Plodding on....... When really you want to walk off.

Oddsocks

Ryder Cup Winner
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Jun 20, 2010
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Croydon, Surrey
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Last night was my first game under my new membership and as luck would have it, due to my 3 card submission my first game was sorted with the handicap secretary. Ok fine not an issue, my only concern was playing from the whites on 4 or 5 of the holes as I was unsure on my second club choice. But anyway, I pull up at the course feeling pretty good, weather is great & work yesterday was pretty good and I’m up for a good game.

So enter the drill:

A few stretches to get the back working (all feels good)
A few practice swings (all feels good)
A few more stretches (all feels good)

First shot is into a 500 yard par 5 and my drive is pretty safe although nothing like I’ve been hitting. In a somewhat strange effort the ball rolls up about 270 and its safe in the middle although something didn’t feel quite right. So now I’m about 230 in slightly downhill at the end with a far green, I grab my 5 wood, good practice swing although a little quick, set myself up, feel comfy, swing and wow, a MASSIVE top it and its makes about 100 yards into the rough.

This was the start of my worst round in around 6 weeks with my last rounds all being between 10-13 over, coming down the 9th I am 2 balls down, got a snowman 8 on the card and a pretty sold mix of bogeys with 2 pars. Our 9th comes back towards out clubhouse and I was praying the guy would say “ I can see your not enjoying this do you want to leave it”, nope off we walk to the 10th. So I am thinking “in only 10 over, back nine isn’t that bad just keep it in play and I should be able to put a +15 card in with a 83.

*New Attitude time*

“Don’t think, just swing and enjoy it, just swing easy”, walk up to the ball, and at 155 yards with wind against on a tricky par 3, I put it to about 6 foot. (Great, new nine holes starts with new attitude) lip the put just and it’s a safe par and onto my nightmere hole, Si 1 par 4 dog leg. On the tee I’m reflecting on the recent thread “ that bad hole” and against all the advice, Driver out, booming drive, sweat 8 iron and I’m on the dance floor for 2, 2 putts and it’s a par.

So I’m now thinking tricky par 3 almost a birdie, Si1 par 4 that I hate and it’s a par, this back nine could be half decent.

At this point I’m convinced someone had spiked my drink as I proceeded to play the worst 7 holes of my life, with the only saving grace being a 25ft put for a birdie on a par 3. 2 lost balls in 7 holes, a 4 put and a general wish that the bunker on the 12th I went in (with my provisional from the tee) would have swallowed me up.

So there we have it, after a recent hot patch with a average of 11/12 over cards being handed in, I play my local course, which I have done for 15 years, and play like a donkey swinging a cricket bat.

Roll on Sunday ………
 
This is why I laugh (not at you personally, but your post just reminded me) at guys who don't ever play in comps, yet say they have a handicap of 12. Any one can knock it round 12 over, playing for a laugh, but to do it, card in hand, name in the book, off the back sticks is harder than it looks.

Welcome to real golf.
 
it wasnt the tee positions or the fact it was a card event (as i always complete a card for every round anyway) it was the sheer fact that by the 9th i had no confidence to hit a ball and would rather have been anywhere than on the course which is bad considering the weather last night.
 
to be honest it was just one of them days that from the first the first shot i generally felt uncomfy. To ad to it over the last 3 months ive been seing a chiropractor for my back. For the last 3 weeks its been fine, and today its totally locked so i know i was just swinging like a hacker....
 
Have to agree with Murph. Even if you religiously mark a card on every round and hole out everything there is no substitute for a medal or handicap card where every single shot has a consequence
 
Tell me about it. I manage to get out of work a little early to catch the earlier train, phone the good lady indoors to get her to pick me up from the station and get me home quicker (stops me having a 15 min walk up a steep hill to get home) quick change and I'm off to my home course (30 minute drive) So at 6.00pm I'm ready to do battle with my normal playing partner and his son.

After 6 holes I have 4 stapleford points (2x2 and 4 blobs) I have lost 5 balls and found 6. I then manage to score 8 points on the next 3 holes to go out with 12 points.

I then score a 5 (net 3) for 3 points, 3 putt from 20 feet for 2 points, and then lip out for an up and down for a 5 net 4 for 2 points.

The light is going so we walk to the 16th, I then score a 7 (1 point) another 7 for another 1 point after finding water with my second, and then finish off on the 18th with a solid par 4 for 3 points.

So for the first 6 holes I rake up 4 points and then go on to score 20 points on the next 9 holes. I hit 6 out of 11 fairways (55%) and hit 4 out of 15 GIR (27%) 1 missed by a yard. and thats why I play off a 25h/c, but I will get better I promise.

But did I want to walk off after 9, your joking. Another round booked up for tomorrow.
 
Remember Tommy cooper!! "Doctor every time i hold my arm up like this, it hurts? Doctor says well don't hold your arm up then!! Make any sense?
 
Remember Tommy cooper!! "Doctor every time i hold my arm up like this, it hurts? Doctor says well don't hold your arm up then!! Make any sense?

So what you saying,

" when i swing like a hacker my back hurts"

dont swing a hacker.....
 
After 6 holes I have 4 stapleford points (2x2 and 4 blobs) I have lost 5 balls and found 6. I then manage to score 8 points on the next 3 holes to go out with 12 points.

I then score a 5 (net 3) for 3 points, 3 putt from 20 feet for 2 points, and then lip out for an up and down for a 5 net 4 for 2 points. I then score a 7 (1 point) another 7 for another 1 point after finding water with my second, and then finish off on the 18th with a solid par 4 for 3 points.

So for the first 6 holes I rake up 4 points and then go on to score 20 points on the next 9 holes.

You would have loved my round at Nizels the other week. In my defence, I did have my "Woe is me" head on...

6 points on the front 9, 9 points on the back. 15 point total with 11 blobs.
:D :D :D
 
Well it went like this.

First hole, par 4 (dogleg left).
I hit a reasonable drive, but as my alignment is a little out at the moment (aiming way closed) I managed to push my drive down the 10th fairway. Ball was sitting quite nicely in the first cut, and I could see the flag (just about) over the top of some mounding. About 140 out, so I smacked a lovely 8 iron, pin high but just off the green right. Reasonable chip down the slope and a simple two putt for a 5 for 2.
OK so far?
 
i think it was just one of them days, need to find a clear head for sunday again

nope, it was to all intents and purposes a medal round - and life is a little different when they come around.

well technically our once a month society is also a medal and im always 36pts or there about off 16.

forgive me, I don't wish to be Mr Pedantic (who am I kidding!) but medal isn't points, that's Stableford, medal is number of shots taken, gross and net.
 
You would have loved my round at Nizels the other week. In my defence, I did have my "Woe is me" head on...

6 points on the front 9, 9 points on the back. 15 point total with 11 blobs.
:D :D :D

thanks rob, you know how to cheer a person up. even my efforts round Bishop's Stortford weren't that bad. two rounds scraping around 22-25 points and a rash from some weed in the rough off the 2nd.

 
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