Single figure golf - too much pressure?

[Robobum]

The thing is, all single number guys (and a fair few higher guys) will probably have birdied every single hole at their home course so recovering or making a score can happen at any part of the round. Using your h'cap allowance by the 3rd tee, whilst annoying, is perfectly recoverable.
Whilst I play the game for fun, being competitive is a big thing for me and have never played with mates or others in a truly "friendly" knock. There always has to be something on it or I find it very hard to be too interested. Standing over a 3 footer to half the match and save a tenner gets the heart pumping a little but couldn't say i felt under pressure.

I felt under pressure after being made redundant and having 6 weeks to find a job so we could put food on the table, never felt under pressure trying to play to my h'cap.

 

[brendy]

Standing over a 3 footer to half the match and save a tenner gets the heart pumping a little but couldn't say i felt under pressure.​

.

Im the same, I want to hole the putt but I dont come over all shakey etc. People who feel pressure in situations like that have no confidence.
Occasionally they will miss but out of ten you will hole the majority and that is what you think about when stood over it.

 

[Monty_Brown]

As a 9 handicapper, it's only really necessary to par every other hole, which really isn't too hard. A run of 5 pars is really not that hard so takes some pressure off if you start poorly.

When you're down in the 5hcp-ish bracket, I figure it's essential to be making birdies to cunteract the bogies that inevitably we all have.

Being considered a low(ish) handicap is an enjoyable thing for me. I like the idea that higher hcp playing partners expect me to play well...

Everyone knows what they are capable of, and can manage their expectations accordingly.

 

[MadAdey]

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.

That is why I love my course because it is a really good test of your all round golf game, any dodgy parts and you can be in trouble.

You know my course then Hobbit. It sure does chuck up some birdie chances around the middle. Holes 8, 9 and 11 definitely do, irrespective of pin position and being off the back tees in medals. With a good pin position so does 7 and 11. I was going round with one of our 1 handicappers in a medal last year and I remember standing on the 7th and he was 3 or 4 over and had not done a lot wrong. I was better off than he was. Ok he managed to have a good last 12 holes and I think he got back to 1 or 2 over. But he said himself the pressure he was under to get back to handicap was really took it out of him.

 

[USER1999]

Single figures covers a massive span.

A nine handicap really doesn't have to be a good golfer, in the way that I think a cat 1 player has to be.

It also depends on if you have to work hard on your game to achieve your handicap, or if you can just rock up and play to it having not played for 3 weeks.

Most club golfers don't practice (regardless of h/cap). Most don't have lessons. If you are giving golf your every thing, and not succeeding with your goals, or struggling to maintain stasis, then I can see why people give it up. If you have given it every thing, and can't continue doing so, then again, I can see why someone might stop.

If you are talented enough to be able to play to a low handicap without much effort, or money, or time thrown at it, then I can see it remaining enjoyable, but may be you will never find out how good you can be. If you have found this out, then it must be annoying going backwards.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

cunteract

*snigger*

 

[Snelly]

Single figures covers a massive span.

A nine handicap really doesn't have to be a good golfer, in the way that I think a cat 1 player has to be.

It also depends on if you have to work hard on your game to achieve your handicap, or if you can just rock up and play to it having not played for 3 weeks.

Most club golfers don't practice (regardless of h/cap). Most don't have lessons. If you are giving golf your every thing, and not succeeding with your goals, or struggling to maintain stasis, then I can see why people give it up. If you have given it every thing, and can't continue doing so, then again, I can see why someone might stop.

If you are talented enough to be able to play to a low handicap without much effort, or money, or time thrown at it, then I can see it remaining enjoyable, but may be you will never find out how good you can be. If you have found this out, then it must be annoying going backwards.

Good post Murph.

I think this depends on the individual. For me, I have been a Cat 1 golfer for 25 years and in that time, I have on occasion felt huge presure to perform well - e.g. scratch team games, semi finals in county matches etc.

I don't play that sort of golf any more though and these days, I don't feel that playing off low single figures has any additional pressure. It is all relative to your golf game in my view.


That said, I still get butterflies over a crucial putt or shot in any game, whether it is for a good score or a ctitical point in a match. I love that feeling though and it is one of the things I enjoy most about golf.


Good question Golfmad!

 

[Monty_Brown]

*snigger*

:thup:

Was going to correct it after you pointed it out, but figured it makes more sense as it is.

 

[User 105]

I actually think this is more to do with if you are improving, stagnated or getting worse. And this happens no matter what the handicap.

Admittedly the lower you go, the smaller the buffer so less room for error.

I've never made single figures but that's the plan. (well was last year and is this year)

When I was improving golf was a breeze, week in week out I shot to or better than my handicap and I was getting cut week after week.

The big psychological hurdle, at least for me, was dropping below 18 and not getting a shot on each hole, I knew I was going to have to make pars then.

When you get around the 10-12 mark I think that's another pressure point. You need to get a good amount of pars and throw in a few birdy's to offset the odd double bogey you might have.

But if you are still improving, then you can play to that standard and better, so it's not a problem. When you stagnate or start falling back your always going to have a fight on you're hands.

Last year I hit the wall and no matter how much I practised, played had lessons etc I was stuck and that put more pressure on me. I was always fighting the buffer to avoid that .1 back and came really close to quitting, I just didn't enjoy my golf.

 

[jammydodger]

Very good thread and obviously one that interests me.

I was a 3 h/c when I first gave up playing many years ago. This was due to a cross country move and I just never got round to joining a club again. So when I returned to golf 3 years ago I was expecting to play well once the rustiness left the system. This happened quicly as it turned out and I was soon down to 5 again. I think this was where the rot set in (about 18 months ago). I found the internal and external 'pressure' nagging away at me to play well at all times. This last year I dropped to 3 again but it was a huge slog mentally. The pure fun of just playing had left and with such a low h/c each time I played I had no fight left in me to turn things around like I used to have. I've done the coming back from bad starts thing because I had the will and belief I could do it.

Maybe I would still be playing if I could have just changed my h/c to 8 or so and just rocked up every week for a friendly knock.

JD

 

[StrangelyBrown]

:thup:

Was going to correct it after you pointed it out, but figured it makes more sense as it is.

It also made me giggle very loudly in a very quiet open plan office, so thanks for that

 

[thecraw]

My golf has been crap all last year and I was seriously considering giving up at one stage. Just didn't enjoy it or want to be there as I was probably putting too much pressure on myself.

Anyway I took my 4 year old up to the golf course and watched him hack it up the first fairway, missing the ball, topping it, hitting it about 5 yards then running after it to do it again. I noticed he had the biggest of smiles on his face and he was laughing. He was loving it.

That was the moment I realised that I needed to enjoy golf again, golf is meant to be fun!

That is my aim this year, to enjoy golf. If I shoot 73 or 93 it has to be enjoyable as its only a bloody hobby, I need to remember its only a game that I chose to play, no one forced me or is forcing me to play!

 

[inthecup]

My golf has been crap all last year and I was seriously considering giving up at one stage. Just didn't enjoy it or want to be there as I was probably putting too much pressure on myself.

Anyway I took my 4 year old up to the golf course and watched him hack it up the first fairway, missing the ball, topping it, hitting it about 5 yards then running after it to do it again. I noticed he had the biggest of smiles on his face and he was laughing. He was loving it.

That was the moment I realised that I needed to enjoy golf again, golf is meant to be fun!

That is my aim this year, to enjoy golf. If I shoot 73 or 93 it has to be enjoyable as its only a bloody hobby, I need to remember its only a game that I chose to play, no one forced me or is forcing me to play!

Hit the nail on the head here Craw. Thats the way I see it, we all mostly pay a small fortune to play and would imagine also play it to try and chill out and forget about the stresses of work and day to day life. If you don't enjoy it then whats the point? If I hit 70 i'm over joyed but if I hit 90, ok i'm not the happiest person in the world but I always make sure I enjoy being out in the course.

 

[bladeplayer]

Very good thread and obviously one that interests me.

I was a 3 h/c when I first gave up playing many years ago. This was due to a cross country move and I just never got round to joining a club again. So when I returned to golf 3 years ago I was expecting to play well once the rustiness left the system. This happened quicly as it turned out and I was soon down to 5 again. I think this was where the rot set in (about 18 months ago). I found the internal and external 'pressure' nagging away at me to play well at all times. This last year I dropped to 3 again but it was a huge slog mentally. The pure fun of just playing had left and with such a low h/c each time I played I had no fight left in me to turn things around like I used to have. I've done the coming back from bad starts thing because I had the will and belief I could do it.

Maybe I would still be playing if I could have just changed my h/c to 8 or so and just rocked up every week for a friendly knock.

JD

Just a thought JD would ya not just play society or knock about golf for a while , i love the challange of club golf & matches etc , but im down to scratch in society so have no chance what so ever most days so i go out & knock it around no pressure at all .. best of luck with whatever you decide anyhow mate ..

 

[Robobum]

My golf has been crap all last year and I was seriously considering giving up at one stage. Just didn't enjoy it or want to be there as I was probably putting too much pressure on myself.

Anyway I took my 4 year old up to the golf course and watched him hack it up the first fairway, missing the ball, topping it, hitting it about 5 yards then running after it to do it again. I noticed he had the biggest of smiles on his face and he was laughing. He was loving it.

That was the moment I realised that I needed to enjoy golf again, golf is meant to be fun!

That is my aim this year, to enjoy golf. If I shoot 73 or 93 it has to be enjoyable as its only a bloody hobby, I need to remember its only a game that I chose to play, no one forced me or is forcing me to play!

Bloody kids on the golf course!! Hope he was dressed correctly -plus fours and tucked in shirt.

 

[Hobbit]

Just a thought JD would ya not just play society or knock about golf for a while , i love the challange of club golf & matches etc , but im down to scratch in society so have no chance what so ever most days so i go out & knock it around no pressure at all .. best of luck with whatever you decide anyhow mate ..

My mindset for society golf is go and enjoy the company. I find being off my club h'cap on a society day means I'll be nowhere near the top. No expectation = no pressure.

 

[Mattyboy]

................ knowing that there's hardly any room for error.........

IMO, unless you are shooting around 50 gross per round, theres tons of room for error! I have walked around with numerous tour pros and they hit shots that embarass me (which leads onto the question 'how on earth do they get it around in the scores that they do when hitting it like that?')

My thoughts:-
They never hit two bad shots in a row.
They tend not to play/like courses that have lots of clagg so running up a big number is harder.
There are not likely to lose a ball with more eyes watching.
Their short games are mustard!

Going back to the post - we all hit bad shots and the HCP system is designed to refelect this somewhat.

As Bob Rotella said 'Golf is not a game of perfect'!

 

[Monty_Brown]

IMO, unless you are shooting around 50 gross per round, theres tons of room for error! I have walked around with numerous tour pros and they hit shots that embarass me (which leads onto the question 'how on earth do they get it around in the scores that they do when hitting it like that?')

My thoughts:-
They never hit two bad shots in a row.
They tend not to play/like courses that have lots of clagg so running up a big number is harder.
There are not likely to lose a ball with more eyes watching.
Their short games are mustard!

And...

They don't freak out when they hit a bad one. They move on and forget it. The issue a lot of us amateurs have is projecting scores based on the start to the round. "I'm 3 over after four holes, oh no, I'm going to shoot 15 over at this rate" Instead of thinking, "a good run of holes here and I'm right back in contention".

For too many of us, scoring is about clinging onto a score relative to par: damage limitation, which is not a positive mindset.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

IMO, unless you are shooting around 50 gross per round, theres tons of room for error! I have walked around with numerous tour pros and they hit shots that embarass me (which leads onto the question 'how on earth do they get it around in the scores that they do when hitting it like that?')

My thoughts:-
They never hit two bad shots in a row.
They tend not to play/like courses that have lots of clagg so running up a big number is harder.
There are not likely to lose a ball with more eyes watching.
Their short games are mustard!

Going back to the post - we all hit bad shots and the HCP system is designed to refelect this somewhat.

As Bob Rotella said 'Golf is not a game of perfect'!

My old coach said to me before my first lesson "I can't stop you hitting bad shots, all I can do is hope to reduce the number you hit"

My biggest problem over the years has been the way I reacted to a bad shot. Now I've worked out that a bad shot doesn't have to ruin a round my h'cap is falling.

 

[Robobum]

Similar to above - My head pro mate has been drumming in to his young assistant that making scores as a professional has little to do with striping every shot. It's making the misses go well that churns out the prize money.