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FairwayDodger

FairwayDodger

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I'm paraphrasing, but Jack Nicklaus said something about golf being a simple game but when you start to go beyond your ability is when you run into trouble and get beat...

I take that to heart and (in competition) try and avoid playing shots that I am unlikely to pull off. Unfortunately the sensible voice doesn't always drown out the gung-ho one!

After a wayward drive yesterday I was blocked out from the green. I tried to play a low, running hook to find the putting surface but hit it dead straight and ended up shortsided behind a bunker on a tight (read "solid mud") lie. Which resulted in a double bogey. Only in hindsight did it occur to me that I had a simple shot to the front apron from where an easy pitch and run would have given the chance to save par and certainly no worse than bogey...

Hopefully a lesson learned!!
 
Where's the fun in that?

Don't get so caught up in scoring well that you forget what really matters.... Playing that one great rescue shot is what we all remember..... ;)
 
I had a situation last week where my tee shot ended in some trees. There was a chance of squeezing an approach through the trees and making the green but it needed to be accurate and well struck. So i took my medicine, chipped out, played a nice 9 iron approach and walked off with a bogie 5.

The sensible approach may not be spectacular but it usually helps the scorecard!
 
bluewolf said:
Where's the fun in that?

Don't get so caught up in scoring well that you forget what really matters.... Playing that one great rescue shot is what we all remember..... ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah I'll give the glory shot a go every now and then - great excitement and joy when it comes off

Got to try things
 
Liverpoolphil said:
Yeah I'll give the glory shot a go every now and then - great excitement and joy when it comes off

Got to try things
Click to expand...

There's a time and a place, though, and the fourth hole of a scratch comp when you are already 2 over par wasn't it!

And there's a difference between attempting a high risk shot that you might have the ability to pull off and trying to manufacture some sort of wonder shot you've never practised in your life!.... :o
 
Liverpoolphil said:
Yeah I'll give the glory shot a go every now and then - great excitement and joy when it comes off

Got to try things
Click to expand...

I fall into this camp, I play the game for fun and part of the fun for me is having a go. Our 13th Hole is a prime example. There is a stream in front of the green and I can be left with a long carry to reach in 2. Many people lay up and take the almost guaranteed bogie (or at least they do if they have a shot) but I cannot resist going for it. The enjoyment I get when I do it more than makes up for the balls lost or the 6s that have gone on my card.
 
My personal favourites are the Par 5's when you've smashed a drive down the middle leaving <250 yards to the green... Mmmmmm, do I go for it, or do I lay up and take the likely par? Sod that, I'm pulling the 1 Hybrid and I'm smashing it....

That feeling when the ball rolls on to the green, up to the pin.. Your PP's want to be you, women want to be with you, you can picture everyone in the bar hanging rapt at your tales of derring do..... Nothing better in the World... Except maybe World Peace or other boring guff...
 
FairwayDodger said:
There's a time and a place, though, and the fourth hole of a scratch comp when you are already 2 over par wasn't it!

And there's a difference between attempting a high risk shot that you might have the ability to pull off and trying to manufacture some sort of wonder shot you've never practised in your life!.... :o
Click to expand...

Would still give it a go and then if it doesn't come off look to get the shots back somewhere else - if there is a gap or a slight chance I can pull it off then I give it a crack. And enjoy the aftermath - what's the worst that can happen ?
 
bluewolf said:
That feeling when the ball rolls on to the green, up to the pin.. Your PP's want to be you, women want to be with you, you can picture everyone in the bar hanging rapt at your tales of derring do..... Nothing better in the World... Except maybe World Peace or other boring guff...
Click to expand...

Perhaps my favourite post of the year.

My son, 15, plays no fear golf and his long game means he is achieving the shots you describe. Great to watch. My long game is pants so I take the Jack Nicklaus approach, although I take many more shots than Mr Nicklaus.
 
Had a day where driver should have stayed in the bag...awful day.

Then 11th hole, big dog leg right with 2 options:
1) Play the safe just past the trees then go down the fairway
2)Smash it over the trees & a little iron to the green....

Think to myself, "Having a bad day so an extra stroke won't hurt if I ruin it......" Out comes the driver, lose sight of the ball as it clears the trees heading for the green.

Now & then you got to "go big or go home"....
 
Liverpoolphil said:
So nothing worth worrying over :thup:

But what's the best that could happen ?
Click to expand...

Well..... an eagle 2!!! :whoo:

But no, the point is don't attempt shots you have no reason to think you can pull off.

That's not the same as going for it on a long carry when you know you are capable, provided you get a good strike. More akin to trying to carry it 250 yards over water with a three wood you know you've never hit that distance in your life.
 
I'm not saying don't take on the risky shots (that's an entirely different discussion), just not the ones you've seen Seve or Rory or Tiger play but have never shown any hint that you're capable of replicating!
 
FairwayDodger said:
I'm not saying don't take on the risky shots (that's an entirely different discussion), just not the ones you've seen Seve or Rory or Tiger play but have never shown any hint that you're capable of replicating!
Click to expand...

Why not take them on though ? Again it's just a game and enjoyment

If it comes off brilliant - if it doesn't there is nothing that bad that can happen

Imagine the thrill of that one in a million shot coming off !

Only thing that would stop me trying something is if there is a possibility of injuring myself
 
My problem is when I attempt the safe shots I should easily pull off and still end up nobbing it. "Hmm in the trees, I'll just chip out and take my medicine.... oh caught that a bit sweet... oh it's in the bunker. FOR THE LOVE OF G...."
 
woody69 said:
My problem is when I attempt the safe shots I should easily pull off and still end up nobbing it. "Hmm in the trees, I'll just chip out and take my medicine.... oh caught that a bit sweet... oh it's in the bunker. FOR THE LOVE OF G...."
Click to expand...

I once chipped into a pond when I was attempting to play it safe... Lesson firmly learned there.. :D
 
Liverpoolphil said:
Why not take them on though ? Again it's just a game and enjoyment

If it comes off brilliant - if it doesn't there is nothing that bad that can happen
Click to expand...

In a bounce game, sure, how else do you improve? In a competition, you do realise the objective is to play each hole in the least number of shots?

I finished seven over par in a 36 hole scratch comp, and I dropped two shots at that hole because I got out of position off the tee and tried a miracle second shot. With a different mindset there's a fair chance I'd have made a par and I certainly wouldn't have dropped more than one shot. The shot I played was just plain stupid under the circumstances.
 
FairwayDodger said:
In a bounce game, sure, how else do you improve? In a competition, you do realise the objective is to play each hole in the least number of shots?

I finished seven over par in a 36 hole scratch comp, and I dropped two shots at that hole because I got out of position off the tee and tried a miracle second shot. With a different mindset there's a fair chance I'd have made a par and I certainly wouldn't have dropped more than one shot. The shot I played was just plain stupid under the circumstances.
Click to expand...

I know what the objective is but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself whilst trying to do it

Trying to miracle shot is also trying to play the hole in the less amount of shots possible
 
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