Which is best?

[kid2]

To play the course to gross par or nett par.....

Im not sure whether its a good thing or a bad thing but when i play i always try to play to par....I try not to let my handicap dictate my decisions....
Even in stablefords im counting shots rather than points.

Would this be a wise thing or am i placing too much pressure on myself?

 

[Mattyboy]

Too much pressure to play to gross par. I think it would get to the stage where unecessary risks are taken to try and keep to par, leading to avoidable big numbers.

 

[bigslice]

am all about the gross as the nett takes care of itself. plus have you tried explaining nett and gross to your non golf friends and family.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I just try and shoot as low as I can. Sometimes in matchplay where the score isn't important I'll play differently and use my shots if I'm getting them and take a more conservative approach especially on the really long or hard holes where a nett par is often enough

Even in a medal or stableford, if I get in trouble and I get a shot then I'll play for a nett par and take the two points. That said, even if I don't get a shot and I'm in trouble I'll look to limit the damage to a bogey. I think if you are realistic you'll not going to play close to par off 15 (at least not often) and so you have to look at making the lowest nett or points score you can and not worry too much about basing your decisions on anything other than the merit of the next shot

 

[kid2]

Too much pressure to play to gross par. I think it would get to the stage where unecessary risks are taken to try and keep to par, leading to avoidable big numbers.

But at what point in your handicap do you decide to play to gross par Matt....Off 5... you yourself need to par 13 holes just to stay above water....Thats fair tough...It why i aim to get to and admire people that play off single figures.
Is it something that comes with experience?

 

[Imurg]

I think most low handicappers simply try to par each and every hole - or better.
It's dangerous to think - I have a shot here, so if I bogey the hole it's not the end of the World.

Every hole - I'm looking at the shots I need (one at a time) to get the ball into the hole in the lowest number of shots.
I don't even think about Nett Par until after the round and I'm adding up the score.

 

[SwingSlow]

I think it depends on the hole and what it does to you mentally and your course management strategy.

On a lot of holes, gross par may be best - you are stretching yourself and it's a realistic stretch. There are others where playing for the gross par may be a mistake if it leads you to go for an impossible/exceptionally high risk shot for the level you play, which you then mess up, leaving you worse off than if you had been more conservative. You may be better playing the safer shot going for the net par and if you then get a decent approach shot you may then 1 putt for the gross par anyway.

 

[kid2]

Every hole - I'm looking at the shots I need (one at a time) to get the ball into the hole in the lowest number of shots.
I don't even think about Nett Par until after the round and I'm adding up the score.

When in your opinion should a player think this way Murg?

 

[garyinderry]

theres one or two hard and a couple of long holes at my track where i am happy enough with a bogey. espeically off the back sticks. the rest i more or less have a green light to attempt to par. even on the red light holes i can still get a par with a good approach or putt. just not putting myself in danger if the drive isnt the longest or wind not in a favorable direction.

 

[Imurg]

Every hole - I'm looking at the shots I need (one at a time) to get the ball into the hole in the lowest number of shots.
I don't even think about Nett Par until after the round and I'm adding up the score.

When in your opinion should a player think this way Murg?

Not sure..
I guess at the time when you're capable of making par on any/all the holes on your course.
If you've made par once - you can do it again.
So when you've made a par on every hole on your course, as far as I'm concerned, it's time to look to par every hole.

 

[Region3]

I think most low handicappers simply try to par each and every hole - or better.
It's dangerous to think - I have a shot here, so if I bogey the hole it's not the end of the World.

Every hole - I'm looking at the shots I need (one at a time) to get the ball into the hole in the lowest number of shots.
I don't even think about Nett Par until after the round and I'm adding up the score.

:thup:

Unless you have to get down in x shots because it's stableford or matchplay, every time you play a shot the idea is to get down in the fewest shots possible from where you are.

It doesn't matter if you're playing your 2nd shot or 5th shot, get down in the fewest strokes.

This is why people take horror scores. You hit a tee shot in trouble and think you have to try to hit the green to make your par, especially if you don't get a shot.

YOU DON'T

Give yourself the best 3rd shot you can and you'll be surprised how often you save the par, and most often walk off with no worse than a bogey.

Much better than risking a double or worse by trying a miracle shot.


To answer the original question, I've always compared my score to gross par rather than nett par.

 

[Imurg]

Much better than risking a double or worse by trying a miracle shot.

Yeah, but doesn't it feel good when that miracle shot comes off........:clap:

 

[garyinderry]

Not sure..
I guess at the time when you're capable of making par on any/all the holes on your course.
If you've made par once - you can do it again.
So when you've made a par on every hole on your course, as far as I'm concerned, it's time to look to par every hole.

the wind can put an end to that idea. it can make a hole change from driver , 9 iron to driver 3 wood. its just not that easy the day its the driver 3wood. plus alot of holes will also be affected that day. ill give you it though under calm conditions. par everything!

 

[garyinderry]

to answer the OP's question. after a while you get to a stage when you dont even need a card in your pocket to keep your score. you can usally count in your head how many over you are as long as you dont have any disaster holes.

 

[Ian_S]

. There are others where playing for the gross par may be a mistake if it leads you to go for an impossible/exceptionally high risk shot for the level you play, which you then mess up, leaving you worse off than if you had been more conservative.

Agree with that. My last round featured 10 bogeys. Some of it was poor putting, but a lot was keeping myself in the hole enough that I could make a bogey. If I'd tried to force something magic to make par I'd likely have been far worse off.

 

[JustOne]

I've never EVER thought about a net score.

I'd HATE the fact that I'd have to remember what I was playing off when I shot that level par round.. or when I shot that 1 over round or that 2 under round..... etc etc I just hit the ball and count the shots.

I did have a recent conversation pertaining to my current h/cap of 6 in as much that if I got out to make 3 birdies per round I can then have NINE bogies and get 36pts .....




problem is it makes my 26 pointers look more sh*te than they already are


:whoo:

 

[USER1999]

I have long proposed that cat 3 and above should only be allowed to play stable ford. Split medals in two, cat 1 and 2 medal, cat 3 and above stable ford. Keep it moving, keep it fair to ability. Two winners, keep them separate. Never the two shall mix.

Get round in less than 4 hours.

 

[kid2]

Not sure..
I guess at the time when you're capable of making par on any/all the holes on your course.
If you've made par once - you can do it again.
So when you've made a par on every hole on your course, as far as I'm concerned, it's time to look to par every hole.

Just had a peek at my stats on Howdidido and iv parred them all at one stage or another.....
Guess its time:thup:

 

[kid2]

I have long proposed that cat 3 and above should only be allowed to play stable ford. Split medals in two, cat 1 and 2 medal, cat 3 and above stable ford. Keep it moving, keep it fair to ability. Two winners, keep them separate. Never the two shall mix.

Get round in less than 4 hours.

Very good suggestion. It would take a lot of pressure off some players too.

 

[bobmac]

DONT keep your score in your head. That road more often than not only leads to panic on the last few holes if you have a good card going.

EVERY time I stand on a tee, I'm working out how I can birdie this hole. Sadly, it rarely happens at my age.
Anyone up to say 18 h/cap should be asking themselves, how can I par this hole?
Anyone above 18 should be asking how can I bogey this hole