Taking a break from comps (for a couple of weeks)

[HawkeyeMS]

After this weekends club champs I've decided that, if I can re-arrange work this weekend, I'm gonna pull out of this Sunday's medal in favour of a bounce game on Saturday.

It's not that I'm a million miles from getting back to my form of last year, but work has been so busy that I'm not getting to play with my Tuesday night group and with comps coming thick and fast all I seem to be doing is playing comps and I just can't find the trust in my swing that I need.

Last year I played bounce games every Tuesday through the summer with some long time mates which were a lot of fun, off the yellow tees and gave me a chance to keep my swing in check. As a result when I got to comps at the weekend I was confident and knew the worst I would do most weeks was buffer.

This month we've got a medal this Sunday, a stableford in two weeks and our last board comp of the year the following week.

So I've decided I need a bit of a break from comps and just have a couple of weeks of having a bit of fun on the course without the pressure of putting my h'cap on the line. Hopefully I'll get my confidence back in time for the board comp at the end of August.

Seems to make sense to me.

 

[pbrown7582]

We all need a relaxed knock every so often the pressure and hope/expectation a comp brings just sometimes wears you down.
Enjoy your break and have a bit of fun.

 

[chris661]

Thats pretty much what I am going to do for a while as well. Will be playing in a big comp on monday then captains day on the 18th but apart from that will just be going for a bash around. I think it does no harm to just play golf instead of worrying about getting either a cut or .1 back.

 

[AmandaJR]

I did just that for much of the start of the season and really only just now back to entering comps. Still think it was the right thing to do as I found my swing and confidence again and playing comps would only have damaged my confidence further and would probably have had me quit the game altogether.

Nowt wrong with playing and practicing without your handicap on the line so enjoy the break and come back stronger.

 

[Region3]

You have to find what works for you.

I wouldn't do it, purely because I love the edge that competition gives. If it's not going well I just treat it as a knockabout once the hope of buffer has gone.

If I were to do it and do get some confidence back, there'd still be the doubt in my mind that it will be different again once I'm back in comps.

One thing we can agree on. I wouldn't carry on doing something that I wasn't enjoying or that was getting me down.

 

[USER1999]

A two week gap between comps isn't much of a break. Easy for me to say, as we don't have a comp for two weeks any way. We don't have that many.

 

[chris661]

A two week gap between comps isn't much of a break. Easy for me to say, as we don't have a comp for two weeks any way. We don't have that many.

I could play in a comp every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I saw your text earlier and your head isn't in the right place so knowing what you are capable of and watching you struggle on Saturday was tough. Enjoy the banter with Mase, Reg and the boys and see where it takes you.

If I was in your shoes though I'd be playing a few 9 holes on my own and just working on a few things but thats me. I hope you find something that works and you can get that form back

 

[HawkeyeMS]

A two week gap between comps isn't much of a break. Easy for me to say, as we don't have a comp for two weeks any way. We don't have that many.

To be honest Murph I don't need or want much of a break. I just need a couple of weeks bounce games. As I said, because of work I've not been playing midweek and have been working most Saturdays unless there has been a comp so every time I've tee'd it up it's been competitive. It's not like the game isn't in there, my head just isn't right and I'm getting frustrated on the course and letting bad shots\bad luck ruin my round which isn't like me. I'm gonna do my best to play the next 3 tuesdays and skip Sundays comp in favour of a bounce game Saturday. After that it's too weeks to the s'ford which I will play.

In truth, I'm not much fun to play with when I'm moaning and swearing at myself and it's not fair on whoever I'm playing with either. I'm sure a couple of weeks away from comps will do me good. We'll see

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In truth, I'm not much fun to play with when I'm moaning and swearing at myself and it's not fair on whoever I'm playing with either. I'm sure a couple of weeks away from comps will do me good. We'll see

**** *** Stannard has become your catchphrase. You did seem particularly intense on Saturday though. More so than I've seen even in the Volvo's. At least the stableford gives you some room to move if you have a bad hole.

 

[brendy]

As cynical as it sounds Hawkeye, this is how handicaps work, you play badly, you get .1, you play well and you get cut.
Forgoing the games and playing in non handicap games instead could be seen to be protecting.
I am fighting the shanks this past so many months (starting to win) but it still wouldnt stop me entering the weekly handicap qualifiers as the season is short enough without missing them intentionally. Chin up.

 

[Monty_Brown]

As cynical as it sounds Hawkeye, this is how handicaps work, you play badly, you get .1, you play well and you get cut.
Forgoing the games and playing in non handicap games instead could be seen to be protecting.
I am fighting the shanks this past so many months (starting to win) but it still wouldnt stop me entering the weekly handicap qualifiers as the season is short enough without missing them intentionally. Chin up.

That may be true in theory Brendy but as none of us is playing to make a living,but instead playing for fun ( ), sitting out for a couple of weeks while you rekindle your enjoyment for th game seems fair enough.

I think Mike is perfectly entitled to have a break while he finds his swing.

 

[chris661]

Forgoing the games and playing in non handicap games instead could be seen to be protecting.

So by not playing a comp when playing crap is protecting your handicap? How does keeping you handicap lower help (if you got .1 back in the comps that is).

 

[bladeplayer]

It kinda is when you think about it tho Chris , if you only play comps when you are playing well surely you will have a false handicap ? if you play week in week out good & bad surely it is a better reflection of your overall game ..?

Is seems the fun is gone from hawkeyes game tho , if that goes then something is needed , afterall it is our pastime , if we aint enjoying it then maybe its not the thing to be doing ..

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to be honest he seemed a hollow shell on Sunday when I saw him on a few tee boxes and looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. Can't see how taking a breather is protecting a handicap and he enters the majority of comps he is available for so it isn't as though he cherry picks where and when he play

 

[brendy]

So by not playing a comp when playing crap is protecting your handicap? How does keeping you handicap lower help (if you got .1 back in the comps that is).

Because some people prefer keeping a lower handicap.
As I said, the cynic would see that, I am playing devils advocate, I can understand taking a break from the game but playing in social games and not entering competitions which were qualifiers has given a few guys at our club a bit of a reputation.

 

[chris661]

Because some people prefer keeping a lower handicap.
As I said, the cynic would see that, I am playing devils advocate, I can understand taking a break from the game but playing in social games and not entering competitions which were qualifiers has given a few guys at our club a bit of a reputation.

But the only person you are hurting by having an artificially low handicap is yourself. I fail to see how in any way shape or form that it is protecting it.

 

[brendy]

But the only person you are hurting by having an artificially low handicap is yourself. I fail to see how in any way shape or form that it is protecting it.

Now you are getting it!

Some people love to win comps with sombrero wearing ease, others prefer to keep their handicap as low as possible. It goes both ways. Yes you will not win much but it adds to bragging rights.
Anyway, I am not accusing Hawkeye of this, it can look like that to less trusting types.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

As cynical as it sounds Hawkeye, this is how handicaps work, you play badly, you get .1, you play well and you get cut.
Forgoing the games and playing in non handicap games instead could be seen to be protecting.
I am fighting the shanks this past so many months (starting to win) but it still wouldnt stop me entering the weekly handicap qualifiers as the season is short enough without missing them intentionally. Chin up.

So missing one comp, the first I've missed this year is protecting my handicap? I've heard it all now!!!

I'm not playing cause I don't trust my swing and I'm not enjoying it.

 

[brendy]

tell me about it, played a 4bbb comp quarter final last night fighting horrible shanky thoughts, managed to get to the 15th fairway before I unleashed two of the ugliest shots known to man. We still won and I will still play on Saturday. I do feel your pain matey, I tee off each saturday really not looking forward to playing as I know whats coming but sometimes I surprise myself and get round in one piece.
Just keep plugging away and practice when you can, itll come good.