What is it about golf

[kev_off_the_tee]

I don't know what it is about this game, but I'm a little perplexed by my game. I can hit them as hard and almost as far as the best of them but something creeps up and I'll end up duffing one around 20 yards when it really matters

I was playing the lady captains stableford today and at the start of the front 9 and the back 9 I got of to decent starts with 13 points on each and the all hell let loose. 6 NRs in total and a shady 29 points. What makes it worse is that if I play to handicap then that would have been another 12 points and only 1 point behind the winner

Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of positives to take including some magic shots from the rough but I'm getting frustrated that I can't delive when it matters. I'm definitely missing a 3 hybrid so have just bought one tonight to match the 3 wood but it wasn't this that caused me the points. Only my putting saved the day.

All I can says that I look forward to the next battle and someday it may all come together

 

[GreiginFife]

Pressure makes it a very different game.

I've said it many times on here in the short time I have been involved; Stress free golf IS the holy grail.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

A wee while ago I played for the first time with a very competitive new member (in 40s) who had just come from our academy and had only picked up a golf club for the first time about a year or so before - so yes - had a high handicap but as became quickly obvious to me didn't really understand golf at all.

Why do I say that? Well - we had joined up one evening on the first as both singletons, said member was very soon getting very frustrated - to the extent that by the time we were walking off the 3rd green my buddy was ready to walk in in total frustration - having bogey 1st and 2nd, and doubled the 3rd. 'What's up?' asked I rather tentatively 'you're playing fine'. And the answer came 'since I've joined I've had a par on all the holes on the course but look today - bogey, bogey double - that's rubbish - I can par all these holes but I keep on messing them up - I'm hopeless - I set my target to get my h'cap down from 36 to 18 this year and I'm still at 34 and I've been a member for 6 months :-('

I looked on sympathetically, placed consoling arm around shoulder, sighed and wondered what to say. In the end I simply suggested to my new found buddy that golf was maybe just a wee bit hard and that getting to 18 from 34 in one year was perhaps a touch ambitious - cue some strange looks - but I have persevered.

It's taken a while but my buddy now seems to understand the game better and because of this is now able to enjoy it (on our first outing enjoyment was somewhere else). We'll get h'cap down eventually - maybe next year to 28 - yes - a challenge but the game is there and I think the head is in a better place now as well. Don't you just love golf...!

 

[AmandaJR]

It's taken me 2 years of competitions to finally find myself last week able to enjoy the experience and not heap loads of pressure on myself. I tried really hard, was very focussed and felt the "tension" of competition (actually more the qualifying element than the winning) but didn't let that affect my game. I scored 34 points with 2 silly blobs but even managed to walk off those holes chuckling at what I'd done.

Afterwards I felt it was my best competition ever by a mile. Sure I've scored heaps better but my mental approach was something I felt very proud of.

Played 9 holes the following day and was 2 over gross. First time I didn't moan at myself about not doing it the day before in a competition...it's just golf and a lot tougher with a qualifying card in hand.

 

[moogie]

Kev, just found your card on howdidido ( I think ) , are u playing the course trying to use your handicap, and shots....??
Or are u teeing it up with Pars in your head......??

For anyone to improve and get reductions, they 1st need to learn to play to their own handicap.
If u get 2 shots on a hole, for instance, target a double bogey, u be amazed how much happier u will feel after hitting this more achievable target, and also probably pick up more lower scores by aiming in this way, just a different thought process.....worth a shot

 

[ScienceBoy]

I played a round at a little par 3 on Friday that highlights the strangeness of this game.

Played good, was +2 gross for 8 of the little holes, about 70-150 yards each.

Got to the last and realised I lost my phone! Hit a terrible shot in the general direction of the green.

Walked up to find it two feet from the hole. Now fretting about my phone I lipped the putt!

Closest I had been to the pin all day with the worst shot then fluffed the putt! (already had a birdie earlier from 10 feet away).

Did find my phone in the end tho

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

When I was trying to break 90 on a regular basis I would play to 5s - I found it psychologically a big boost if I got a 3 on a par 3 as that was 2 under 5s. So for instance on a 5,4,3 start playing 6,5,3 I would still be 'one under' my 'par' I also found it a good way towards thinking about breaking 80.