Playing for handicap.....

[RGuk]

Hello all,
I am in 3 minds about how to approach playing the 3 rounds for my handicap.
Part of me wants to practice every day in between comp's and try to relive the glory days. Another thought is just to go and play (as normal). Another is not to play right now at all, get to know my (new) home course, take some lessons, go to the range like HomerJ and wait for the spring.

When I first started I tried so hard and managed a not too great 24. I had ideas of making some pars and not blowing up on the tough holes. It didn't work....but then, I was pretty poor!!!

Now, as this might be my only fresh start ever again, I don't want to start too low, but also feel I'd like to play well. I don't want to set up a bandit standard either by not trying at all.....

any thoughts???

Dave

 

[birdieman]

Dave,
Play it now and get a handicap, rough is on the wane and greens have slowed a little making scoring easier. Remember they'll discount anything over a double bogey and then lean towards your best score of the 3 so you'll be fine, stop worrying about it!

 

[julsk10]

Must agree with birdieman, try and get as low a handiacap as possible provided it is playable to.
Do you think there is more fun in winning competitions of a higher handicap than making the buffer zone of a lower handicap. I know what I prefer. I started golf about four years ago when my knees and ankles decided my football career was over and was given a handicap of 24.5- which initially I couldn't play too. I had joined at the end of the season so had the whole winter to practice. The next year I won a couple of club competitions one with 49 points- yes bandit was phrased quite a lot but had handicap cut to 16. The next year after a few lessons won two more competitions and had h cap cut to 12. Last year won one and cut to 9.6. Which brings me back to original question. I get far more enjoyment in battling around course to get into buffer zone than telling people my handicap is 25 but I won last week. My main aim this year was to get to single figures, had creot up to 10.4 but back down to 10.0 but just can't keep a whole round together, can turn 1 or 2 over then blow up on back nine all the time.
ps lessons were with Kevan Whitson from Royal County Down- one of GM top 25 coaches. If you are local would strongly recommend- changed a slice from hell to straight in three lessons for me.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As regular readers know I've been working hard at my game this year and have come down from 20 to 15 with the help of several wins and top three figures. I know I am a lower handicap player than my current figure indicates (I was off 6 in my younger days so know I am capable of better) and I have never knowing thrown a round to protect my handicap. Whatever score I shoot I shoot.

Having said that I have hit a bit of a wall through starting a new job and not playing as much and a few swing problems so it looks like my target of finishing the season of 12 or better is going to be missed.

I think you just need to go out and play the course on its merits each time. The sooner you get a handicap the sooner you have something to measure your performance against and are able to set more realistic and focussed goals for improving.

Just my two pence worth!

Happy golfing

Homer

 

[John_Findlay]

Dave,

Just remember how you played your best rounds...and go and do it again! No shame in playing to an unfairly high handicap at first...it'll sort itself out in quicktime.

 

[RGuk]

Dave,
Remember they'll discount anything over a double bogey

That'll be useful! if I make any "worse than double", I'll be handing back my membership tag!!!!
and throwing my clubs in the lake.....

Dave

 

[RGuk]

Dave,
No shame in playing to an unfairly high handicap at first...it'll sort itself out in quicktime.

No, of course not....but if they chuck me off 18 or something it's going to be suspicious if by next season I'm breezing single figures.......

If I practice I'm never gonna make all bogeys.....If I just turn up this could well happen.

Dave