last sunday i played the autum record at newcastle.g.c. it’s 36 holes in the one day. in the first 18 i played really well, 2 over on the front 9 then parred every hole on the back. (had 12 putts) had a quick lunch then back out. now newy is not an easy course and traditionally the 2nd 18 is really tough, the wind gets up your getting tired. i’ve seen 80 win the scatch in the arvo. sorry i forgot to mention i was running 2nd after the first round.
so we play 11 holes of the 2nd 18 and we come to the 3rd a 217m par 3. waiting for us is a photographer from the local paper wants to take my photo for the weekly golf reveiw in the newcastle herald. anyway i tee off, hit a reasonable shot, in the bunker next to the green. then this photographer wants my phone number so a jorno can ring me to get a story if i win. talk about pressure, i’ve got 7 holes to play and i’m thinking about what i’m going to tell this jorno. i had a 6 on that par 3. birdied the next hole and finished up shooting 79. came 4th in the scratch and won the net. do you think i chocked? can someone phycho anylise this?
anyone else got a similar story

cheers sb

I wouldn’t call it choking, thats for sure. The term choking gets throw around way too often these days. It seems most people use it in the same way the word losing or lost should be used. Choking is when the pressure gets so great a player completely falls apart, losing by a big margin. Losing a lead but not tumbling right out the back door is not choking. Congrats on a great result.

Choke!!!!!!!!!!!!
I could only dream of a score like that. Well done, a great result on a tough course.
So did you still get the phone interview?

I say
Well Done Sir

thanks guys. no got no interveiw just a mention as the net winner. and he named me as simon instead of steve. very poor form!

cheers STEVE b

Pity you comitted the cardinal sin in golf…...hopefully a lesson learned and not repeated :)

Well done on the score – all things considered

Pity you comitted the cardinal sin in golf……hopefully a lesson learned and not repeated :)

Well done on the score – all things considered

Exactly what I was thinking. You should have told the journo to get stuffed and to leave you alone to play golf. The worst thing you can do is get ahead of yourself.

Pity you comitted the cardinal sin in golf……hopefully a lesson learned and not repeated :)

Well done on the score – all things considered

Exactly what I was thinking. You should have told the journo to get stuffed and to leave you alone to play golf. The worst thing you can do is get ahead of yourself.

Being a Journalist and a golfer, I must admit this guy was obviously NOT a golfer, I would never place a caveat on an interview like this. Making it dependent on you winning the comp was stupid, and wrong anyway. Fact is why not do the interview regardless of where you finished in the comp, I certainly would…. otherwise you gotta waste time and resources taking photos of every player in the competition. Or run around trying to find out who’s near the lead, that would be just as time consuming and great waste of resources, I mean, I’d pick a spot on the course that makes for the best photos and take great photos then interview the guys in the best pics…THAT makes for good Golf Journalism.

Maybe the guy who won paid him to put you off? :)

Sounds like something my mates would do. Actually, so would I for that matter. :)

Congrats on your great play SB…

Chalk it up to experience.

Remember the only moment you are ever in control of is NOW…

The past can’t be undone and the future doesn’t exist yet (it is only what we imagine it to be).

Projecting into the future creates what is called an “anxiety gap”. Basically the difference between your imagined future (good or bad) and your current status creates anxiety, the bigger the gap is between your current now and your imagined future, the more anxiety you will experience.

All you ever have is NOW, tomorrow doesn’t exist…

This day, this hole, this shot….

Hit the current shot you have as well as you can (all any of us can do) deal with the result and hit your best shot from there.

Hope this helps.

Poor form by the photographer, obviously a shite 2nd shot from the bunker had a bit to do with it, but only you can answer the question of did the happy snapper get to you or not.

Damn fine effort to finish 4th over 36 holes on any account and it sure as hell is no easy feat at Newcastle.

well done boothy

Simple fact of your concentration being broken by an outside influence. It is definately not related to choking. Good rounds on what I have heard is a great course.

thanks everyone for your comments and congrats. the thing was before i spoke to this photographer i was playing ” in the moment golf”. i wasn’t thinking about holding up any trophy or making any speeches.
great advice Bomber. we can all learn from this.

This day, this hole, this shot…..

gonna write that on my glove. no tattoo it on my arm!

cheers sb

Haha… Copyright!

No worries champ, glad I could help…

Great effort, as Newcastle is a world class golf course. Did you play from the Tiger tees? Choking would have been a 86 plus second round.

Phantom, no we didn’t play off the black tees. i remember one year we did, and 82 won the scratch in the arvo and the year after nobody wanted to play. they play off the black tees the last friday of every month. can be a very humbling experience.

cheers sb

Phantom, no we didn’t play off the black tees. i remember one year we did, and 82 won the scratch in the arvo and the year after nobody wanted to play. they play off the black tees the last friday of every month. can be a very humbling experience.

cheers sb

whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it! boldness has genius, power and magic in it!

Now why would anyone not want to play a golf course at it’s toughest? That makes no sense to me….after all, everyone has the same conditions.

cliff, last friday of every month. you pick the month. i’ll meet you on the 1st tee.