Chapity
New member
You know, something I find helpful is this. I know I score watch. It doesnt help that I have an app for that that constantly reminds me of my position (golfshot...a must for anyone with an iPhone), but it doesn't really hurt me. I know when it's tanking. This happens and it's unnerving, but usually when it gets darkest, I snatch about 3-4 pars in a row and it's all good. What has really changed my scoring in the last 18 months (hard to believe it's been only bout that long since I broke 80...now it's almost every time) is one thing, make the game boring. I don't get excited for birdie unless its just goofy (like the 45 footer I drained on Tuesday). I don't get steamy over bogey (though i was pretty hot after the double on 14 to go from even to to two over). I just let it go, breath, and on the next tee, imagine the correct shot for the sitch and execute. Not try to execute, execute. Takes some getting used to, but it works. The more you worry about the down stuff, the more you stop playing golf and the more you start playing golf swing, and once your playing golf swing....well, ask Tiger. Perfect example, I played eighteen two weeks ago with a dude who was clearly a 12-14 capper. He was all over his swing stuff for nine holes and promptly droPped a 45 doing all kinds of wierd shiz. We lost our partner (who frankly wasnt helping dude out at all) and as we got to 10, he politely asked where I was. I told him I was at +3 and I was frankly lucky considering I wasn't flushing them. He took a second and, without trying to seem to inquisitive, asked me how I kept score and didn't get sacked about bad holes. I said "why would I? There is always the next hole". For the next 5 holes he played me even (which was ironically even). He was blowing right down the middle, hitting greens, putting without thought, and so on. Then, it all came apart on 15 (pulled his shot way left on 186 par 3...so far he was dry but had to hit over a pond). Couldn't let it go forthe next three holes. We come up on the tee at 18 (short par five, can't go driver, but to get he is 3w 3w, I eagle this thing about twice a month). He looks defected, he's all over his swing, he taking practice shot after practice shot, and I say "you know, you birdie this, you shoot 39...". He looks at me like I just jinxed him (it was his box, I doubled on 17 going wet with a two putt) and tells me that's too ambitious. I say "bull, you got the game, put a good swing on the driver, lay up, and then put it to nothing and shoot 39. All you need to think about". He does it. He has played with me twice since, and shot a personal best on top of my 76 last Thursday (81, he bought me beers). Serendipity, it works if you let it.
I was back in my hometown, on my home course, which is short and immaculate (ideal par breaking conditions :banana
and it was just my Dad and I. I played the front nine even, with six pars, two birdies, and a double on the easiest hole on the course. I made par on 10 and 11, which usually cause me problems and then my back, which had been bothering me all round, finally crapped out on me. :violin:I couldn't finish my swing and was having a hard time bending over to tee it up. I probably should have walked in, but it was such a great day to be outside and I hadn't played 18 in a couple of weeks, I just toughed it out. I ended up shooting three over, which for as much pain I was in, wasn't that bad. I'm not saying I would have broken par if my back hadn't seized up on me, but I can usually play 12-18 under par and I haven't been at even par or better that late in a round since coming back to the game. The times I've shot even or one over, I have finished strong. It would have been a fun and nerve-racking to have been even or under par going into the last few holes. I'm hoping I can get out and play tomorrow, but it's not looking good right now. :violin:I feel your pain, Canadan. We'll be breaking par soon enough. Sorry for the longest post ever.
