Whats going on????

[geejayboy28]

Help!!

As I have just taken up the game again after many many years, I would like to ask all you hardened golfers for a bit of advise.
Last Saturday I entered the local 'medal' intent on getting my first card of the season for my handicap.
On the day in question I arrived with plenty time in hand (12.30 for a 1.00 tee off time) and while waiting for the others who I was to play with (whom I had never met) I felt the nerves start to take effect.
To cut a long story short.........worst round (or part of a round) that I have had all year. Lost a ball at the third and ran up a triple bogey 7 and by the time I got round to the ninth I lost another and just couldnt be bothered going all the way back to the tee cos by then I was pretty fed up.
The annoying thing is that up until that day I had slowly but surely been getting my game back together.Not back to playing off 6 as I did before, but to a level that my age(54) and fitness would merit.
So my question to all who read this forum is.........is it nerves...... or is the 25 year gap between me starting competitive golf again to much to overcome .........or should I just enjoy being a 'social' golfer

 

[brendy]

Id say its a mix of nerves and bad course management, we are all guilty of the latter.
The only way to combat the nerves issue is to keep playing the competitions, it will soon subside to anticipation rather than dread of something going wrong.
Whatever happens, enjoy it, dont take the ability to play golf for granted.

 

[TonyN]

You have probably written yourself off because of the 25 year gap. You must have some natural ability to have been playing off that score even 25 years ago. I suspect you might not have played to your current handicap and tried to play the holes for gross par's or birdie's. Once you had the 7, did you put it out of your mind or dwell on it.

Playing in front of people (who you don't know) is always daunting when your confidence is low,or in your case by the sound of it, shattered. But you have to keep playing and move beyond the fear. The nerves eventually settle once you start playing well and build the confidence up again.

My advice would be to practice as much as you can, keep rolling up. Have a plan of attack for each hole and play to your handicap. You should see the scores tumbling in no time!

Don't let it get too you!

 

[TonyN]

You have probably written yourself off because of the 25 year gap. You must have some natural ability to have been playing off that score even 25 years ago. I suspect you might not have played to your current handicap and tried to play the holes for gross par's or birdie's. Once you had the 7, did you put it out of your mind or dwell on it.

Playing in front of people (who you don't know) is always daunting when your confidence is low,or in your case by the sound of it, shattered. But you have to keep playing and move beyond the fear. The nerves eventually settle once you start playing well and build the confidence up again.

My advice would be to practice as much as you can, keep rolling up. Have a plan of attack for each hole and play to your handicap. You should see the scores tumbling in no time!

Don't let it get too you!

O... and have fun too, thats what its all about?

 

[TWM]

I had a 25 year gap and started again at the age of 73.
It is a different game now, different clubs, different balls and longer courses.
I was back to absolute beginner again and it took a few months and lessons to even start scoring at all.
Recent health problems may mean that I will never again reach my previous handicap (20) but I will persevere as I hope you will.
Best wishes for your next round.

 

[Nico]

Nerves mate,play in every comp you can and I promise it will become manageable.

Top tip from The Nico though ...Dont Play In A Comp To Get Your Handicap.

If at all put 3 cards in from social Golf,takes pressure off you,gives a fairer reflection of your play and is fairer on guys who are playing in a comp.

Enjoy your return to this wonderful game,I hope you have a long time playing.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Every medal and stableford we play is randomly drawn so I'm often playing with members I don't know like yesterday. Didn't know the guys at all and started with a double bogey. Could have lost my head but made a solid par at the next. It helped that they made a number of errors so we all laughed at each others misfortunes (one guy took a 10 which takes some getting back in a medal).

Sad thing was I doubled the par 3 1st and par 3 8th with a double on the easy par 4 4th. Just seen the winning score in my division was 68 and I finished on 71 (DOH)

My advice is to get there early if possible and warm up so you aren't stiff and tense on the 1st. Be sensible with your ambitions on the opening tee shot and try and manage the course a bit better than yesterday. If you are trying to put cards in relax it doesn't matter what you score anyway as anything worse than a double bogey is converted to that anyway. And if it is a competition so what. Someone has to come last. No shame in it.

Sign up for the next one asap and just go out and enjoy the banter with new partners and just relax as you go round.

 

[viscount17]

somewhat surprised that you can play the medal with no handicap, it's a requirement here.

that said, you must have been there before so maybe you buried the memory of your first medals being shockers (mine certainly have been). just write that one off to experience, forget it and get on with the next - after you have a handicap.