvo) until further notice

I've put my thoughts out to the great and the good on the Golf Monthly Forum (http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/) and the general opinion is I'm trying too hard and thinking too much.
Some have said have a break. No chance.
Some say don't play competitions for a while. Again not really a starter if I want to get back the shots I've added to my handicap to date.

I'm confused as well, which doesn't take much. Are you giving Homer ? 'One of the last rounds' sounds like you are, but your blog says 'no chance' ???

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Definitely sods law. Since deciding to jack it in I've shot a PB and another 40 points today (including a no score on a par 3) and didn't actually hit it well. I'm certain it'll all come crashing down to earth in the medal tomorrow. What do I do though. Play out this purple patch as normal and then reassess or stick with the plan to honour my committments (medal tomorrow, Blackmoor, Volvo and St Pierre) and then walk away as I'm not getting any reward for the time and efforts put in and my handicap has gone from 11.2 to 13.0