Playing through- Do you feel the pressure?

[tiggit10]

Having a great round today, off the back of two pars I then approached the 9th. We go waved through then it all went wrong. After a blocked 4 Iron I then hit a rescue club to the golfer playing us through. With him watching over me I semi-shanked a 9 Iron, then an unsuccessful 9 iron chip out the trees, a chip and two putts!

My point here is how much pressure I feel when people call me through, its a habit I need to kick, suppose I just feel rushed and don't really think hard about club selection (looking back at it, should've been a 7 iron chip out the trees, instead a 9 iron short!)

Does anyone else have this problem, surely can't be worse than shooting a 7 on a par 4?!

 

[Joff]

It's not uncommon! I've got over it recently.

 

[Stuey01]

Yes, feel your pain. However there is nothing sweeter than being called through, smashing your drive up the middle, hitting the green in reg and strolling off with a par or even birdie.

 

[Evesdad]

Yeah the pressure rises and we tense up, big fail coming! I suffer with this too until Tuesday. Finally got called through by the 4 ball infront on the 7th par 3 167 yds slightly down hill slight wind in face. The sweetest 7 iron I've ever hit soared straight as an arrow hit the green and rolled out about 6 feet leaving me an 8' putt for birdie. The putt lipped out but tapped in for par. Sweet. Thanks for holding us up for the last 6 holes!

 

[tiggit10]

"

Sweet. Thanks for holding us up for the last 6 holes!"

Haha that bit made me laugh!

It does my head in because on the previous hole (210yard par 3 into wind with flag at the back) I hit a rescue through the back of the green which they saw- so they obviously thought we'll let him through as he's chasing up our bums! (not intentional just hit my rescue really well) Then I go and make a sweet 7!!

Glad everyone else feels the same, apart from a few who seem to have had a divine intervention to stop them feeling like this!​

 

[JustOne]

Used to, now i just enjoy blasting one down the fairway and getting on with it. If you can't play in front of 4 people how will you ever be able to handle the pressure of holing that winning putt? ... and what happens when you have to tee off the 1st when there's more than just your buddy watching?

 

[SAPCOR1]

It still happens to me from time to time.

Last time was at the Carrick and my playing partner had been stuck behind a four ball for a number of holes and they finall let us through on the par 3 14th. Duffed my shot right into the brambles on the hill in front of the tee!

Oh how they sniggered

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I remember giving a load of shots in a ko.
I lost the first four holes.
There were three fourballs in front and like true gentleman they waved us through over the next four holes by which time the match was all square.
My opponent just fell to bits.

 

[Evesdad]

I did hit my worst drive of the day on the 8th though had to give the big "fore right" shout!

 

[DappaDonDave]

I tend to boom a nice straight drive when I'm playing through. Followed by a lot of duffed irons when I'm out of their sight lol

 

[virtuocity]

Yes, yes, yes. Until VERY recently.

I already had my excuses/jokes made up before hitting my ball wildly right and short.

Today was the first time I have ever played through and hit a decent shot. Funnily, I KNEW that I wasn't going to duff it.

Confidence, eh? Might be worth starting a new thread about it....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've had good experiences where I've boomed one to admiring glances and others where I've nearly taken the group out with a crap shot. I try and stick to my routine and trust myself.

 

[tiggit10]

What do we start the new thread about, how to increase confidence levels virtuocity?

 

[virtuocity]

What do we start the new thread about, how to increase confidence levels virtuocity?

Sorry, should have put a tongue-in-cheek smiley.

There was a very recent thread about confidence being the amateur player's biggest asset. Good, interesting thread. Have a read.

 

[Mr A]

Absolutely feel the pressure! However I think it's more down to being in a hurry than anything else, as I always struggle massively if running late/trying to get a move on.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I did when I first took up the game but that phase usually passes when you start playing competitive golf week in week out.

The most common problems are round being too tense, not going through a pre shot routine or trying to hard to be quick and long.

Best thing to do if you are struggling is to ignore them, play safe and focus on being relaxed. One thing you must ALWAYS do is go through all your routine.

 

[chrisd]

No problem at all. My 1st ever round was in a society and I was the guest of the Captain. Traditionally the Captain drives off first with all the society gathered round, my turn came and I didnt flush it but drove about 180 yards and never worried about looking the least experienced person there.

Sometimes there can be 15 or so people on our 1st tee on a Sunday morning - I either hit a stonker down the middle or clatter into the 1st tree - I've done it and they've all done it, its not a problem!

 

[SatchFan]

If I am let through by a group I always feel obliged to get a shift on seeing as they have been considerate enough to make way. Consequently, I tend to rush and end up hitting a mediocre one.

 

[Region3]

It used to bother me but not any more. It didn't bother me that they might think I was rubbish, but I didn't want anyone to regret letting me through by making them think I'd now hold them up.

A couple of years ago I was playing with a mate and caught a 4-ball of visitors up by our 11th. The 12th is only 310yds so reachable for some or with favourable conditions, but nobody waits on the tee as driving the green is such a rare thing and if you do get lucky the ball is only rolling so not going to hurt anyone.

I've made the green 3 times in the 4 years I've played there, and this was one of them.
The 13th is a short par 3 that goes back alongside the 12th so as I was walking to the green I made my way over and apologised to the group in front, but they were saying was how good a shot it was and no need to apologise.

We were on the 13th tee just as they were putting out so they waved us to play up and let us through. Pressure now because they think I'm good!
I struck the ball well, it landed about 6' past the flag, took one hop forward and spun back to about 4'.

I felt like a golfing god for a few minutes that day. Shame it didn't last!

 

[timchump]

The only time i really feel pressure is on the first tee as i have no real idea what swing i have with me that day

Once i know how i'm swinging it doesn't really bother me.

Sometimes i quite enjoy it if im playing well, an ego thing i think