Imploding on the last few holes

TheDoc

So,

This is becoming frighteningly regular at this stage. In short, when in a position where I look dead on cert to post a winning score, I absolutely implode the last few holes with no explanation what so ever.


Funny enough yesterday was my first outing with my new driver, absolutely creamed it, couldnt be happier.

This has been happening for years. Every so often I'll get through unscaved and think is gone, and it will bite me again shortly after. It always seems to be when I'm odds on cert to win or post a top 3 score.

Yesterday I was not on fire, but playing well and making good scores. I play off 11. So the opening 6 holes put me nicely, 13 points through 6.

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Total
Stroke 8 4 12 14 18 10 2 6 16 3 11 17 9 1 15 5 13 7
Par 4 4 4 3 5 3 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 5 4 3 4 72
Score 4 3 5 3 5 5 5 5 6 4 3 5 4 6 4 6 4 6 83


It started to faulter a little on the tail end of the front nine. Tough conditions were throwing my irons a little in terms of yardage. It was dissapointing but I was playing well and thought I could put together an aggressive high scoring back nine. 7,8,9 I was played in fairway from the tee, and just missed greens with my iron.

10 was a good up and down, 11 was routine, 12 was disappointing. 13 was a good pair with the wind, 14 acceptable considering it was into a gale, all 600 yards of it.

15 is typically my bogey hole. I'm more then capable of hitting it in two, but its too risky so I've been going with laying up. Driver into centre, 6 iron then left me about 70 yards and I put it to about 10 feet to snatch the birdie on one of the courses toughest greens.

I was pumped, knew I was going well and that I just needed to finish the round like I had been playing.

16th I hit a massive drive into the wind leaving me a 6 iron. I hit a lovely strike and looked up to see it wasn't drawing, staying straight right and it hit a bunker. With a long bunker shot I couldnt get it to stop before the hole and it ran away to about 15 feet, two putt 6.

I was pretty annoyed, but accepted it. I'm not good out of bunkers and its always a penalty shot when I am in one, I just cant deal with them.

17 is a routine par 3, normally a comfy iron into the middle of the green and you take your par. Yesterdays pin was teasing, just lower tier, the option to draw an iron over the bunker is risky, but fading an iron over the heavy rough is risky too. I went with the draw using a bit of wind and put myself to about 14 feet. Downhill with some right to left, confident of my par. My putting is pretty strong, I rarely three putt. BOINK. Bogey...

Now I could feel the rage building. I know this is part of my game I need to stamp out. I know I've got alot of good ability, but I feel I'm still holding onto when I used to play of 6, not accepting that I'm going to be rusty so many years out of the game. My anger is something I've never really curbed to be honest, but I find it helps me, it gets me focused and determined, albeit a bit destructive for playing partners perhaps.

I've now taken 2 points from two, 35. I still have a chance, par the last I'll have put in a 38 and in with a shout. I went with driver off the tee. Very risky considering alot of water is in play, but I felt I needed to be aggressive. another massive drive leaves me 50 yards to the pin. I cannot state how massive a drive that is on our 18th.

I go with a delicate wedge to keep me on the bottom tier, and out of nowhere its in the lake. After some swearing and staring in the sky, its back to my turn and I chip to about 6 feet, a big swinger but more then makable, miss to finish with a 6.

Rage can't really describe it. It feels like a wasted day, 3 hours playing really well for the last like 50 minutes to unhinge the day. And what is worse is that its happened plenty this year. This is the main reason I quit last time around, simply not enjoying my round, when I should. Really good gold yesterday, good craic, lovely new driver, but instead I've just got intolerable anger all day.

Seeing the results doesnt make me feel any better, I know it should have been my name at 1st. I even had an experience of it at the last boards outing. After a wretched 9 point front 9, I figured from chatting to one of the lads, that if I stepped up and posted a level back nine I might be in with a shout. Conditions were tough for society golf so I went for it. And I was nearly there, if not for a ghastly bogey double bogey finish, I might have snatched a prize.

I'm wondering if anyone goes through the same, or has gone through the same routine and fixed it. Its purely mental.

It is not fatigue. I keep myself hydrated and all that lark, and to be fair I'm used to alot more endurance stuff then golf playing years of ball and airsoft. I don't look that fit but I've decent stamina.

It is not poor course management, the last few holes are straight forward. There is no real decisions that have to be made in terms of course management.

I'm not a bottler. I've played golf in front of decent sized crowds as a junior and I've played footie at a high enough level that I know what pressure is, this is casual club golf, nothing of the sort, so it cant be that.

I'm just stuck with what to try or do to sort it out. I have overall done well this year so far, first year back 3 years out, have a couple of wins and top 5's under my belt. I racked up €500 in the club account since March which is serious money.

But I cant help think I could have a host of more, a lower handicap and just a better enjoyment from golf if I wasn't consistently having veins burst after the last 3-4 holes.

MP62

TheDoc wrote: »

So,

This is becoming frighteningly regular at this stage. In short, when in a position where I look dead on cert to post a winning score, I absolutely implode the last few holes with no explanation what so ever.


Funny enough yesterday was my first outing with my new driver, absolutely creamed it, couldnt be happier.

This has been happening for years. Every so often I'll get through unscaved and think is gone, and it will bite me again shortly after. It always seems to be when I'm odds on cert to win or post a top 3 score.

Yesterday I was not on fire, but playing well and making good scores. I play off 11. So the opening 6 holes put me nicely, 13 points through 6.

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Total
Stroke 8 4 12 14 18 10 2 6 16 3 11 17 9 1 15 5 13 7
Par 4 4 4 3 5 3 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 5 4 3 4 72
Score 4 3 5 3 5 5 5 5 6 4 3 5 4 6 4 6 4 6 83


It started to faulter a little on the tail end of the front nine. Tough conditions were throwing my irons a little in terms of yardage. It was dissapointing but I was playing well and thought I could put together an aggressive high scoring back nine. 7,8,9 I was played in fairway from the tee, and just missed greens with my iron.

10 was a good up and down, 11 was routine, 12 was disappointing. 13 was a good pair with the wind, 14 acceptable considering it was into a gale, all 600 yards of it.

15 is typically my bogey hole. I'm more then capable of hitting it in two, but its too risky so I've been going with laying up. Driver into centre, 6 iron then left me about 70 yards and I put it to about 10 feet to snatch the birdie on one of the courses toughest greens.

I was pumped, knew I was going well and that I just needed to finish the round like I had been playing.

16th I hit a massive drive into the wind leaving me a 6 iron. I hit a lovely strike and looked up to see it wasn't drawing, staying straight right and it hit a bunker. With a long bunker shot I couldnt get it to stop before the hole and it ran away to about 15 feet, two putt 6.

I was pretty annoyed, but accepted it. I'm not good out of bunkers and its always a penalty shot when I am in one, I just cant deal with them.

17 is a routine par 3, normally a comfy iron into the middle of the green and you take your par. Yesterdays pin was teasing, just lower tier, the option to draw an iron over the bunker is risky, but fading an iron over the heavy rough is risky too. I went with the draw using a bit of wind and put myself to about 14 feet. Downhill with some right to left, confident of my par. My putting is pretty strong, I rarely three putt. BOINK. Bogey...

Now I could feel the rage building. I know this is part of my game I need to stamp out. I know I've got alot of good ability, but I feel I'm still holding onto when I used to play of 6, not accepting that I'm going to be rusty so many years out of the game. My anger is something I've never really curbed to be honest, but I find it helps me, it gets me focused and determined, albeit a bit destructive for playing partners perhaps.

I've now taken 2 points from two, 35. I still have a chance, par the last I'll have put in a 38 and in with a shout. I went with driver off the tee. Very risky considering alot of water is in play, but I felt I needed to be aggressive. another massive drive leaves me 50 yards to the pin. I cannot state how massive a drive that is on our 18th.

I go with a delicate wedge to keep me on the bottom tier, and out of nowhere its in the lake. After some swearing and staring in the sky, its back to my turn and I chip to about 6 feet, a big swinger but more then makable, miss to finish with a 6.

Rage can't really describe it. It feels like a wasted day, 3 hours playing really well for the last like 50 minutes to unhinge the day. And what is worse is that its happened plenty this year. This is the main reason I quit last time around, simply not enjoying my round, when I should. Really good gold yesterday, good craic, lovely new driver, but instead I've just got intolerable anger all day.

Seeing the results doesnt make me feel any better, I know it should have been my name at 1st. I even had an experience of it at the last boards outing. After a wretched 9 point front 9, I figured from chatting to one of the lads, that if I stepped up and posted a level back nine I might be in with a shout. Conditions were tough for society golf so I went for it. And I was nearly there, if not for a ghastly bogey double bogey finish, I might have snatched a prize.

I'm wondering if anyone goes through the same, or has gone through the same routine and fixed it. Its purely mental.

It is not fatigue. I keep myself hydrated and all that lark, and to be fair I'm used to alot more endurance stuff then golf playing years of ball and airsoft. I don't look that fit but I've decent stamina.

It is not poor course management, the last few holes are straight forward. There is no real decisions that have to be made in terms of course management.

I'm not a bottler. I've played golf in front of decent sized crowds as a junior and I've played footie at a high enough level that I know what pressure is, this is casual club golf, nothing of the sort, so it cant be that.

I'm just stuck with what to try or do to sort it out. I have overall done well this year so far, first year back 3 years out, have a couple of wins and top 5's under my belt. I racked up €500 in the club account since March which is serious money.

But I cant help think I could have a host of more, a lower handicap and just a better enjoyment from golf if I wasn't consistently having veins burst after the last 3-4 holes.

tl;dr
Over analyse much?.
You have to lose way more than you win and by the sounds of it you're not doing too bad on the winning front.
I'd say it's as simple as you just getting ahead of yourself, it happens learn from it and next time stay in the moment.

lowelife

FAO Adam Scott

TheDoc

lowelife wrote: »

FAO Adam Scott

Couldnt believe that happened same day, feel his pain

You have to lose way more than you win and by the sounds of it you're not doing too bad on the winning front.
I'd say it's as simple as you just getting ahead of yourself, it happens learn from it and next time stay in the moment.

I've got two 1st places since March, its absolutely no exageration to say it could have easily being six, and my various top 5's could have been a place higher aswell.

I don't think its getting ahead of myself. I definitely think a little ahead at times, but that's just planning, not that I can see myself collecting the prize, I'd go as far as be just working stuff out. And that just comes from other sports, I don't see it as a problem.

Problem being I'm not learning from anything, it keeps happening, and has been for years.

I'm planning to take some time over the next few weeks to go out in the evening 2-3 times a week and just hammer out the back nine , maybe come up with a plan of how to get through the last 3-4 without issue.

PRAF

Some thoughts
- firstly, you are obviously a pretty good golfer and seem to have most of the shots required. You played to your handicap overall and seem to have had a good to great season so far. Focus on the positives!
- secondly, you've admitted a couple of weak parts of your game. You need to tune up your bunker play for a start. Turn that weakness into a strength, we all need to work on the short game
- lastly, you need to lighten up on the course. Getting down after a bad shot is ok but you need to let it go immediately. Look at Tiger - he hits a bad shot but then forgets about it and focusses 100% on the next shot. Sounds like you let the rage build up too much and it affected you, especially on the 18th

Also, am I missing something or did you just bogey the 16th rather than double it? Where did the other shot go?

Goldenjohn

Is it just on your home course or all courses?

How do you know your strategy is right? (eg) sounds like you don't need driver on the last and leave a full wedge rather than an in-between distance. Personally I hate those 40 - 70 yard pitches way prefer 100+

Are you coming up short or overshooting greens...are you allowing for the adrenaline of been in contention..if your getting angry it has to have a negative effect on your golf & if your that pumped up it has to affect your distance control if it is bad enough to put off your playing partners you can't be in control...

Agree with MP too you can't win them all and u have a excellent win/ place ratio at the min...hope you sort it out

Oilbeefhooked!

Sounds like the problem is purely between your ears mate.
i.e. Just getting a bit ahead of yourself and thinking about your score.
I personally dont really want to know my stableford score until ive shaken hands on the 18th. Usually get told my score on 10th tee,
but am happy enough not to know!!
As soon as youve holed out on a green, start thinking about the next tee shot, try not to give your mind time to start adding up scores.
I Just focus on the next shot , remembering
good shots i've played from that position before helps me too.
Just try and focus on anything but your score card.
Played with loads of guys at my course who get to the 14/15th
tee and say things like -
"if i can just get another ???points i should be in the hunt",
and almost to a man they will find water or o/b on the last few holes
and end their chances.
My point is - You dont have to see yourself collecting the prize to get ahead of yourself!!:)

Keano

TheDoc wrote: »

Couldnt believe that happened same day, feel his pain



I've got two 1st places since March, its absolutely no exageration to say it could have easily being six, and my various top 5's could have been a place higher aswell.

I don't think its getting ahead of myself. I definitely think a little ahead at times, but that's just planning, not that I can see myself collecting the prize, I'd go as far as be just working stuff out. And that just comes from other sports, I don't see it as a problem.

Problem being I'm not learning from anything, it keeps happening, and has been for years.

I'm planning to take some time over the next few weeks to go out in the evening 2-3 times a week and just hammer out the back nine , maybe come up with a plan of how to get through the last 3-4 without issue.

It always seems to be when I'm odds on cert to win or post a top 3 score.

You might be thinking your not but these 2 statements say it all. Forget about the prizes and winning and start playing the holes the way you know you can.

Alrite Chief

You reckon it could be in your head

Boskowski

TheDoc wrote: »

16th I hit a massive drive into the wind leaving me a 6 iron. I hit a lovely strike and looked up to see it wasn't drawing, staying straight right and it hit a bunker. With a long bunker shot I couldnt get it to stop before the hole and it ran away to about 15 feet, two putt 6.

No matter how often I re-read this I keep counting 5

TheDoc

PRAF wrote: »

Some thoughts
- firstly, you are obviously a pretty good golfer and seem to have most of the shots required. You played to your handicap overall and seem to have had a good to great season so far. Focus on the positives!
- secondly, you've admitted a couple of weak parts of your game. You need to tune up your bunker play for a start. Turn that weakness into a strength, we all need to work on the short game
- lastly, you need to lighten up on the course. Getting down after a bad shot is ok but you need to let it go immediately. Look at Tiger - he hits a bad shot but then forgets about it and focusses 100% on the next shot. Sounds like you let the rage build up too much and it affected you, especially on the 18th

Also, am I missing something or did you just bogey the 16th rather than double it? Where did the other shot go?

The bunker thing is getting me down big time. I've tried about four different methods and I'm either gently popping them barely out of a bunker, I dont get any length. I wouldnt mind hitting one of a pin every now and again, atleast it shows some good contact. Something that needs improvement for sure.

And I scored a 6 on 16, Stroke = Index on that site afaik. Par 4 I carded a 6.

Is it just on your home course or all courses?

How do you know your strategy is right? (eg) sounds like you don't need driver on the last and leave a full wedge rather than an in-between distance. Personally I hate those 40 - 70 yard pitches way prefer 100+

Are you coming up short or overshooting greens...are you allowing for the adrenaline of been in contention..if your getting angry it has to have a negative effect on your golf & if your that pumped up it has to affect your distance control if it is bad enough to put off your playing partners you can't be in control...

Agree with MP too you can't win them all and u have a excellent win/ place ratio at the min...hope you sort it out

Its just my home course, which has me ruling out fatigue for starters. Your 100% correct in that I dont need a driver, and thinking about it, it wasnt just me chasing on Sunday. I seem to go driver alot there with the risk being water hazard, the reward being a wedge in.

Going to experiment with a 3 wood off the tee and see what distances I'm left, the problem with our 18th is that if you dont carry a small ridge, your left with an awkward stance and a relatively long iron in. to compensate.


The first thing I thought it was , was mentally, and I think it is. The last 4 holes arn't overly tough to be honest, I just make a hash of them. I'm definitly one of those that knows my score in the back of my head, and find it tough to not think about it. That's for sure. I don't think I'd be able to forget my score going around and just play. While "winning" isn't the end all and be all, improving and getting my handicap down is for me. I'm one of those that always has my score in my head, so I have an idea when or what I need to do coming down to certain holes.

That might be the problem, but at the same time, I've had many occasions where knowing I need to ramp it up, and then I do it, is a stupidly satisfying feeling. Palmerstown was a good example, absolutely dead in the pan, but I figured if I nabbed a level/+1 back nine then I'd have a chance. And after firing 8 pars its a tremendous feeling to know you can just pickup from a dirt front nine.

And its something I like having in my locker, that ability. I dont know where it comes from, be it anger, bit of rage, focus, determination, whatever. But there are times where I just stand on the 10th tee or something and just in my head say what I'm going to do, then go do it. Granted it doesn't always come off, or sometimes its mildly off the mark, it feels amazing.

I had a chat with my Da last night during a drive, just asking him what he thought. He agreed that he'd lost count of the amount of comps I'd thrown away on the last three to four holes and last Sunday was no exception. He thinks its down to the anger I vent during a round. Said he notices that when a hole goes a little wonky, it normally sits with me for two - three holes.

His example was Sunday on the closing of the front nine. A stupid double bogey on a relatively ok par 3, and then I had a bit of rage on me for a few holes and made bogeys, he said I looked calm coming to the 10th and I started hitting pars again. Also mentioned when he used to watch me playing football if I got angry I'd be all over the shop for a few minutes until I calmed down again and focused.

So, with that, and as some guys pointed out above, I think the first thing I'll try is take the aggression and anger out of my game, if I can. Its easier said then done, I'm a horribly competitive fella at most things. But I think I need to move away from the swearing and pepped up internal rage, and focus on saving a hole when it goes bad.

Course management wise, the last three holes dont seem too difficult. Granted I think on 18 I should be taking a 3 wood, the others are routine enough. Its hard not to be aggressive to the pin on 16 as the only danger are left and right of a relatively large green. 17 is a big horrible if you miss the green, but again a bit target I should be hitting with a 7 /6 iron.

Anyways, cheers for the comments fellas. I've a singles matchplay today against a good player so we will see how the more calm Doc works out.

TheDoc

Boskowski wrote: »

No matter how often I re-read this I keep counting 5

You know I just coped on what you and the other poster mean, when I described my hole, not actually what was marked.

And your spot on, that is only five. Trying to think back, I dont think I three putted...or if I did, probably also leans more to the rage. I remember being in a right fluster walking to the 17th, so I musta three putted :O

alxmorgan

TheDoc wrote: »

He thinks its down to the anger I vent during a round. Said he notices that when a hole goes a little wonky, it normally sits with me for two - three holes.

Was listening to Karl Morris the other day on this and he was talking about memory being in two camps - that infused with emotion and that without.
He says when you infuse a memory with emotion you make it more likely to stay with you and have an impact when you face a simliar situation again.
When you react with rage your central nervous system lights up and attachs great singnificance to what happened and it will be there the next time you have a similar scenario.

Basically the idea is to learn from mistakes and then throw them away attaching no emotion to them. He recommends taking a deep breathe out - expel all the air from your lungs. So you are effectlvely letting the bad shot out of you and then start to focus on the next.

Similarly when you hit a good shot attach great emotion to it - which should increase the chances of it happening again.

Not surei if it will work but I don't think rage is gonna help you and his explanation of it appeals to me on a common sense level.

GreeBo

Do you play with your dad a lot?
If so might be worthwhile playing a few rounds with strangers, we are usually better behaved and focus more when playing with people we dont know?

TheDoc

GreeBo wrote: »

Do you play with your dad a lot?
If so might be worthwhile playing a few rounds with strangers, we are usually better behaved and focus more when playing with people we dont know?

Yeah I play with my Dad mostly, but on occasion will play with strangers when times dont suit.

I'm definitely a bit more free with my Da and the usual fourball, I still want to stamp it out but I know they wont think bad of it, they just know its dissapointment and anger at a bad shot.

With strangers the anger and stuff is a bit more pepped up inside and nearly chews away more.

I've played fantastic golf, winning rounds, closed out the last few more times with my Da then without, plus I like playing with him, hes my Da

Scrolling back, there is alot of talk on the anger I carry with me over bad shots, think today is a good time if any to stamp it out. Especially considering the guy I'm playing has a similar problem, when he goes off the rails it takes him 2-3 holes to recover, so remaining externally calm anyway might atleast give me something

irish bloke

Are you being a little over analytic and hard on your self?

Holes 6-9 you were 5 over par with those holes having an average index difficulty of 8.5. From you post you were quite happy with this scoring.

Holes 16-18 you were 5 over par with those holes having an average index difficulty of 8.33.

There is not alot of difference between these 2 parts of the round yet you are sure its some sort of mental collapse on your part.

Its a good score you had and while yes the finish could have being better you are playing to your handicap.

You could go out tomorrow and have those bad stints in the middle of your round and you probably wouldnt even post about it.

TheDoc

irish bloke wrote: »

Are you being a little over analytic and hard on your self?

Holes 6-9 you were 5 over par with those holes having an average index difficulty of 8.5. From you post you were quite happy with this scoring.

Holes 16-18 you were 5 over par with those holes having an average index difficulty of 8.33.

There is not alot of difference between these 2 parts of the round yet you are sure its some sort of mental collapse on your part.

Its a good score you had and while yes the finish could have being better you are playing to your handicap.

You could go out tomorrow and have those bad stints in the middle of your round and you probably wouldnt even post about it.

Howdidido.com has some pretty good graphs.

Looking at my scoring charts for this year, its seem consistent that the last 4 holes I'm not scoring well on.

At some point during the round elsewhere there is a blip, but there is something consistent happening in the last 4.

Too right I'm over analytical,

1) I'm just like that in sports, did it with football and do it with golf, want to always improve
2) Slow day in work

irish bloke

TheDoc wrote: »

Howdidido.com has some pretty good graphs.

Looking at my scoring charts for this year, its seem consistent that the last 4 holes I'm not scoring well on.

At some point during the round elsewhere there is a blip, but there is something consistent happening in the last 4.

Too right I'm over analytical,

1) I'm just like that in sports, did it with football and do it with golf, want to always improve
2) Slow day in work

There is nothing wrong with being analytic, its making sure you are analytic about the right things.

Maybe the last holes are more difficult, maybe the dont suit your game, maybe you suffer with stamina towards the end of a round, maybe there is nothing wrong at all...

blue note

I still remember my worst implosion pretty much blow for blow. And it was 2 and a half years ago!

Playing off 16, I started the round with a double bogey for a point. For the next 13 holes I was +4. So I walked onto the 15th tee box with 35 points, and slightly disappointed with 5 points from the previous two holes (probably the two toughest on the course).

The 15th is a short par 3. I hit a cut down wedge in which was just slightly too long and ended up in a bunker. The shot out was ok, but just caught a downslope on the green and ran off. The chip back on wasn’t the worst – I left myself about a 4 footer which I lipped out on. A 5, my first scratch of the day.

Onto 16 – a par 5 with a lake in front of the green. I hit a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway and then a perfect second just in front of the lake. Then I came up just short with my sand wedge in – twice.

Onto 17 – par 4. I went into the trees with my drive and finished with a 9.

18 – I cant remember too well what I did here, but a par would still have left me with 38 points. Instead I finished with an 8. 35 points after 14, 35 after 18. I was just shell shocked from it!

SnowDrifts

OP I feel your pain. I have myself in the same hole. Had 25pts after 10 two weeks ago and ended up not even finishing in the prizes. I have been trying to just practice playing the back 9 in the evenings but it's not really helping. Its as if I have already talked myself out of it before I get to the closing holes.

BoardsMember

The most likely thing is that you're getting ahead of yourself, and counting your score, what you need in the last few holes.

A piece of advice I got on here, if you cannot disregard the score, is to concentrate on three holes at a time, and have a target for each set of three holes. So for 16/17/18 have a target. OF course, the best thing to do is to play each shot at a time and forget about the score.

Here's a question - how do you tend to score on the last few holes when you dont have a score going?

Sometimes its important when you stand up on each of the last tees to take some extra time. Acknowledge you have hit some poor shots recently on those holes, and make certain you have a good strong image of what you are trying to do. Make sure your focus is good, and commit fully to the shot.

I also have problems with last few holes, but the last 2 are the toughest on the course, and the 16th is not too easy either so am fairly easy on myself about them. I know I can finish strongly but I know I might not, c'est la vie.