Playing with no chance of winning

[Imurg]

Its one of our major stableford competitions on saturday - a memorial for a young member killed in a car crash a few years ago.
I always play it because I knew Kevin well but I always have a problem getting psyched up for a competition I know damn well i've got no chance of winning.

Our stablefords are almost always won with 46+ points by a 20-28 handicapper having a good day. If I shoot gross par I might have a chance!!

Still, another good score like recently and I could get a hefty cut so that's good. But if the weather's bad its going to feel like a long round.

Anyone else have a similar problem?

 

[Macster]

To be honest, Ive never played in a Stableford or Medal with any 'intention' of trying to win it, more motivated by getting my Handicap down.

Sure, if you win, all the better, but play under your H/C and youve beaten the course anyway, so you've 'won'.

With your outlook murg, you're beaten before you start :-/

 

[HTL]

That's the spirit positive thinking! Im the worst for this mate, after a few bad shots beating yourself up, it does no good and just makes you fall apart.

Your playing to remember a mate, just go out and have some fun.

 

[CarpeDiem]

Yep, we had a stableford last week, and one of the 'regular' juniors shot 4 over par gross playing off 10 (42pts), however a junior who rarely plays with us turned up and had 48 pts of a 36 handicap. Fair?

I'm not having a go at those of a high handicap, just that at junior level at our club we haven't got division winners because there isn't enough of us, so only one out right winner.

 

[bobmac]

Imurg, dont get me started

 

[Marko77]

I have that scenario most weeks however apart from chucking money away in the sweep I more see my golf as me v's the course/css and if its good enough to score any £ then all the better. As long as I beat buffer I've won in my eyes.

 

[RGDave]

Hmmm...

I "know" that there is probably a 0.01% chance of me winning anything at my club. Stablefords come in on 44+ points and medals at -8. I'd have to play to 4 over (gross).

I don't play to win, I play for myself. However, it does p*** me *** that I pay an EXTRA £156 PER YEAR for the privilege of entering comps. At my last club, the pot was small and only came from players "in with a chance", nobody cared about only winning a glove, that's not why we enter...is it? However, at mine, folks win all sorts of stuff. Opting out is frowned upon, so I opt in.....and pay the price.

 

[CarpeDiem]

Opting out is frowned upon, so I opt in.....and pay the price

The joys of peer pressure RGDave

 

[RGDave]

The joys of being a junior carpe diem. You get to have lots of goodies at the expense of those of us that afford it!

 

[USER1999]

RGDave, how come your post count has dropped to 3?

 

[CarpeDiem]

You get to have lots of goodies at the expense of those of us that afford it!

I managed to clean my dad and a few of his friends out for £70 the other week, sounds alot but its less than two driving lessons .

 

[Herbie]

I understand imurgs point, I only play stableford for fun, if I'm in the mood and if I play good golf I'm happy, but I never expect to win, even with my last round score I doubt it would have won anything with about 41 points (but that wasnt comp scoring)as I have been in too many stablefords where 41 would'nt touch the placings. I can often play to h/c in comps but to come in with gross 72/3 is a big ask and thats the kind of result or better that I would need to be in with a chance of anything in stableford.
My bug with stableford has never been the odd high h/c player having a great day, its when you see about 10 players comming in with a close challenge followed by another half dozen players with outrageous scores.

 

[rgs]

Suggest you go and enjoy the game and remember your buddy.

Not trying too hard may be the best way to post a good score.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

All our medal and stablefords are divisionalised (I think 0-12, 13-20 and 21+ for medal and 0-14 and 15-28 for stableford). The kitty then gets divided into each division for 1st 2nd and 3rd. During the summer a medal win is still normally good for around £40.

At least doing it this way there is no problem with a 48 point stopping the lower handicappers from competitng. If the event is a qualifier (EGU Medal etc) for something else then obviously the overall winner goes through although they do tend to toughen the course a bit for these and so it is normally a mid to low handicapper winning

 

[brendy]

Ian, If its competition you want then concentrate on best gross (thats if your club run the same way as ours), you are not far from single figures and a good round of 42 points will see you round in +3, good enough for the odd gross, you never know. Handicap as mentioned above also motivates.

 

[Macster]

We have Div1/2 & 3 too, which does mean we arent always wiped up by 45+point scorers !!

Ok, sometimes an 11 H/C will come in with 42pts, but we can all have good days.

 

[Imurg]

We are normally divisionalised but this particular one is all-comers. I'm not going in with a particularly negative frame of mind, and I'll probably post a reasonable score as I'm playing well. Its just the realisation that winning is not a realistic option that detracts a little from the day.

I'll nod my head to Kev's chestnut tree as I go to the 1st as I always do and..............

Then I'll shoot -3 gross and stuff them all!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bobmac]

Ian, If its competition you want then concentrate on best gross

I played in a monthly medal at Weston Super Mare in about 95/96. Shot 16 pars and 2 birdies. 8th net, best gross.
Only 6 net prizes and no best gross prize
Never played another medal there.
Is golf the only game that gets harder to win the better you get?

 

[Earl]

I have found in the short time i have been playing competiton golf that players who are improving (handicaps going down generally new to the game) usually win the competitions in their division. If you have been playing for years and your handicap is stable or on the up you have less chance. But when it comes to the major comps at our club usually 2 rounds or the Order of Merit's the best players and yes they are the lower handicappers win. Now you don't hear the high handicappers complain they pay their money and do their best.

 

[Robobum]

Playing with a card in your hand is the only way to see if you can play. Shooting 6,7 or 8 under your h'cap in your friendly 4ball means diddly squat, although raping them for some cash is always nice!!

There is always a gross prize at our club and divisional prizes. It can work both ways aswell, I've shot 2 over my h'cap and still picked up the gross prize when the wind has blown!!