Single figure golf - too much pressure?

[GeorgeL71]

iv been playing off 7-6 for a while now and although i agree that there is added pressure to not "mess up" a good round, i have found that the best way to deal with the added pressure is to believe in your own ability. you have a handicap for a reason.
of all else fails, remember what made you fall in love with the game in the first place and just enjoy. most of the time the more aggitated you get the worse you play, so step back, calm down and play the game.

 

[NWJocko]

Never thought of it as a negative really, enjoy the challenge of it.

Even with a poor start I know I can go on a run of holes with pars and birdies. I've birdied every hole on my course over the past year (only realised this the other day, sure many are in the same boat) so I know I can play well on each hole.

Don't put pressure on any area of my golf really, can only play once a week with a young family so I'm out there to enjoy it whether I'm playing well or badly.

 

[MadAdey]

After having a 3 year lay off then coming back and getting a 10 handicap I am loving it. I can go out and play in the Tuesday/Thursday crowd and not loose my money to the bandits, play in the medal knowing that I am not going to have any disasters. No doubt though once the shoulder is fixed I will be trying to get my handicap back down and start getting frustrated with missing those birdie putts that I will need to make.

I think though sometimes people play off artificial handicaps that have been got at courses that you do not get too punished when you hit a bad shot. At my place you have got what you deserve handicap wise. Any course that has out of bounds close to the fairway on 9 holes and plenty of trees the other side of the fairway if you try and be too cautious will give you a true handicap. I would not say it is the toughest course I have ever played as keeping it on the fairway you do not find many problems hitting the greens, but go off them and you are screwed.

 

[Tommo21]

Never felt any pressure at any time. Play real good, play just fair or play total tosh.

 

[Golfmmad]

I'm getting there James, next season I'll be there. :ears:

Judging from the replies it shows how well you guys handle pressure, and obviously one of the reasons you got to single figures. And as Auburn Warrior said, the pressure is there at any handicap, just not so much for higher handicaps I suppose.

So come on all you higher handicappers, you must have an opinion.

 

[Hobbit]

I think the pressure can be dictated by the course you play.If I get myself back to 5 again my course can wreck your round in the 1st 6 holes. Very tough opener which even the best of golfers can make a double bogey on. Reasonable par 4 2nd, birdie chance on the short par 5 3rd. 4th is stroke index 1 and can easily get a double bogey the 5th is a relatively easy par and the 6th is a monster 200 yard par 3 that if you miss the green can cost you another shot. That hole can be easily 3 putted from 10 foot with some pin positions. So a single figure player can easily wreck a card in the first 6 holes very easily and I know of 1 & 2 handicappers who lost their handicap and more. They have come close to walking off at the 7th.

But the course get's easier after the 6th, with birdie chances too. Don't forget, if you get low enough you've got to hit some rank bad shots to run up 6 double bogies. Difficult holes can wreck cards but easy holes can swing the score the other way. Besides, difficult holes are the challenge you want to face, not 6 260yd par 4's - that's mickey mouse golf.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Our opening hole also happens to be the hardest albeit its index 3, so for our low h/c's it's a tricky start, easy to blow your allowance very quickly. Personally I like a challenge and probably like lots of other golfers I always play better when playing against lower handicappers than myself, a little pressure can be a good thing and after all its only a game for us all.

 

[richart]

Playing off 9 is no more pressure to me than playing off 10 or 11. Low single figures is probably another matter. When I played off 6 as a junior I did feel I needed to start well, and the first four holes at Reading were all at least 400 yards, and in the days of persimmon drivers that was not short.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

and in the days of persimmon drivers

Blimey!! Smiffy was right - you are REALLY old....

 

[inthecup]

For me, when you get to single figures it’s enjoyable. Yes you’re gonna drop shots, miss the odd silly putt, loose the odd ball but you always know that you have the ability to bounce back. I once played a medal and started double double only to play the rest of the course level par for a 0.1 cut and on another occasion was 7 over through 13 and ready to snap all my clubs but managed to birdie 3 out the last 5.

This is what makes it enjoyable, you can be heading for a weekend wrecking card only to turn it around for a weekend making card! And also there’s no better feeling than going round the course without dropping a shot.

That’s my tuppence worth.

 

[richart]

Blimey!! Smiffy was right - you are REALLY old....

Bloody cheek. When I started playing again four years ago, I still had my persimmon driver. Did get a few funny looks, and sniggers from so called mates.

 

[rosecott]

Our opening hole also happens to be the hardest albeit its index 3

CONGU quote:

None of the first 8 strokes should be allocated to the first or last hole (i.e. SI 1 to 8).

 

[jasondransfieldgolf]

CONGU quote:

None of the first 8 strokes should be allocated to the first or last hole (i.e. SI 1 to 8).

I know of one course that has its first hole as Stroke 1 and another with Stroke 5.

Anyway back to topic. I would say people would find it stressful or feel the pressure if they dropped 4/5 shots instantly. An 18 h'cap dropping to 14 or 9 dropping to 5 or a 4 dropping to a scratch. It is all about comfort zones. Each drop isn't scary just needs time to get your head round it. Everyone has the capability to drop a few shots.

 

[stevek1969]

Was single figures for a month, had a 2 year plan to get there by the time i was 40 got there the day after my birthday now of 12, thats a serious amount of 0.1's in the past 2 years. I think i can play to single figures but concentration is the big part for me,as said before tend to get a head of myself at times if i start well.

 

[sawtooth]

My handicap has fallen steadily over the past 12mths and I find the prospect of reaching that magical single digit very rewarding. I've tried very hard to simplify my swing hoping that it holds up to being under pressure and its starting to pay off a little. Just another good round away now so fingers crossed.

 

[CMAC]

Pressure no, disappointment and frustration yes.

When you start 5 over after 3 you know there's a real challenge ahead.

When I start that way I always remember Faldo starting the Open one year with double double but shot 3 under for that round!

Always try your best on each hole, if your out the comp then try the shots you wouldn't dare to if you were in contention.

 

[Tiger]

For me there are two types of golf: competition and social. I think everyone feels the pressure in competition but reckon lower handicaps are actually better at dealing with it than higher ones. To get a low handicap you will have played in numerous competitions and have plenty of experience to draw on in terms of recovering from bad holes and closing out a good round.

The problem lies with enjoyment. To maintain a low handicap is hard work. There are those that embrace it and get better, those that stay the same and those that decline for a whole host of reasons. Some very wise soul has already pointed at enjoyment, or lack of it, as the reason many people quit.

Dealing with pressure is a red herring as it's a core component in achieving a single figure handicap in the first place.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

So come on all you higher handicappers, you must have an opinion.

It's a pressure I would dearly love to feel.

Nothing else to say about it really.

 

[Scazza]

Great discussion point here golfmmad!

I only became a single figure handicapper last year (2011), when I came down from 10 to 8 (almost 7 as my exact is 7.6).

There is pressure on every golfer playing, as their handicap represents their ability (thats how it's supposed to be, there are many El Banito's around) so I don't feel anymore pressure off 8 than I did 10. This is because my game has improved so much that I know I can play to my handicap.

I do like the points made by some here about the pressure of keeping it together and that one bad hole can really pile on the pressure. At my home course, our 1st hole is a good chance of birdie, which helps, however, our 2nd is a card wrecker! Dog leg left, with out of bounds down the left and thick rough down the right. The dog leg is about 220 yards down the fairway.

I find myself to an 'odd' golfer, playing off 8 yet people tell me I should be off lower. I can have rounds where I will have 6 or 7 birdies, but there will be that one hole where I had a 7 and a couple of bogeys. This summer in one round I had 4 birdies in the 1st 6 holes, yet I was Level Par. Our back 9 is supposidly tougher than the front 9, yet I'll go out in +6/8 and come back level par.

I'm loving playing off single figures and I hope 2012 can be even better than 2011. Im comfortable playing off my handicap , I was one of only 3 people in our club to play under our handicaps in the Club Championship (Shot a -4 Net in the 1st round and a +3 Net in the second round). Roll on 2012.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

My handicap has fallen steadily over the past 12mths and I find the prospect of reaching that magical single digit very rewarding. I've tried very hard to simplify my swing hoping that it holds up to being under pressure and its starting to pay off a little. Just another good round away now so fingers crossed.

With you 100% Sawtooth, fingers crossed for both of us.