struggling in comps

[markgs]

Im plying x2/3 times a week, in mid week i play against boys off 18 handicap and 90% of the time win the round quite easy unless i have a melt down. i play off 24 but when i play the boys we all play off 18. Every time i enter a comp i have a disaster on the first 3 holes in particular and struggle to make 30 points. Starting to get to me know as i know im better than that and the boys i play with say there is no way i should be off 24. what can i do??????

 

[virtuocity]

Is it nerves? Would you be better taking 3 wood or your hybrid off the tee?

Do you warm up at the range prior to teeing off?

 

[markgs]

Is it nerves? Would you be better taking 3 wood or your hybrid off the tee?

Do you warm up at the range prior to teeing off?

no i do not warm up but been thinking that is the problem, was thinking of getting up and going to local pitch and put and getting the feel for it first?

 

[golfdub]

no i do not warm up but been thinking that is the problem, was thinking of getting up and going to local pitch and put and getting the feel for it first?

You have only been playing for 4 months, how good do you expect to be within that time ? I have a friend who has been playing for 2-3 years about 2-3 times a month and still hacks in round in 100+ shots so your 24hcp sound good to me. Don't beat yourself up as no one in the world can strike the ball perfectly every time they hit it not even TIGER. Just learn to accept you can hit the ball perfect every time and accept where it lands.

Good luck

 

[louise_a]

Warm up in the net before you go out and have some putts on the practice green, if you have a bad shot early on, dont let it get to you. Some of my best rounds have been after a dodgy start.

 

[pbrown7582]

It's all a learning process you'll be putting yourself under extra pressure in the comps, try to forget its a comp and relax playing the same as you do in your bounce games. Easier said than done!

 

[Junior]

Im plying x2/3 times a week, in mid week i play against boys off 18 handicap and 90% of the time win the round quite easy unless i have a melt down. i play off 24 but when i play the boys we all play off 18. Every time i enter a comp i have a disaster on the first 3 holes in particular and struggle to make 30 points. Starting to get to me know as i know im better than that and the boys i play with say there is no way i should be off 24. what can i do??????

Your not on your own......off 24 just play the percentages , be conservative and try and bogey the holes. Play the course and try and score a 5 on each hole (level 5's) that should see you round in 18/19 over and get you a healthy handicap cut !!

 

[lyden]

You just need competition experience, the more you play the more at ease you will get. Its a different game playing with your mates and playing with strangers in a comp. You can practice all you want but it won't help if you can't relax.

 

[Region3]

This might seem obvious, but playing well in friendly games and playing badly in comps = all in your head.

More experience of playing in competitions will help long term, or you could train your mind for a faster improvement ​à la Bob Rotella.

 

[Five&One]

I was in the same boat as the OP a few weeks back. Joined a new club and only knew one other member. Handicap had lapsed years ago so I had to do 3 cards and he went round with me for the first one. He couldnt manage for the other two so introduced me to a couple of guys to do the other two cards.

I was talking to one of them about being a bit nervous playing with strangers, especially since all the medals at our club are a 'free draw' (within 30 minute time bands) and you dont ever decide who you play with.

He said to me to forget about how well you play the first couple of times. Forget aiming for a score. Just concentrate on enjoying the day and getting used to playing with people you dont know. Block them out. Be chatty.Speak when your spoken to. Ask questions. Whatever it takes to make you more comfortable, without being rude obviously, just do that. THEY ARE PLAYING WITH A STRANGER TOO SO THE PLAYING FIELD IS LEVEL AND THERE IS COMMON GROUND. If you get a decent score its a bonus.If you crash, so what, they'll all have crashed before so take the crash and move on. Dont allow yourself to crash just because your playing with strangers though, crash because your just having a crap day. By the time the 3rd or 4th medal comes along it'll be second nature and you'll probably enjoy playing with different people all the time and the more and more you do it the more and more people you will know and the fewer strangers there will be.

No-one at a golf club is going to judge you badly for not playing well. If they do it says far more about them that it says about you. You will find most guys will help you out and help you through a bad round round rather than rollling their eyes and tapping their fingers. Some clubs do have handicap snobs who take the game and themselves far too seriously but your competition comittee or organiser will recognise that and quite probably they will put you in with guys of similar ability. It keeps everyone happy to do that and most clubs do. Just play your game and remember its just a game and enjoy it because thats what its meant for.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I read something years ago by Per Ulrik Johanson about forgetting bad holes and moving forward with your round.
He suggested having a par for every set of 3 holes, in your case you could say 3. ie for every 3 holes aim to be 3 over gross or better.
Then, once those 3 holes are over move to holes 4-6 and aim to be 3 over or better for those, and so on.
That way you have a short term target.
If you manage to play each set of 3 holes to par you will have played to 18, if not, you will hopefully have limited the damage of one set of bad holes.

Other things to consider:
Have you warmed up well enough.
Make friendly games more competitive and therefore more like the real thing.
Or, remember that you have a 4 shot buffer zone for a reason and don't worry if you use it sometimes.