Honest about your game.

FixdePitchmark

Was having a think there on the chipping green, about what is and was, the biggest obstacle for me to improve at this game.

When I look at the mistakes I made in last 3 years - I could have saved maybe 1 year - by packing in range and just working on putting and chipping.

For too long - I was afraid to practice the stuff I was poor at.

The funny thing is when you take on the stuff you are poor at - it is very very hard - but then , you make little breaks , then it is a little easier.

Was actually out chipping today and enjoying it - still have a major battle with putting and still avoid short stuff on green.

Is there anything you don't practice at all - is there a part of your game you do too much on.

Maybe this is just an issue with me.

But is there something in your game holding you back - you are not taking on.

Anyway - just a different topic, where we be a little honest with ourselves about what is holding you back ?

Boskowski

I guess same as yourself, should really be practicing chipping and putting more. I'm a pretty decent putter but chipping was awful for the first month or so this season. And I mean awful, like blading across the green or fluffing and leave it there stuff. If I had been able to sort that out earlier I could have had a better season than I had. And I actually had a good season. 16.7 to 13.9. One win, a 2nd, 2 3rd places, lot of buffer zone results, comfortably in the top 30 for GOY event. And I probably have one more score in me even.

My problem is I don't like practice on the practice range and on the practice green. I like on course practice. I go out all by myself after work like the last two or three hours of daylight and I play 9 or 11 holes with two balls. It's like millionaires golf out on my course at that time of day. I'm all alone and I can do whatever I like. I'd play a poor chip while pottering along with my 2 balls and I'd hang around that green for a while chipping from all angles. Then I'd move on, play 2 or 3 holes and hang around a green again for a while. I really like practicing this way but I guess it takes longer than being on the practice green.

But I agree, chipping and putting is where its at. Two years ago I made myself do that practice routine I found on thesandtrap. Probably heard of it. 20 putts from 3 feet n a row. And if you miss one you need to start all over again. Then 15 from 5 feet. Then 15 from 25 feet within 3 feet circle. All the time one miss and you start all over again. Then chipping along the same lines. I didn't do it all that long, maybe 3 weeks and I didn't even finish the whole cycle, like bunker and full shots etc. But for the rest of that season I couldn't scratch a hole.

We all know what we should be doing but we do what we enjoy. It's a game and its supposed to be fun.

FixdePitchmark

Very similar story to Boskowski - when i started a short game and putting regime - it as only a few weeks and I was having best ever rounds - it was actually a bit shocking - I think some of this was almost placebo, it was so dramatic.

But I was the same , loved to play real golf - if I had the chance of nine holes with 1 ball, i'd go for it - you honestly only get 18 shots - and 20 to 24 shorter shots and putts , even with 2 balls it is such a waste of your practice time.

When I started doing short game practice - I could hit 300 shots in the same time.

It is just no comparison from a time management perspective.

I wouldn't be one of these that says it is all short game by the way - without a good core of a game, and good GIR in this game you are very limited. But core work should be a winter exercise , with the odd, in season check up.

Look, it is just very very hard to stay on top of it all (impossible for lads with work family etc.). It is nuts , maybe this game is very easy for some , but if i stop doing one thing a little, it slips away on me.

Then you are having a 27 to 29 point day and feel a bit rubbish again.

Is a fascinating game that way. It seems like it is a very moody sport.

Boskowski

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Is a fascinating game that way. It seems like it is a very moody sport.

I'm glad to hear that someone else feels that way, too. I could have a great round and striking the ball great and true and long and I feel like I got it now. I'm on top of the golfing world and the sky's the limit. Next time I play cr@p and I feel cr@p about my game. What felt yesterday like single figures and shooting in the 70s here I come feels now like who am I kidding I'll never be any good. You wouldn't want to take it to heart or it could break you I'd say.

FixdePitchmark

The only positive - a big positive that keeps us coming back.

If you put the honest work in - it works.

You can go from a crap round , if you are putting work in, to the best round ever. Even in bad rounds there are holes and shots , that give you a buzz. If you are putting the work in , little things happen in a round that show themselves.

If there were not good moments- we wouldn't come back.

I suppose - back to the idea of the thread , if you don't put the honest work in , your game will not go far.

I totally understand, there are lads that are happy at a handicap , and love playing to it . But, I think on the forum here - there is a common theme of improvement.

By the way - not certain when that point is you go. Ok had a target of x, got there , leave all the practice and improving behind. Play golf, let it happen.
I'll be honest and say - I nearly hit that wall a few months ago.

Got a sledgehammer and knocked down that wall

pinkdoubleeagle

Putting Big Time. Held me back for the last few years if I am honest. Thinking of heading to Peltz school to see if I can get it sorted. Probably been a thread on this but can anyone recommend a decent putter coach in the Dublin area?

Ben1977

Haven't been honest with myself till this year. So made it a goal for myself to practice more but in the right areas. The handicap shows I'm now practicing the right areas, dropped from 12 to 9.6, nearly at the magic singles. Have hit more buffers then 0.1s, that to me says a lot.
Areas are bunker(partners would duck for cover anytime I went into one), pitching from 80yds and in, chipping. Now my putting has slipped.

benny79

@Pink I think out in The Grange GC in Rathfarnham they have that machine that analogizes your putting stroke and the Pro out there is meant to be good. Sorry I cant think of his name or what the machine is called.

Back to topic, I feel I'm constantly working on my long game and trying to get more consistent, I know the short game is were its at and after practising it you see the results, but like you Fix I have to keep working on things else they slip dramatically. Which is hard with life, kids etc... But as a high handicapper I find that I play well for most the round. Then I would have 2/3 holes where problems of the Tee cost me big time and I end up scratching the holes.

I have been giving a bum steer by the last Pro I have been working with & this new Pro has me playing much more consistent especially Tee to Green. This game is hard & evening harder to find a Pro that suits to your game!

The last couple of rounds I had no scratches and am very close to a great round, and can finally practise short game, short game, short game Sadly the season is nearly over. but I have to say I dont mind practising the short game its finding the time thats the hardest and when your time is limited like most on here you just want to play a few holes

Ciaranra

I tried a swing change last year wrong decision my issue was putting.
New swing never got comfortable with sort of ended up half new half old swing
Put a lot time into putting over the winter at home couldn't miss on the carpet
But still missing a few more than I liked on the greens.
So made a decision to attack the hole no messing if I miss I'm going 4 feet past
But I'm holding a lot more putts and getting a few birdies

Kingswood Rover

Ciaranra wrote: »

I tried a swing change last year wrong decision my issue was putting.
New swing never got comfortable with sort of ended up half new half old swing
Put a lot time into putting over the winter at home couldn't miss on the carpet
But still missing a few more than I liked on the greens.
So made a decision to attack the hole no messing if I miss I'm going 4 feet past
But I'm holding a lot more putts and getting a few birdies

Saw you sinking that mad cross hill put on the 18th In Crackdown to get down the 19th and beat ultimately beat us C, nout wrong with your putting. For me if i am honest i do not hit enough greens with my mid irons. I can also trace 90% of my poor irons or fairway woods down to not being able to see the shot i want to play and consequentially not feeling comfortable over the ball. But at the 9-13 range of handicaps the most effective way to come down is dedicated 90% of your practice time chipping and putting, i actually thinks that this gives a certain confidence to your short game that feeds into the rest of your game.

Barnaboy

Great idea for a new thread, trust Fix to start it!

Getting really frustrated with my own game at the minute, real boom to bust stuff all the time. I have always struggled with the driver, it's been my achilles heel as long as I have played. When it's working, which is rare, I really score well. The recent boards outing in Carton House is a classic performance from me, real Jeckyl and Hyde stuff. One the driver got going, so did I. I had a shocker of a start, 3 points after 5 holes. Then a back 9 of three birdies, three pars, two bogies and a scratch (got stuck in a bunker on 17). Probably the worst 9 and best 9 of the season in the same game!

I'd expect the response here would be to leave the long stick in the bag. Problem is I'm just as inconsistent, possibly worse, with my only other wooden club, the rescue. My home club is very much traditional parkland with lots of trees. If the driver ain't working it makes for tough times. I have put tons of practice into it and been to the pro many times but my discomfort with the club is so deeply engrained I'm not sure I'll ever get over it properly. But I refuse to give in, stubborn old mule that I am.

Ironically my short game is decent, never really had massive doubts either chipping or putting, but like everyone I could practice it much more.

ForeRight

I have a severe problem with hungar for the game. I can't seem to change it.

I absolutely love golf and enjoy playing but I feel so flakey when playing. I really couldn't care less how it goes for me. At the moment as it stands I've had an awful year. Went from 4.5 to 6.0 and I can only think of one round where I actually played great and I still lost on a count back even after a -1 gross score.

Lately I've only been playing at most once a week. There today I didn't even bother playing. I just want in the mood. Disgraceful carry on really as I know in good at the game if I just applied myself to it.

Ah well maybe next year will be my year

Golfgraffix

Solid for me at the moment, honestly feel that i can win each time I go out. Of course that is not the case but confidence is high. 5 wins this year and a good number of placings will do wonders for your confidence.

Funny as confident as I feel it is still like walking a tight rope, it could all fall apart at any time, but hey that is golf!

J

FixdePitchmark

Golfgraffix wrote: »

Solid for me at the moment, honestly feel that i can win each time I go out. Of course that is not the case but confidence is high. 5 wins this year and a good number of placings will do wonders for your confidence.

Funny as confident as I feel it is still like walking a tight rope, it could all fall apart at any time, but hey that is golf!

J

A different angle on honesty there J.

As idea of thread was an insecure one.

But get what you are saying . Your game is on an edge.

I'd love if I had a reliable game. But falls apart without big effort.

Dublin Spur

I have plateaued at 5 handicap, I have been briefly at 6 and 4 this summer.
I need to practice but don't have the motivation to bother with it - I just enjoy playing
I get a 0.1 most rounds but every now and then it clicks and a get cut
3 wins this season, I can't complain and I am enjoying it every week.

FixdePitchmark

pinkdoubleeagle wrote: »

Putting Big Time. Held me back for the last few years if I am honest. Thinking of heading to Peltz school to see if I can get it sorted. Probably been a thread on this but can anyone recommend a decent putter coach in the Dublin area?

Pink. I think there is a problem in this area.
so much teaching is about the big stuff in ranges.

I've never found a local pro who just did short stuff or had good facilities.

There is much to be said about the old club pro next to the putting green. We don't have that at our club.

The obvious place is do research and pick someone at GUI academy.

John Kelly has a good putting green outside. But again only did long stuff.

Boskowski

Not sure one needs a teaching pro for putting. Simply putting in the practice should do it, shouldn't it? I mean its not like its a complicated, coordinated elaborate action like a full swing. Or am I being smart here (without wanting to be)?

FixdePitchmark

Boskowski wrote: »

Not sure one needs a teaching pro for putting. Simply putting in the practice should do it, shouldn't it? I mean its not like its a complicated, coordinated elaborate action like a full swing. Or am I being smart here (without wanting to be)?

No. As technical as anything else.

I was missing very short putts . A pro in mcguirks looked at me. And ball position had got so close to body . Putter could only go back outside path.

Was so obvious . But needed someone else to spot it.

It is very hard to get a sense of your putting stroke.

It is individual. But even speaking to a good putter on line aiming pace mental side would be very helpful.

Now I must add . I haven't managed to find this pro/lad.

But would love to myself.

Yes you can work all this out by trial and error. But who has the time for that. Speed it up.

yettie1701

My game is in turmoil. I've gone from a 6 with value to a 16 in a year. I went out to 7 today but I would average around the 12. I'm really struggling on the course. Got the shanks this year and had them for 8 months. I've lost all confidence and ability to score. I'm just wondering what anybody on here has ever done to stop the slide if you like. I would appreciate any advice.

The_Kew_Tour

Played Charleville Golf Club today. Bit different to when I played it last year as few holes changes, but very nice course, some lovely holes.

Anyway, I have only played 11 times this year, so what was a man in his early 30s and not having proper handicap for few years (my best was 6, but 7 was longer) was expecting, I'm not sure.

My short game, especially my putting, was always my strong point, but today I never had worse day with the putter. 3 putted so many greens even a 4 putt in around 20 feet. Ouch. Really really bad. Distance control was horrible.

Gonna have work on my chipping too. You want me to flop a shot with no green to work with or over bunker,hey, I'm your man. But, basic chip, bump and run with loads of green and its a mixture of duff, bone and whatever. The harder ones are better, its straightforward ones I make meal of.

My long game, especially my irons have improved though. Hitting ball well even though using brothers clubs today and I think his clubs don't give me the forgiveness I might need, guess they don't, full stop.

So aim is to buy good set over winter and work on my putting indoors. Man my putting needs serious work but I'm confident if I get my putter back I'll be in decent nick next year.

spacecoyote

If I'm being honest about my game...its that I'm lazy. I have literally put no work into my game this year, and the result is a steady sidewise year.

I keep telling myself I'm a single digit golfer, who just doesn't find the time to put the work in to get there. Its making excuses really, because I probably could & should find the time to put the practice in. I'm passionate about golf and want to improve. I know what I need to work on, but just don't do enough of it.

My drive is inconsistent. Better than it was a year ago, but I make up for it by hitting my 3 wood & hybrids pretty well.

Hit my mid irons & short irons pretty well. My distances are definitely up on where they were previously, which I'm putting down to improved strike.

Putting is streaky. My lag putting is not as good as it should be, but I'm very comfortable over the short ones at the moment.

My biggest weakness though, is probably my chipping. I don't have complete confidence in my technique or that I'll make the necessary contact. There are good facilities for practicing short game at my home club, just a matter of making time to put the work in.

Bottom line...need to stop making excuses for why I'm not going downwards & start to put the work in.

alxmorgan

Honestly I don't know what to say about it. I am the model of the inconsistent golfer.
On any given day any part of my game can range from excellent to poor.
One day my 3 wood is perfect and I am keeping up with everyones driver with it.
On another I am knocking it down off the tee on a regular basis.

My short game, bar a few blips, is generally pretty consistent. I would love to spend more time on it but I am generally spending my time trying to bandage another cut and stop the bleeding.

Hoping for big things this year but never happened. I can go and shoot my handicap in tough conditions in Enniscrone and Rosses Pt having not played links for a year and then fail to make the buffer at my own cross in perfect conditions.

I can make the semis of the singles matchplay and yet seemingly be on a point one mission. Go from shooting 27 pts to 43 in 3 days.

I think if I am being honest my swing is probably inconsistent and lessons are needed. Unfortunately I neither have the time nor the money for a reconstruction so I guess I just have to be happy to take what comes - enjoy the good days for the golf and the bad ones cause I'm in the fresh air

dan_ep82

I'd consider myself pretty honest about my game.It could all do with work.

Going over the bad holes I've had on a round vs the good ones the drives seems to make or break it for me on a hole.

Problem is I get one day a week to either play or practice and I generally choose play. Had a week off last week and went to the range and felt some real progress. Hitting the driver very very well and straightened my irons out. I don't tend to just blast balls at the range either, i'm fairly methodical. I generally think its much more to do with how comfortable (situation and over the ball) I am and I'm not sure how to practice that

To be fair I think I'm playing better golf than last year but so far all I'm getting is more potential for better scores than actual scores


I'm going to start tracking rounds with a free app (apple if anyone has a recommendation) to see if there's anywhere else I'm losing out

* Bad drive is a pull/over draw by the way. Same as the irons and its recent enough. The most ongoing problem is not being comfortable/confidence that can ruin the best parts of my game.

FixdePitchmark

If we are being 100% honest - I've said this to a few people.

I don't think you can get anywhere in this game without doing more than once a week.

The game is definitely harder for me than most - but I think if you are only playing or practising once a week you will just stay where we are.

Now with normal working hours, family - the reality is , once a week is what most golfers face.

And, what is wrong with playing once a week - on a handicap you are comfortable on and enjoying the game.

There is an honesty in accepting it is just a bit of fun. Maybe that in a way is getting "somewhere".

dan_ep82

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

If we are being 100% honest - I've said this to a few people.

I don't think you can get anywhere in this game without doing more than once a week.

The game is definitely harder for me than most - but I think if you are only playing or practising once a week you will just stay where we are.

Now with normal working hours, family - the reality is , once a week is what most golfers face.

And, what is wrong with playing once a week - on a handicap you are comfortable on and enjoying the game.

There is an honesty in accepting it is just a bit of fun. Maybe that in a way is getting "somewhere".

No kids, just living with the fiance and two dogs.

But with 60-70hrs a week over 5 days its understandable that she'd get pissed if I played more than once a week.

Before I changed job I was playing 2-3 times a week and at least 3-4hrs practicing and didn't really get anywhere bar a few good rounds.

The biggest change in my game since I started was after taking some lessons with Pat Faye. This time I'm going to make it regular instead of just when ever I need a fix

The other thing I found helped was staying with the same clubs rather than constantly changing once I found something I hit consistently.

Senna

I'd say this is the first year I've been honest about my game, I'm a 12handicap and although I might get to single digits some day, I'm not playing anywhere near enough to keep a single digit hcp, so if I got down I would probably be more depressed about all the +0.1 I'd be getting after it.
My game is what it is, I won't be practicing, I will play whenever possible but it's less than once a week at the moment, if I get a cut great, if I don't I won't lose any sleep.


I am about to change jobs so there is hope on the horizon, of course the wife thinks I'm changing job to spend more time at home but golf's bound to benifit too!!

PARlance

Honestly, a bit of delusion has helped my game.

Rikand

PARlance wrote: »

Honestly, a bit of delusion has helped my game.

I've bluffed my way to being a mid single handicap golfer for the best part of a decade

Mantis Toboggan

Being honest about your game most people would say they need to practice more. I'm the same and fortunately I love practicing but practice facilities are very poor in my experience. Seems to be just an after thought in some places. My own club has a small putting green which is good quality and a tiny chipping area which is a complete waste of space. Driving ranges are grand but I'd much prefer somewhere I can putt and chip onto greens.

Which clubs have the best practice facilities?

BigChap1759

Dennis Reynolds wrote: »

Being honest about your game most people would say they need to practice more. I'm the same and fortunately I love practicing but practice facilities are very poor in my experience. Seems to be just an after thought in some places. My own club has a small putting green which is good quality and a tiny chipping area which is a complete waste of space. Driving ranges are grand but I'd much prefer somewhere I can putt and chip onto greens.

Which clubs have the best practice facilities?

St Margaret's has solid practise area these days - long game driving range off good turf, pitching area and geen(30-80yds), chipping green and good putting green - just need more time to make use of them.

It's definitely about short game for me - getting up and down more often from around the green

eoghan104

Is there any public places to practice chipping? The chipping green in my place is not set up well for a proper practice of different shots. Is there any driving ranges that offer good facilities?

FixdePitchmark

eoghan104 wrote: »

Is there any public places to practice chipping? The chipping green in my place is not set up well for a proper practice of different shots. Is there any driving ranges that offer good facilities?

Worth going to short game area in GUI Carton House - expensive but a good days fun.

frostie500

Mental mistakes for me! I don't even think it's a matter of not concentrating...I'll just go for the pin rather than aim for the middle of the green and invariably I'll push the ball wide and leave my self with a chip or pitch and from that it's sometimes scrambling for a par and other times taking a bogey. Playing off 14 at the minute so obviously loads of room for improvement but playing and practicing is usually my main issue so need to spend more time on the range over the winter

I'm struggling with the bottom of my swing.

I've put in massive hours on the range, more than most would before hitting the course, and its something the range mats will mask.

Since I started playing on course two months ago its started to become my biggest problem.
I'm either taking next to no divot and hitting it reasonably well or butchering the ground.

The picture attached is one I took earlier to show my pro, the top divot is the second one... I dropped the second ball at the top of where the first divot was taken and you can see again I took way too much of the ground before.

With the ground this soft it means I'm lucky to get the ball 30 yards when I do it. It would seem like an easy issue to sort ie hit the ball first but I cant seem to figure it myself, altering my swing mid round is just making things worse.

I haven't had a lesson since I noticed it so it'll be the main thing I bring up at my next.

That aside I think I'm getting handy, I'm getting round a par 4 in 5/6 shots now and that might include a bad shot or two in-between.
Very happy with my putting for a novice, regularly two putt from distance and my tee shots vary but are ok for a beginner...

The striking is just killing me, especially with say my 5 iron(have 3/4 hybrids), don't think I've hit one well on the course so far with the soft ground.

Keano

Ball position is probably causing this issue.

Keano

Keano wrote: »

Ball position is probably causing this issue.

Possibly... It happens more with low irons/hybrids and id have them more forward, possibly too much forward.
I actually said after that shot above id try it with mid stance regardless of clubs.

Thing is, when I'm at the range, hitting from the same positions I'm fairly pinging the ball... It really was a problem the range couldn't highlight.. Also tbh when I practice swing I've always found I hit behind where I semi aimed.

I've basically cut out practice swings in all areas(even the range) as I cant seem to commit like a proper shot so it seems pointless even bothering but when I do, I hit before the "fake mark".

I might re-evaluate my ball position again before playing tomorrow.... Its a real deflator to hit a decent tee shot then 2/3 to make the next 100 yards while butchering the course.
Even my good shots aren't taking much of a divot so I need to find that middle ground between the two.

dan_ep82

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7ZBJ7Fk_AU

You could try something like the drill above. I've played with people who take massive divots (with shorter irons at least) but strike the ball quite well.

charlieIRL

I have to be honest with myself about my game, I just don't have the time to put in the practice to become a steady golfer a handicap I know I can get to and beat. To expect to be scoring well every round with minimal practice, I am joking myself if I think I can do this. The problem is that, on numerous occasions, I have shot 35 - 40 points consistently without any practice at all and sometimes without having hit a ball in a few weeks!! I know I can be a much better golfer and its frustrating knowing that I can’t get the time to put in the practice to achieve this. The last week I put some serious effort into my chipping and it really paid off on Saturday but unfortunately I didn’t practice too many with the driver / long irons and it showed, I was penalised a lot with erratic shots.
I think this is going to be the norm for the next few years until my kids get older and as long as they are still involved in sports and horses and I have accepted that, they come first. I don’t want to be content with an 18 handicap so hopefully I can keep going the way I’m going and get a few of these good rounds to happen in a competition and get a few cuts – I’ve only had one this year rest were buffer and 3 x 0.1’s

I can do it, just not right now!

Danny dyers double

I'm a bit like Charlie myself at the moment I love the game but just don't have the time to play as much as I'd like between young kids and Soccer .

Played 9 holes this morning with 2 balls and using best ball , I finished 5 over so not too bad scoring .

I hadn't picked up a club in 5 or so weeks so wasn't expecting much . My main swing taught at the moment is to keep trying to clear my hips as my swing was always from my arms . I'm definitely hitting the ball further but it will take time to perfect it .

My ball striking would be good from driver to SW bar the odd thin one. But short game is terrible. Not so much putting but chipping from say 40 yards and in , even simple bump and runs I'm leaving short of thinning trough the greens . But I'm not to worried as I don't play enough and never get to practice.

I stayed around the last green today for half an hour playing different chip shots with different clubs but as I walked off to my car I taught that was pointless as I won't play again for weeks 😊😊

millerj

Started the year playing off 10, down to 8 now and it is all down to putting for me. I am now making putts that I never would have before and I am talking 5 or 6 footers. A very good day for me would be 37/38points. Really don't think there is a 43/44 in me.........reason being I DONT practice and never have. My short game in particular(80 yards and in) is completely built on feel and at times I am found out. My whole game really is built around a childhood playing hurling. I also struggle closing out a round.....over think it!. Standing on the seventeenth tee box today and 35pts in the bag, driving the ball as well as I ever have all day but suddenly I consider the out of bounds left and over compensate and stick it in the trees right. Double bogey scratch and bogey on the last for one point. What could have been a small snip ended up feeling like an ordinary 36pts.

Solutions: I have booked a short game lesson for next week, I live about two minutes from the course and have NEVER gone to the practice ground for chipping/pitching etc. I am going to commit to a few hours a week for this in the winter months. I am also going to continue with the length of waste carpet (best aid ever) that I have at home for putting practice. I really feel that this will bring my game to a new level for next season (target set for 7).

The BIGGER problem for me as I see it is the mental side and the 8" between my ears, not getting ahead of myself when I have a score going and the problem I have of trying to protect my card in my own head. This always causes me problems over analysing but I firmly believe that this problem can only be sorted by having a decent card in your hand more often and learning to play with it.

Boskowski

I find putting is huge. I have practiced shortish putts and improved there and I now have zero fear over 3 or 4 footers. Which means I make a lot of 5, 6, 7, 10 even 12 footers because I'm not too worried about the one back. I can have blips with looong lag putts on occasion but even that has become better on the back of the short ones.

Think about it, nearly half your shots are putts. Putting is huge. In matchplay it can be devastating.

Dr_Colossus

A bit disillusioned with the game in general and my own inability to be competitive and thus push on and improve. I feel like I don’t have the natural ability to play to my handicap of 7 never mind trying to improve on that. I’ve worked a good deal on my game over the past two winters with swing changes and do practice my short game periodically throughout the year. Granted practice time could always be increased and quality improved but it’s difficult to get the additional time required.
Played yesterday in quite benign conditions and logged an appalling 27pts with pretty much every aspect of my game being erratic and inconsistent. With the season near ending I’ve reviewed my competitive rounds (results below) and although the figures indicate my handicap is fair and inline the mind bogles at some of the winning scores posted of late. For instance last week in my home course I noticed a staggering 48pts won the midweek open competition and the last monthly medal was won by a nett -10, by best score all year was a paltry 37pts so you can see where the disillusionment is coming from.

Starting Handicap 6.7
Ending Handicap 6.8
Competitive Rounds 38
Buffer Rounds 18
0.1s 17
Best Stableford Equivalent 37
Worst Stableford Equivalent 23
Average Stableford Equivalent 31.4

Golf is a very competitive sport and this is what primarily appeals to me, I’d have little interest in playing green fee golf and any of my away rounds are primarily in scratch cups or open competition. However to be competitive you need the confidence of thinking you can shoot a good score for the win but lately I feel that’s beyond me. It’s very hard to gain confidence without results so it’s a spiralling problem and not quite sure where to go with it. Maybe golf would be easier and even more enjoyable of a higher and more natural handicap for my ability but the motivation for me is to improve and lower that handicap so not sure if that would result in any confidence boost.

benny79

You only ended up with a o.1 higher than you started I'd be happy with that!If you got 17 .1's back you most of got 16 .1 cuts Consistent.

Boskowski

48 pts and -10 respectively sounds enormous. Is your home course a relatively easy course?

Dr_Colossus

Boskowski wrote: »

48 pts and -10 respectively sounds enormous. Is your home course a relatively easy course?

I would classify it more as unfair than easy. It's not short and there's an abundance of trees lining the fairways but there's practically no rough any where so a slightly errant shot can either be blocked completely or yield a fairway like approach shot. It's BlackBush GC so if you've played it you can determine whether it's an easy course.

Boskowski

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

I would classify it more as unfair than easy. It's not short and there's an abundance of trees lining the fairways but there's practically no rough any where so a slightly errant shot can either be blocked completely or yield a fairway like approach shot. It's BlackBush GC so if you've played it you can determine whether it's an easy course.

No never played. Just rarely hear numbers like that. I think we had a 43 last week but that was the highest in a long time. One or two sunday stablefords this summer were won by 37 and typically with 40 or 41 you're well in with a shout.

redzerdrog

Fix's thread has got me thinking about my own game and the ambitions for same.

I only really played society golf up untill I joined a club this year. I put in my 3 honest cards and got a hcap of 9.5 which I am struggling to play to. To put it in context my society hcap the start of last year was 22 and I managed to get down to 18 before joining the club this year.

I have yet to break 30 in competition (had 32 with society though) however still only off 9.8. This shows I am not playing enough golf to have an accurate hcap.

Being honest with work and family life I don't have the time and commitment to try get to single figures and being honest I just want to enjoy my golf and be some way competitive. I hope to get enough rounds in to get out to 10.5 for the winter and hopefully use the winter to get lessons that I am then capable to play off that hcap come the new season.

Only then can I start looking at targets about getting lower.

millerj

I AM BUOYANT..! Started the year 10.0, 7.6 before today and had 39pts today which should take me to 7.2 (hopefully) for tomorrow mornings round! Was playing between handicap 10-11 for the last few years as I held distance memberships. To me this is the difference, I am playing an amount of golf at my home club this year as it is only two minutes away from home. Putting though is the biggest difference this year and this is confidence and plenty of practice on the carpet at home. I firmly believe that once you get the putting stroke right it all falls into place so any level piece of carpet 6-8 feet is adequate and putt, putt, putt. Target now is to try and maintain 7 for the remainder of the year and serious short game practice at the clubs putting/chipping facility over the winter. It is so much of a mental thing once you lose a shot, for instance index 9 for us is the first hole so when I went from 9 to 8 I told myself 'how many times have you had bogey/double bogey on that hole and still returned a score'. Basically what I am saying is once I stood on the second tee box the variation in handicap was gone. I think I was making the difference actually bigger than it really was...if this makes any sense. It is a great feeling to achieve or probably at this stage over achieve but super to get there.

Barnaboy

With the qualifying year about to end, I have to say that it's probably been my most disappointing year ever. Got a pile of lessons in 2014 that saw me break through an invisible wall that was 14 handicap. Had never been lower and got to 12 before slipping back to 13 as the year was finishing. Was still very happy with the game. Had a dodgy patch up to Christmas and then the game started to come good again. Then one Sunday around March I played probably the best round of my life. It was non-qualifying and only 15 holes but everything was working beyond wildest dreams. Was only a couple over par and won the comp. Then shortly after went on to break 80 again, but before qualifying started.

Then after an interminable wait to play qualifying golf because of overcommitting to interclub teams, I got cut twice in a row and down to 12.1, then had a couple of games in buffer and a few 0.1s, back to 12.5 but following week got cut again and down to 12.0, lowest ever handicap, even if it was by 0.1. All looked wonderful and my quest to get down to 10 looked like a real possibility. But then slowly but surely my game started to disintegrate- now three months on and I have had 9 consecutive 0.1s and I'm back to exactly where I started the season at 12.9.

I made a conscious decision this year not to get any more lessons, it was costing a fortune and I thought that I had enough knowledge in the head to get me down to 10. Then I'd go back to get me to the next level. Starting to regret that decision now.

What is frustrating me most is that I know I am good enough to play at a much lower handicap. When I get into the zone I can easily break 40 for nine holes, but lately I just keep making stupid mistakes that turn promising rounds into yet another 0.1. Not enough practice, no lessons and confidence now fairly brittle. I've had times like this before and got through them but this one hurts more because I know my ball striking has improved immeasurably in the last 2 years.

Would dearly love even the most modest cut before the season ends, just to perk up my confidence and give me some hope for 2016!

BigChap1759

eoghan104 wrote: »

Is there any public places to practice chipping? The chipping green in my place is not set up well for a proper practice of different shots. Is there any driving ranges that offer good facilities?

Fingal golf centre at the airport has a great chipping green also

Russman

In the spirit of all this honesty being thrown around....

Coming off one of the worst years ever. Reached the full two shots back a few weeks ago, started at 6.2, now 8.2 :eek:. Think I had 3 rounds in the buffer. Frustrating in the extreme, especially as I handily played to a lot lower several years ago. First season ever that I've not had several cuts and picked up at least a few wins.
Biggest issue is getting it into play off the tee, this year I've been averaging having to chip out sideways 8 times per round, with the resultant effect on GIR and scoring. Ironically my short game is fantastic, when you're hitting it sideways it has to be ! Still, there's no future in getting up and down for a single bogey half the time.

Two recent rounds illustrate the season perfectly,
1) a couple of months ago, ended up shooting 16 over par with two quadruple bogeys and two triple bogeys, WTF !!
2) last month, 12 over par front nine, followed by the easiest 1 under par back nine you ever saw, that should have been 2 or 3 better ! Again, WTF !!

Glad the season is pretty much over. Might be time to retire and find another pastime.