Winter League ends in frustration

[Matty]

Indulge me please while I vent some frustration. It was the last qualifying week of our 9 hole Winter League comp this weekend and I put my final card in yesterday evening.

After early rounds Stableford scores of 21,20,18 & 17 I've been in the qualifying places but it's been getting closer to "not quite good enough" as others have bettered their scores (best 4 scores over 8 weeks count). Over the last 3 weeks I've been playing steady but again not quite good enough.

Last night was typical, putts per green of 1.67 which is pretty good IMO - certainly as good as the pros on the European tour looking at the stats. But, I still played to 26 and 4 over handicap. Left me with 16 points (scored on all 9 holes) but still not improved my league position.

I'll have to hope that nobody else improves their scores either and I'll be in the final. And if not I'll be getting some golf balls for two 2s in earlier rounds.

So, pretty frustrated with my game at the moment - playing okay and hitting the ball well but just not scoring despite putting well!! Time for some just for fun social rounds I think.

 

[duncan mackie]

you need to honestly asses how you can be hitting the ball well and putting well but score 'poorly' - then work on that aspect of your game hard.

personally I would ignore the putting statistic, it's misleading. carefully record how many shots you take from 100yds in and go from there

 

[Ian_S]

Agree with Duncan re: the putting stats. Putts per GIR is a more meaningful stat.

I have seen one of the golf stat sites ask for distance of first putt as well, which is a very useful thing to record (you're much happier taking a 2 putt from 40 feet than a 2 putt from 4 feet) but depending on how strong your maths is you may not be able to analyse that very easily.

If you're taking 1.67 putts per green but your first putt is from a yard or two out every time then I'd say to work on putting. If you're taking 1.67 putts per green from 20 feet or more out most times then tee-to-green is where work needs doing.

 

[Matty]

I'd love to work out a "putts per GIR" but that would involve hitting some GIR! That's my problem, I don't get to the green effectively - if not for my putting I'd be scoring even worse!!!

 

[Ian_S]

Maybe a putts per GIR+1 then. Just something to normalise your putting numbers and remove those holes where you just miss the green and your chip on is essentially a free putt as far as the stats go.

Of course, if you're not hitting any GIR then that's a definite indication that your tee-to-green needs working on. I was just reading an older article on driving accuracy (http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/mental-game/sanders_gd0809) which might be useful for you, to narrow down whether your problem is with your driving or your fairway play.

Just as a word of warning though. If you start to improve your GIR hits, don't be surprised to see your putting numbers go up. Chances are you'll be putting from further away than you currently are.