Poor starts

[Hobbit]

This is becoming a bit of a nasty habit. I've always just gone from the clubhouse straight to the first tee, plonked a ball down and knocked it pretty much where I wanted it. I am a lazy golfer and always have been but if I want a half decent season I'm going to have to accept that I need to loosen up and warm up properly.

1st hole, par 3 @ 165yds. There's tee and a green surrounded by 4 bunkers. Missing short isn't too bad. Miss right will see you in a bunker or a bit further right will see you on the 18th fairway and 10ft below the green. Miss left will see you 4ft below the green, or further left will see you OOB.

My gentle draw (read vicious duck hook) finds number 24's BBQ for the 3rd week running. The 2nd ball finishes 15ft away from the hole and I knock the putt in for a bogey 4 - a bit of a save.

2nd hole is a 500yd par 5, and I totally nail the drive and leave 235yds to the green. Choices, lay up with a mid iron or go for it with a 3 wood... the gentle draw with the 3 wood finishes hard left in elephant grass, just like last week, and a lost ball 7.

The 3rd hole, a 416yd par 4, sees another cracking drive and leaves a gentle feathered 6 iron with a hint of fade to land softly... cue missing the green short sided right and chipping onto a down slope. Another dropped shot, 4 over after 3 and only one shot left.

For the next 15 holes I play some decent golf, just like last week and the week before, but the damage is done. Missed buffer by 1 and a return to 6 h'cap(5.5).

Must warm up!!

 

[Imurg]

Essentially this is killing my game too..
I'm often 4 or 5 over after 6 holes and that puts pressure on the rest of the round.
Unfortunately, our warm-up facilities are poor.....

 

[Ian_S]

Jeez, if you guys struggle without warming up, what chance do I have? I always find the first putt a nervy one - especially if it's longish. It's so easy to 3-putt the first.

 

[harpo_72]

Actually I normally warm up 20 balls a few loosening exercises and then just have a few bad holes. The other week I was late, swung my wedges stretched a bit and then fired the driver off down the right side of the fairway, then dumping a 9 iron to 6ft and it just carried on from there. No tiredness at the end either.
So I suppose a swing or two with the wedges and then a full blooded drive is the way forward for me.
The other thing is why not take the mid iron and get to your favourite scoring club range on that par 5 ? A definite par is better than a foolish eagle attempt.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I know I used to swing too hard on the first few holes trying to make a good start.

Sometimes its better to place a few shots and get those bogeys or pars. When you know how you are playing you can pick holes to attack on later.

Its not great at my course as the first is a short par 5, I find not even attempting it in 2 is a good idea, I usually lay up and take my 2 points, the 3s will come later if I am playing well.

 

[drs1878]

I seem to always start bad no matter warm up or not.....

Yesterday went safe off two tees (after reading other threads) and ended up trebling both.. One being the 1st.... So I finished net 74 (csi 68 yesterday) so 1 shot above buffer so another +1... I feel so close to a good score but hen I loose it for a few, doubled 14, 15 & 17 with a treble on the 16th on way in, out of nowhere !!!

On a plus note played much better this mornin and won our doubles match on the 20th........ Chipped to within 12" from 50yards for par after my partner had stuck it 12 ft away for birdie....... Only time we were up in the whole match

 

[moogie]

Bri (hobbit)...........I thought u always warmed up....??.....with a hearty pint of Guinness

 

[granters]

This is becoming a bit of a nasty habit. I've always just gone from the clubhouse straight to the first tee, plonked a ball down and knocked it pretty much where I wanted it. I am a lazy golfer and always have been but if I want a half decent season I'm going to have to accept that I need to loosen up and warm up properly.

1st hole, par 3 @ 165yds. There's tee and a green surrounded by 4 bunkers. Missing short isn't too bad. Miss right will see you in a bunker or a bit further right will see you on the 18th fairway and 10ft below the green. Miss left will see you 4ft below the green, or further left will see you OOB.

My gentle draw (read vicious duck hook) finds number 24's BBQ for the 3rd week running. The 2nd ball finishes 15ft away from the hole and I knock the putt in for a bogey 4 - a bit of a save.

2nd hole is a 500yd par 5, and I totally nail the drive and leave 235yds to the green. Choices, lay up with a mid iron or go for it with a 3 wood... the gentle draw with the 3 wood finishes hard left in elephant grass, just like last week, and a lost ball 7.

The 3rd hole, a 416yd par 4, sees another cracking drive and leaves a gentle feathered 6 iron with a hint of fade to land softly... cue missing the green short sided right and chipping onto a down slope. Another dropped shot, 4 over after 3 and only one shot left.

For the next 15 holes I play some decent golf, just like last week and the week before, but the damage is done. Missed buffer by 1 and a return to 6 h'cap(5.5).

Must warm up!!

Same here! Started with 4 bogeys, then held it together well in the wind til 13 where I managed a 7, as I did at 17. Only missed 2 fairways, those 2.up to 5.5 myself, but in truth its the kick up the rear I needed. Don't put enough effort in,and will start this week