Things that piss me off (Golf related)

[Vintage]

Join in, as golfing season is open.

I played my first 9 holes on Monday...... I knew it was going to be rough, because, well, it was the first round of the year. Shot a 52. Ouch. My putting was phenomenal. I had 15 putts, which included 2 3putts. 9 putts for the other 7 holes, I'll take.

My inability to get over the inevitable bad hole continues to plague me. Case in point... I was on my way to a respectable round of mid-high 40s until I hit the 7th hole. It was something like a 138 yard Par 3. Grabbed my trusty PW and shanked my tee shot into the woods. So I am hitting 3 still at the tee. It was windy, so I aimed to the right side of the green, expecting the wind to draw it back into the center of the green. Flag was on the left side of the green, but it was guarded by a bunker in front. I hit my tee shot. And the wind shifted directions. I landed in the bunker to the right of the green, where I had been aiming (but the wind never pushed it back to the center of the green). I can't get out of bunkers to save my life. I hit my 4th shot, which sucked, about 25 feet from the hole. I decided I needed to give myself a chance at making the putt for a 5. I nearly did. I missed the cup by what my friend said about 2" on the high side.

I was fuming. I had 2' left on my comeback shot, was pissed as all hell, turned to my friend and said watch me three putt this. Sure as hell, I missed the comeback and had to tap in.

7

On a ******* par 3.

This is what I refer to as my meltdown. Its inevitable. I have one terrible hole, and then, I am done for (if it happens late in the round...it usually takes me 3 holes to recover).

I double bogey the next, and double bogey the last hole. The last hole was my 2nd 3 putt of the day. Of course, it didn't help matters when I turned my putter backwards and putted left handed out of frustration.

It sucked. But still, it should have been a lot worse than a 52....which gave me some hope.

Then I went out again yesterday. Only problem was, it was 30MPH winds.

This time, I hit some pretty good tee shots.

I left my putting at home. I couldn't hit jack. And to make matters worse, we had to follow some H.S. golf team that was going slooooooooooow as hell. I finally got frustrated and used my SW for everything on a couple of holes. Tee shots, second shots, approach shots, putting - SW did it all. And what really got my blood boiling was that even though I was using my SW off the tee on par 4s and such....WE STILL KEPT PACE WITH THE GROUP AHEAD OF US.

Don't know what I scored; don't really care.

It should not take 1 hour to play the first 3 holes; two hours to get through 7, and 2.5 hours to get through 9.

 

[Bizwah]

I'm there with you....

But you know what they say.

"Your worst day of golf.........is always your next one."

I finally shot under 80 for the first time last year. I was pumped. I had my short game going, I was driving the fairway. I thought I finally "got it".

The next time out I shot 120....I kid you not. I hit into every water hazard, I hit into the trees.....I even hit the wrong ball.

And Par threes are always my worst holes.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

No matter how bad I do during either 9 or 18 holes.... when I get to the last hole... I make a great shot and it makes me want to play again next time.

If golf wasnt so cruel... I would play the last hole terribly and maybe never go back..... well... nah....

but you know what I mean.

 

[ajk23az]

Have a beer.

As for your inevitable meltdowns, the more you think your going to do it, the more often you will do it. You have to get yourself to think you are going to make every putt and hit every shot crisp, try to rid the bad thoughts totally. Its tough I know.

Once you shoot a good score, and do it 2-3 times in a row, you know you have the abilities to do it and mentally you wont let yourself down as much.

Getting pissed does nothing except make you play worse.

 

[ologan]

Just try to remember,even par 5's & par 4's are nothing more than par 3's after a couple of shots!

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I used to be bothered by "blow up" holes effecting me for 3-4 holes afterward.

The best thing to do is play for bogey on the next hole, take a 4 or 5 Iron off the next tee. Whatever you can put in play. It keeps one blow up from turning into a stretch of blow ups.

The best thing to do when you're caught behind a slow group this early in the year is to play "worst ball". Hit two tee shots then play second shots from the worst and so on. When you scrape something out of a terrible tee shot, it gets in your head that you can recover from bad shots so when you're only playing one ball the bad shot doesn't bother you as much.

 

[Khartun]

I'm there with you....

But you know what they say.

"Your worst day of golf.........is always your next one."

I finally shot under 80 for the first time last year. I was pumped. I had my short game going, I was driving the fairway. I thought I finally "got it".

The next time out I shot 120....I kid you not. I hit into every water hazard, I hit into the trees.....I even hit the wrong ball.

And Par threes are always my worst holes.

Or, "Your worst day of golf.........is better than your best day at work."

 

[ologan]

I've never considered myself a good golfer,and frankly could count on a couple of fingers the times in my life that I actually broke 100. I wrote that off to the fact that I never really had the time (took the time,if truth be told)to progressively get better. I was a sucker for the Big Bertha syndrome,meaning if it was the biggest to have,it had to be the best,and man,would I be able to crush the ball just like they show on tv. sorta like 99% of the fishing lures designed and made are strictly for the purpose of catching the fisherman.
Man,I tried it all...Big clubs,high degree wedges designed to stop a ball after one bounce,all sorts of utility clubs and putters. I was losing interest,and of course was too lazy or vain to take lessons,but my mindset changed at the beginning of last golf season.
For one thing,owning my own company,I decided why the hell not start playing more? Who is going to rat on me to the boss?
The first round I played last year,I was all rarin' to go,pulled out the 'War Club' on hole one,and,like years past,immediately found myself in trouble.The round was one of my usual 100+ fiascos.
I figured right then and there,that I would have to change my personal concept of the game AS I PERCEIVED IT!
So a week later,on the next round,I had nothing in my bag longer than a five iron,and proceeded to use it to tee off on the par 4's and 5's. It was something I could control,and if it was a little off,it wouldn't put me in too much trouble. I did this for the next five rounds,and didn't go over 100 once.
After that,I started getting more comfortable,and using a 3 wood off the tee box,and an occasional three or four iron when the situation called for it.
I also learned that it matters not how you get the ball to the hole,as long as it gets there. By that I mean everybody who plays,from the ugliest duffer to Tiger Woods,visualizes those absolutely beautiful high arching shots you see on every TV broadcast. I've found that I can get there just as easily by hitting a good pitch and run.

I've also rethought my concept of what par is. I would be more than happy to play pure bogey golf for the rest of my life. I added a stroke to each hole and established that total as my private par,which is something I can get closer to than actual par. bogey golf is 18 strokes over par,or a 90 on a par 72 course. I find if I set that as my starting goal,I'm not crushed if I don't get into the 80's all the time.

I did splurge on a new set of irons before last year started,getting a set of Adams Idea irons that I actually love. You've all heard the term 'forgiving' clubs,with sweet spot and weighting advantages. These have seemed to help my game,whether it be from the actual physical characteristics of the club carrying over to the mental aspect of the game,or not. I am enjoying playing with them.

I will never be a scratch golfer,and frankly,wouldn't want to be....I think it would be too much pressure to stay there. That would be when the game would quit being a game,and become an obsession.

I never shot 100 or over for the rest of the season,which went into December,and even shot in the high 80's a couple of times. I can't wait to start againin the next few weeks.Just my thoughts.

 

[ajk23az]

I will never be a scratch golfer,and frankly,wouldn't want to be....I think it would be too much pressure to stay there. That would be when the game would quit being a game,and become an obsession.

No it doesn't

I am not a scratch golfer, actually a 1 handicap but it doesn't become an obsession nor is there more pressure of staying there.

I play a round once a week, and hit the range/putting green 2 times a week for a while.

Now if i wanted to get to a scratch or even plus handicap, yeah, I need more practice. But, it doesn't take much to stay there once you are there.

But now, since I might've torn my ACL last night, it will be tough to stay there.

 

[Vintage]

In high school, I got down to high 80s. But since college, my game has gotten worse.

Well, certain aspects, anyway. I lost about 30-40 yards on my drives. I now am driving around 230-240.... Occasionally, I can still bomb on out around 280+. Some of it comes from slowing down my club head speed.... in doing so, I have gained accuracy. Now when I miss fairways, I am barely missing them. Before, when I missed, it was often on the fairway of the parallel hole. And I do suspect I have lost some club head speed naturally, as a result of golfing less than I did in High School.

But my putting has gotten a lot better (even though I didn't show it the other day). My approach shots however, find me consistantly to the left or right of the green. Although, that seems easy enough to fix, as I suspect its an alignment problem...

Someone suggested it....and I think I am going to try it: try playing every hole aiming for bogey. Once I can do that with consistancy, I'll re-do my goals.

Its frusturating though, because I do give myself a chance for birdie usually twice every nine holes.... I struggle with consistancy though. I can follow that up with a double bogey too.

As for the suggestion of using irons off the tee on the following hole: probably a good suggestion for a lot of golfers. But I can hit my driver straighter than my low irons. And I do have a lot of confidence in my driver (and even more confidence in my 3 Wood).

I am actually thinking about buying a Bobby Jones hybrid to alleviate some of the problems I have with hitting my low irons. Actually, there probably is no "probably" to it. As soon as my tax rebate check comes in, I am getting one.


But yeah - if anyone has more tips, please share them. I spent last summer shooting in the 90s. I am welcome to any suggestions/tips...

 

[silverbear]

Have a beer.

As for your inevitable meltdowns, the more you think your going to do it, the more often you will do it. You have to get yourself to think you are going to make every putt and hit every shot crisp, try to rid the bad thoughts totally. Its tough I know.

Once you shoot a good score, and do it 2-3 times in a row, you know you have the abilities to do it and mentally you wont let yourself down as much.

Getting pissed does nothing except make you play worse.

When I was a young assistant pro, I was semi-legendary for my temper... I'd put the silver bird aloft at the drop of a hat, or a fat hit...

Then somewhere along the line, I figured out that I'm a really good scrambler-- if I keep my wits about me... so I made myself a solemn promise, that I most always keep (LOL), that I won't get pissed until the hole is over, then I'll get over it before I hit the next tee...

I'm not gonna say that I don't occasionally have what I call a "constructive temper tantrum" on that next tee, where I get a little of my pent-up anger out by reaching back to hit my next tee shot JUST a little harder than I usually swing... when you really nail one, you can feel the hostility draining away...

But my game really improved when I realized I was pretty good at getting up and down after a bad shot... hell, even Jack Nicklaus said he expected to hit a minimum of 7 bad shots in every round; the trick, he felt, was to turn as many of those bad shots into pars as you possibly could... that's been my philosophy for many years now...

 

[Hostile]

Useful tip that always works. Line up your putts with the logo on the ball. The only time you get to pick up your ball and not get penalized a shot is on the green. Put your marker down and pick up the ball. After you read the break re-spot your ball with the logo pointing the direction you want the ball to go. You should be able to read the name of the ball as you look down. You will be surprised how much of a difference this can make in the short game.

When hitting out of the sand you want to open your club face about 20 degrees and hit the ball fat. If you are right handed you should aim two to three feet left of the flag. This way the natural action of the swing will draw the ball towards the flag after it lands on the green.

Two things that always work for me.

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

I'll give a pointer that I thought wouldn't work when I was first told.

When a person goes into sand, they usually grab the SW or even the PW. If the sand trap is lower than the green, use the 9 and "pop" it. Almost like a chop. That ball, for me, usually will pop straight up and lands on the green. First time that I did it, I was shocked that it worked.

One thing that my friends find funny about my game is that I will play the clubs that I feel comfortable with for the day. Lets say you use a driver and a PW to get onto a green. I might use a 5 on both shots to get there. You are at two and so am I.

 

[MapleLeaf]

...everyone has heard "drive for show and putt for dough".

When I practice I like to zero in on the chip to the green. Especially if I am in a good position to go for the pin. (50 yards or less with the pin in sight).

Practice that chip and take the pressure off your putter by giving it a real chance.

Manage your game. Know yourself.

Example, take some time on a driving range to determine the length of each iron and wood. Too many times I have seen players drive over their target or fall short because they didn't know the length of their clubs.

Some players are alignment challenged. Others are tempo challenged. Find your weaknesses and develop strategies to offset them.

Don't be afraid to make a small golfing booklet that you can put in your back pocket with some of the tips you know have worked well for you in the past. Often times they will reflect on a situation you will see quite often like putting uphill, sand play or side hill lies.

Manage yourself and take control of your game. You will probably end up scoring better with less frustration on the course and in the end it will be a better walk in the park without the anger directed at a white ball.

 

[Hostile]

...everyone has heard "drive for show and putt for dough".

When I practice I like to zero in on the chip to the green. Especially if I am in a good position to go for the pin. (50 yards or less with the pin in sight).

Practice that chip and take the pressure off your putter by giving it a real chance.

I do this now and then when we do a large group. We'll have prizes for fewest putts by the group, etc. I'll try and lay up off the green so I can chip and run to the flag. If lucky I'm in range for a short putt. When I do this I leave the woods in the bag and only play the irons. Long irons off the tee on 4's and 5's. I stay in the fairway a lot more this way. Distance is worthless if it isn't where you need the ball to be.

There's a par 3 course here in town I play now and then. I take 3 clubs. The 7, 9, and putter. Usually don't need anything more than that.

Oh, I want to show you guys the golf bag I'm looking to buy.