The psychology of competitive golf - question for the mid to low h'cappers

[tallpaul]

If you are playing against a high handicap opponent, what is your perception of their game?

As an example, in a medal, two of you are consistent golfers and hit most FIR and GIR but the third misses most fairways and greens, how does it affect you?

As a high handicapper with the challenge of breaking 100 in competitive play, I find it somewhat intimidating playing with much better, consistent golfers. My problem is not that I fear them beating me, more that I become very conscious of my own shortcomings. Having lost the previous hole i'm last to tee off. By hitting the 'worst' tee shot I'm first to play my second shot, by missing the greens I'm last to chip on. By having erratic chipping, I'm usually the last to hole out. The cumulative effect of this is that I feel constantly watched; My opponents are always waiting for me and I'm holding them up. This puts added pressure on me and I start to rush shots, thus making more mistakes and taking more shots, thereby creating a viscous circle.

I'm not looking for advice on how to cope in the situation. Just honest feedback from better golfers who have been in this situation.

Many thanks,

Paul

 

[Alan]

Paul

I could have typed that word for word, I feel exactly the same.

Keep the faith mate just enjoy it.

 

[kid2]

What you both fail to realize is that they were once in your shoes also.....no one starts off very low handicaps.....Unless they are exceptionally gifted..

You need to walk before you can run.....
What you can do at times is learn a lot from good players....

 

[DelB]

Really interesting to read your post, Paul. My experience is actually quite the opposite, as I seem to play my best golf in the company of better players. My regular golfing partner plays off 11 and we try to play at least once a week and we introduce various competitive elements to it, with the loser invariably picking up the lunch bill!!! Just play your own game and try to learn from the better guys. Most, in my experience, are quite happy to encourage you along and keep you right.

 

[julsk10]

I play with a 25 handicapper every week, don't notice his score.. I think you will find most other golfers are focussed on their own game. So my advice is just relax and enjoy and I can safely say you'll not always be last to the off

 

[Oddsocks]

My attitude is that as long as your ready to play when it's your turn and you muck in looking for balls when they go a stray I couldn't care if your off 7 or 27. We have all been there, and the hc system should still allow you to play competitive golf

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Two points. If its a medal or stableford why worry about anything else other than your own ball and making the right choices to get the ball in the hole as soon as possible.

If you are in matchplay event, you need to play your own game and assume your opponent will always make the putt. The only time I change my strategy on a hole is if they are in real trouble (OB) and I just want to make sure I keep it in play. Sometimes if the situation requires (I'm down and need a miracle) I'll take on the high tarrif shot but in matchplay scores don't matter. You can win with a 9 as long as the oppo takes 10

 

[sev112]

i tend to give shots in matches at our club

Which means that it if often the case that the higher players will get quite a good loead on me / us in the front 9.
i dont mind.
i know that statistically they will have bad holes. if they start having them on the back 9 then that's good because they will then feel the pressure and again statistically their game will suffer under pressure. if they dont, well good on them and well done. but more often than not they dont.

It's amazing how often high handicap players "aplologise" for their good play . Far be it for me to tell them it might actually be due to them playing well - if they want to talk themselves out of playing well, that's up to them

 

[USER1999]

I am not in any way a low handicapper, but, for me, it isn't about you playing first, etc, it's about keeping up with pace of play. if you have a two minute pre shot routine, duff it 20 yards and then do it all again, for all 18 holes, I'm going to go nuts.

It's not about who hits first.

 

[smange]

From reading your post...the first thing I would say is remember you are not playing against him, when its a medal your playing the course and its the course you have to beat and if you do this successfully then theres a fair chance that you will beat him and the rest of the field when it comes to the final scores.

You shouldnt be worrying what he is doing at all and should be wholly concentrating on your game. You can bet if he is a decent player he isnt thinking about your game. So my advice is just go out and play your game and your game alone. If he is a low h/cap watch him and learn but dont try to compete against him:thup:

All this is of course turned on its head if and when its a matchplay game

 

[garyinderry]

i enjoy helping people improve. im always handing out advice if any of my mates who have recently started playing will listen. it usally clicks with them after a while and they then tell me i should have listened to you earlier.

doing two cards for handicap tomoro for two guys. one guy did two cards only to be told he would have to start again as the winter tees were no good for handicap. gets him used to the pressure of having a card in his hand i suppose.

 

[Hobbit]

Unless I'm marking your card I don't take much notice of your game. Whether you kn0b a few consecutive shots or not doesn't really affect the pace of play too much because there'll be a number of guys out there doing the same. All I would say is if you're having an absolute mare of a round, try not to break someone else's pace of play too much...

That aside, its good company and sharp banter I look for in a game, and you could be scratch at that.

 

[sawtooth]

Personally I dont care less what handicap someone is along as they are good company. Also I really dont mind how long players take or how many shots they have. I certainly wouldnt want people to rush on my account, most of us were much higher handicaps when we started out.

However, dont confuse this with poor etiquette or dawdling between shots, thats another matter and is pretty annoying. Taking time over shots or taking 4 to get up and down from just of the green is just part and parcel of golf.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

If it's any consolation, I'm off 5 and I'm the highest handicapper in the rollup that I play in. I play regularly with guys off Scr and 1.

The important thing to remember is that nobody is judging you. People are generally more concerned about etiquette than ability. As long as you don't mess about, are ready to play when it's your turn, don't walk on peoples lines etc then nobody will object to playing with you. The reason that low handicappers shoot lower scores is that they concentrate better and nothing bugs them more than having that concentration broken.

 

[Jack991]

I used to suffer from the same thing, then I began to start approaching my competitive rounds differently and started to focus purely on my game instead of worrying about keeping up with my partners. As a lower handicapper now when I play in competitions with higher handicappers who are clearly nervous I just try to play at their pace so they don't feel rushed or hurried into a shot.

At the end of the day you go out to play in the medals to enjoy yourself and hopefully get cut so don't worry about how your playing partners view you and just focus on your own game because I bet that the majority of them don't think that you are holding them up at all!

 

[Toad]

Paul,

There is nothing to fear playing with lower handicap golfers, I played in the medal on Wednesday with a 19 and 9 handicapper.
I was marking the fella off 19's card and can honestly say I did not know what his score was until I totalled it at the end of the round
In other words I did not notice if he played well or had a mare, when he did spray it around it was never an issue and did not affect anyone else's game.
I think as has been said before, everyone else is focussing on their own game to much to worry how someone else is getting on.

Best of luck and enjoy your golf.

 

[garyinderry]

ive started looking at putts from behind the hole recently. if gives a clearer picture of the line imo. if everyone on the course did this there would be some tail back. im just going to have to try and get quicker at it.

 

[bluetoon]

You make an interesting point paul and i see it all the time.

Higher handicappers do become more self conscious with their game and feel intimidated, but it is not just high guys that feel this, I played against a +4 and +2 recently and felt exactly the same.

It's not easy to shake these feelings and along with nerves and pressure it is a skill that needs learned and managed, i guess experience and time will help.

The things you mention: miss hit tee shots, erratic chipping, etc are probably due to rushing and losing your tempo, all perfectly understandable if you are feeling under pressure.

The idea that you are being watched and analyzed is all in your head, trust me, if I'm playing a medal i have other things going on in my head than your game. The watching you are aware of will be people keeping track of shots and maintaining etiquette if you like.

If i am playing in a group with a high capper then right from the off i will expect my round to have some delays looking for balls etc, we have all been there and sympathize so dont get beat about it.

The biggest mistake i see high handicappers making is trying to pull off the miracle shot and then the hole going pearshaped when they feck it up, the low guys will attempt it to save par because they have a really good short game and will hope to pull of a bogey at worse, the high capper just gets himself into more and more trouble after every shot, ending with a 9 or worse. When i see this i have to resist the temptation to say "should have pitched out with a wedge mate", but its a learning process that everyone goes through.

The best advice is to forget what anybody else does and concentrate on your own game, one shot at a time.

 

[JustOne]

I perceive different players in different ways.. there is no answer other than to focus on your own game. Accept good contact rather than trying to skin the ball, find fairways with recovery shots and if chipping just find the putting surface even if you have to chip with a 4-iron.

I think having a long-winded preshot routine is a farse if you struggle with the game... have one by all means but nothing convoluted. Pick a line, make your grip, one practice swing, look at the ball and do what it takes to make good contact.. if you can't hit a 5-iron then hit a 7-iron close to the green, chip to 20ft and 2-putt... you could possibly break 100 with a 7-iron and putter!!!!

It's the holes where you duff your tee shot that require the MOST common sense approach... don't try to make up all the lost ground... just get to where you should have been or a little bit past.... don't pull a club out that you can't hit, just to then top/fat it!

On the greens try to look at the hole to get a feel if it's going to break a little or a lot... if it's just a little then just hit it straight and worry only about the right pace to leave a tap-in... if you hole a few then that's a shot extra in the bag for you.

Expect to 3-putt, especially on putts over 25ft, don't let it put you off, even the tour pro's do it. Most long putts require a firm putt to get the ball to the hole... so it'll take less break... don't try to read every borrow on a 30ft putt...get a feel for the pace and hit it towards the hole.

Accepting and playing for a 7 is better than getting an 8!

I repsect higher h/cappers that I can see aren't trying to bite off more than they can chew. It's always awesome to see a couple of big hitters ripping drives and then see the little guy hit a couple of hybrids, chip on and hole out for par :thup:

 

[Oddsocks]

I repsect higher h/cappers that I can see aren't trying to bite off more than they can chew. It's always awesome to see a couple of big hitters ripping drives and then see the little guy hit a couple of hybrids, chip on and hole out for par :thup:

I had 14 holes with my mates son last night, 13 years old abd has only been playing 6 months full time, off a junior hc of 45 he shot 36 points for 14 holes with a hole average of 2.57 points. We worked out off 28 he would have still shot 23, this was off the men's tee too.

He's method in scoring was exactly the above, ball down the middle all the time in play, only taking on shots he knew he could play. Considering he only hits 150 I thought he done awesome using this approach.