My most recent comp game – a stableford event at my home course – scored a total of 25 points. Not real good, but most interestingly was made up of 4 single points on the first 9 and 21 points on the second 9 (including a wipe). There was everything from a 4 putt from inside 3 metres on a par 3 to a chip in eagle on a par 5, which netted me 5 points (more than the whole of the first 9). Very frustrating day to say the least. Lost 6 balls, 5 on the first 9 alone. I play of 24 at the moment and very nearly called it quits after the first 9. Any comments / similar stories out there.

What did you drink at the halfway house ?

My most recent comp game – a stableford event at my home course – scored a total of 25 points. Not real good, but most interestingly was made up of 4 single points on the first 9 and 21 points on the second 9 (including a wipe). There was everything from a 4 putt from inside 3 metres on a par 3 to a chip in eagle on a par 5, which netted me 5 points (more than the whole of the first 9). Very frustrating day to say the least. Lost 6 balls, 5 on the first 9 alone. I play of 24 at the moment and very nearly called it quits after the first 9. Any comments / similar stories out there.

Strange game Golf. At least you will have some positive thoughts going forward.

Sounds like you need a good warm up before you get going….also i tend to do the same after a big night out the night before….start off crap because still alcohol in your system and as the day goes on both me and the ball start to straighten out…

I’ve had “good nine – bad nine” syndrome for years. Half the time I start badly then shoot the lights out on the back. Otherwise I’ll come to the turn at +4 or thereabouts then choke and absolutely botch the back, even though its an easier nine. I almost always finish within two points of my handicap.

I’ve never come close to par for a round, best score to date is a +9, but I’ve actually managed to shoot even par on the harder front nine when I was having a relaxing round with my son – one birdie, one bogey. Pulled off some miraculous shots on the last few holes, so now my son thinks I’m some sort of A grader. I’m happy for him to live under that delusion.

I start well and finish badly. Just don’t have the mental ticker to see it through…(shocking thing to admit to one-self).

:-/

warm up first I think it will make a big difference. Also, play shot by shot then hole by hole. Easiest way too stuff up a good round is to think, especially how you stuffed up the last hole. Just play each shot on it’s merits – shot by shot just keep saying that each time you address the ball, it should make a difference. Also, there is the other side to that as well, don’t start thinking about your final score – puts more pressure on to perform. Part of your pre-shot routine or at address: Shot by shot. cheers

Sounds reasonable mick, but when we mid-handicaps are all desperate to shoot low numbers, it’s hard to stay calm when we actually are…

Very very hard to disconnect emotion from execution. Probably what keeps me off 16… That and all the bad shots.

Its easy to have a good back 9 after a horror front – you relax, realise you are no hope of getting your handicap, and you start playing golf again.

My most extreme is 10-23, and I had 11-22 the other day.

Worst is playing stroke hungover – a few years back in the club champs and on 1 hours sleep after an all nighter the night before, I had 40 for the front, and 55 for the back as fatigue and hangover took over

Takes some effort, but best rounds have always been when I could genuinely forget about the score (other than the current hole of course!), and let your marker know you like it that way.

At least don’t tally at half way.

Knew it was a good round going one day, but really didn’t know it was 2 under after 9 until excited teenage marker let me know. Back 9 inevitable – 12 over.

P

it might be for some you have to play badly to play good ?! this front nine back nine thing, is worst if you havnt played for a couple of weeks

Believe it or not, I was quite happy with the way I was striking the ball – it was more a matter of where I was hitting it.

Had warmed up, hadn’t been on the turps the night before.

Gatorade at halfway – although I seriously considered a beer (or two)

Anyway, looking forward to my next round.

Thanks for the comments.

As Pitcher says, mentally it is hard to do. I never think about playing 18 holes. Play the first nine, don’t add the score, fold it over and forget about it. 10th hole is the first hole, play that nine as best I can. Doesn’t always work because bad shots are going to come into play somewhere along the line, but if your mindset is ‘I’m playing nine holes, lets see how I go’ and not ‘shit… I’m heading for a 52 here’ it can pay off.