Laurel wreath (handicap match-play) round – short markers
gave 15 and lost 4 & 3

All ladies golf games at my home club are played off the red markers. Sometime the markers are placed back, around the permanent white mark (standard course), or forward, around the permanent red mark (short course).

It was determined by the captain that each round of the Laurel Wreath be played off the red markers, irrespective of where they are, either forward or back. For some holes, this difference can be more than 40 metres.

Bearing that in mind, my opponent today played a very steady game. Her ball striking was very consistent, and her putting was very good (at times freakish). She may well have beaten me on the full course with the form she displayed, but with the course playing short, while having to give my opponent 15 strokes, it felt more like 19 or 20, as now some greens in reg were within her range, especially short par 4s and all par 3s.

My opponent won fairly, on the back of good steady play… but I don’t believe it was on a level playing field… Is that sour grapes? am I seeing the situation properly?

You would think that I would have learned by now that not allowing time to warm up the body and mind for the game will create the conditions for a bad round and giving rise to distractions to overcome my mind… Well… With little more than a few swings in the nets, and setting off with a group of C graders all having a bad day… you know where this is going.

Today’s round what not just handicapped, it was weighted, and waited and waited…

I wonder if all the match-play I have been playing lately is changing my focus in the two recent stableford rounds. Same over-all score, but today felt worse, as I hit less fairways and greens. No grip issues, just a lack of preparation, and ultimately a lack of care, when after watching my playing partners for a while became ‘monkey see- monkey do’.

I need to ensure to prepare properly. Warm up both body, and in doing so, warming the mind to focus on what I need to do, not watching the others… with the inevitable results.

Front nine – 47 off stick (13 pts)
2 Pars (5, 8)
4 Bogeys (2, 4, 7, 9)
3 Double Bogey (1. 3, 6)
Fairways (2/7)
GIR (2)
3 Three putts (1, 2, 6)
3 One putts (4, 8, 9)
With the coming winter, and the softer ground and heavier air, I am suspending descriptions of missed greens, as I may soon be missing almost all of them.

Knowing we were a long way behind the group in front, was an added distraction going into the back nine. While not holding up the group behind, I do not like being so far behind the pace of play… just something else I was letting get to me… I was not striking the ball well… just one of those days….

Back nine – 45 off stick (13 pts)
2 Pars (10, 11)
6 Bogeys (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18)
1 Double Bogey (15)
Fairways (4/7)
GIR (3)
2 Three putts (14, 16), one pick-up (15)
4 One putts (10, 11, 13, 17)

Tuesday, stableford, standard course, result: 92 off stick (26 pts)
Differential 18
4 pars
10 bogeys
4 Double Bogeys
FIR – 36%
GIR – 22%
5 Three putts
7 One putts
Putts – 32 – 18 & 14 – not counting pick-up on 15th

Handicap remains on 7.7…. that still sounds like a punch-line.

Next games: Friday, Par, Monday, Pennant rd1 (playing No.1), Tuesday Monthly Medal… here comes the busy time.

It just goes from bad to worse.
For only the second time since I began playing golf regularly, I have posted three consecutive differentials at least ten over my handicap. I am playing off 8 and I have posted a differential of 18 for each of the last three rounds (including today). The only other time anything like this happened was six years ago 2, 9, and 19 May 2006, when I played off 18. Two stroke rounds, and a stableford round producing differentials of 29, 29, and 28. This time there have been two stableofrd rounds, and today’s par round, where there were more pick-ups than at a taxi rank.

I think it stems from, after winning the club championship, trying to fix what was clearly not broken, but now is bruised, if not broken… but in the back nine there were signs of recovery… too late for today, but giving hope for the future.

Pick ups in the stats will assume next shot dropped.

Front nine – 45 off stick (-3)
1 Birdie (8) my game and its cruel jokes.
1 Par (2)
5 Bogeys (3, 4, 5, 6, 9) pick ups on 3, 5
2 Double Bogey (1. 7) both pick ups
Fairways (3/7)
GIR (3)
1 Three putts (9)
3 One putts (4, 5, 8)

Five bunker shots on the front nine. I won’t be driving near the beach for a while… I have seen enough sand thank you…
After missing the first four fairways, I only missed one more for the round

Back nine – 44 off stick (-4)
3 Pars (11, 16, 17)
5 Bogeys (10, 12, 14, 15, 18) all pick ups
1 Double Bogey (13) pick up
Fairways (6/7)
GIR (2)
1 Three putts (13)
1 One putts (11)

Friday, Par, short course, result: 89 off stick (-7)
Differential 18
1 Birdie
4 pars
10 bogeys
3 Double Bogeys
FIR – 64%
GIR – 28%
2 Three putts
4 One putts
Putts – 34 – 16 & 18

Handicap blows out .2 to 7.9…. t.

Next games: Monday, Pennant rd1, Tuesday Monthly Medal…

Mekat

You were warned about dabbling in the mystic art of golf instruction and now you are destined to go down the path of paralysis by analysis if you are not careful.

Instruction means you get way worse before you get better and it does wonders to knock out the confidence you had built up over the preceding good period of play.

My final advice is clear your head, keep the game simple by taking 1 shot at a time, picking a target and relaxing and doing what you did before.

Thanks shanks

Pennant, Round 1, at home, off the FRONT markers.

Personally, lost 1 down.
Tight game, opponent played a very consistent round with good ball-striking, very few miss-hits, and good putting.

Team lost 1 – 4

Tomorrow: monthly medal

Where has this game been?
Focussed today mostly on dropping the right shoulder from the top of the back-swing in to the slot to be on plane. The result, straighter ball flight, better striking, hitting more fairways and greens…. now if only those close putts would drop.

Front nine – 41 off stick
7 Pars (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8)
2 Double Bogeys (4, 9)
Fairways (6/7)
GIR (4)
0 Three putts ()
4 One putts (3, 4, 6, 7)

Play became slower in the back nine, which was not good on a very cool day. Sitting on a gopher in a very cool breeze waiting for shots is a slow freeze, which is not good for staying lose or for shot execution.

Back nine – 42 off stick
1 Birdie (17)
4 Pars (10, 12, 14, 18)
3 Bogeys (11, 15, 16)
1 Triple Bogey (13)
Fairways (5/7)
GIR (6)
2 Three putts (11, 16)
2 One putts (12, 17)

Tuesday, Stroke, short course, result: 83 off stick
Differential 12
1 Birdie
11 pars
3 bogeys
2 Double Bogeys
1 Triple Bogey
FIR – 79%
GIR – 56%
2 Three putts
6 One putts
Putts – 32 – 14 & 18

Handicap blows out .4 to 8.3

My game feels like it is settling back into place just as low scores drop off my handicap record, blowing out my handicap like a candle.

Not even a semblance of a warm up yesterday, in a bitterly cold and windy start to a stableford round from the front markers.

I did not hit a fairway until the seventh, and missed only one for the remainder of the round. Felt that my ball-striking consistency is returning, resulting in fair number of greens hit and closer misses of other greens. Missed first putts are harming the scrambling stats; But over all I am happier than I was a week or so ago.

Front nine – 45 off stick (15 pts)
1 Birdie (8)
2 Pars (5, 6)
4 Bogies (1, 2, 3, 4)
1 Double Bogey (9)
1 Triple Bogey (7) pick up
Fairways (3/7)
GIR (3)
2 Three putts (2, 9)
3 One putts (4, 6, 8)

Rushed puts on the 10th and 11th saw bogeys, then ran one-under fro the remainder of the round. A number of birdie putts just missed, but two didn’t.
Best back nine since early March.

Back nine – 38 off stick (20 pts)
2 Birdies (13, 17)
4 Pars (12, 14, 15, 18)
3 Bogeys (10, 11, 16)
Fairways (6/7)
GIR (5)
0 Three putts ()
3 One putts (13, 17, 18)

Friday, Stbleford, short course, result: 83 off stick (35 pts)
Differential 12
3 Birdies
6 pars
7 bogeys
1 Double Bogeys
1 Triple Bogey
FIR – 64%
GIR – 47%
2 Three putts
6 One putts
Putts – 30 – 15 & 15, not counting pick up on 7th

Handicap blows out .7 to 9.0

Pennant, Round 2

Personally, won 2 up.
Not able to properly warm up – didn’t know where driving range for the venue was.
Was hooking most of my shots on front nine (1 down). Caddy finally got me so settle and slow down… started hitting properly again, putting pressure on my opponent.

Team lost 1.5 – 3.5

Tomorrow: Stableford

Merkat, how have you found working with a caddie has helped (or hindered) your game? You said here that you think that the caddie got you to settle down – is that something that is helping to get you to refocus when you are feeling a little out of kilter?

I find it can be a break to any mounting frustration when things are not working.. A reality check… it can also be a kick along when you need it… A supporter the keep your confidence up… A good caddy can be as good as an extra club.

hi mekat. Was the caddy a team-mate from your club or an actual caddy from the course you were playing on?

Another lady from my club, a very experienced golfer. I feel I can learn a lot from her, but she does not believe that… I hope she will caddy me again

It’s nice to have someone give a bit of support during a Pennant round, makes you feel not so alone

C’mon Mekat get your shit sorted and get your H/cap back below 8 :)

Another lady from my club, a very experienced golfer. I feel I can learn a lot from her, but she does not believe that… I hope she will caddy me again

You don’t play golf to relax… You relax to play golf!
http://www.golflink.com.au/…

I agree it’s geat having an experienced golfer caddy you. Especially if it’s for mental / moral support during a competition round.

Well, if that’s what you’re after of course! From my short experience playing with caddies I’ve found it helps to be quite clear on what you’re expecting from your caddie (be it course mgmt tips, swing coaching tips, moral support, or just carrying the bag and getting you beers)

And yes: get that hcp back down to where it belongs!

Another day-late report.
Cold day on the gopher, with high handicappers having a bad day. They hitting at least two to my one shots, with me sitting waiting for their shots, the cold getting into my muscles, slowly seizing up.

Half decent start as far as ball striking is concerned, but scores not coming. Bogey bogey bogey bogey, i start to feel my striking slip, and I wonder if my striking is from watching the others miss-hits, a case of monkey see – monkey do. but by the seventh and eight I was definitely feeling the cold, the stiffening of my legs, and the creeping general inflexibility. The back nine was just painful… and I was wearing leggings under my pants, and wet weather gear (it was dry).

Front nine – 48 off stick (12 pts)
1 Pars (5)
6 Bogies (1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9)
1 Double Bogey (6)
1 Triple Bogey (7) pick up
Fairways (6/7)
GIR (0)
0 Three putts ()
2 One putts (4, 5)

On the 13th I was about pin high off the green left for three, in a dip near a drainage grate. I had to take a drop off the grate. I had nothing under me, my legs had stiffened in the cold and lack of movement. I just needed to pitch the ball five metres to the green… it took three tries… I picked up the ball… After that hole all I wanted to do was finish… It was not pleasant.

Back nine – 45 off stick (14 pts)
4 Pars (10, 12, 14, 16)
3 Bogeys (15, 17, 18)
1 Double Bogey (11)
1 Triple Bogey (13) pick up
Fairways (6/7)
GIR (2)
0 Three putts ()
2 One putts (16, 18)
1 chip in (par, 14)

Tuesday, Stableford, standard course, result: 93 off stick (26 pts)
Differential 19
5 pars
9 bogeys
2 Double Bogeys
2 Triple Bogey
FIR – 86%
GIR – 13%
0 Three putts
6 One putts
Putts – 26 – 14 & 12, not counting picks up on 7th and 13th

Handicap remains on 9.0

A still, day, cool but better than Tuesday.
No warm up, Felt good off the tee all day – I hit every fairway except the 18th (and then by less than a metre). But after puting myself into good positions, I would not commit properly to my approach, by either under-clubbing, or just not giving the right effort, finishing short again and again… Perhaps I have not fully adjusted to the winter air… add that to being unfortunate on the greens.
Over-all, i am not too upset, and still comfortable with my striking in general.

Front nine – 45 off stick (15 pts)
3 Pars (5, 6, 8)
4 Bogies (1, 2, 3, 4)
2 Double Bogeys (7, 9)
Fairways (7/7)
2 GIR (2, 8)
1 Three putts (2)
2 One putts (5, 6)

When you get a GIR, the first putt by definition is a birdie chance, no matter if it is a gettable putt from a metre or two, or from the farthest reaches of that space. Missing a birdie putt by millimetres is heart-breaking, when the ball lips the cup or stops on the precipice… that was a regular occurrence today, especially the back nine… on another day perhaps they might drop, but not today… and the putts mount up – just as the points don’t.

Back nine – 42 off stick (17 pts)
4 Pars (12, 14, 16, 17)
5 Bogeys (10, 11, 13, 15, 18)
Fairways (6/7)
6 GIR (11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18)
2 Three putts (11, 18)
0 One putts ()

Friday, Stableford, short course, result: 87 off stick (32 pts)
Differential 16
7 pars
9 bogeys
2 Double Bogeys
FIR – 93%
GIR – 44%
3 Three putts
2 One putts
Putts – 37 – 17 & 20

Handicap remains on 9.0

Been fighting a virus this week, that is why I am not playing at the moment.
Missed Pennant on Monday, a foursomes game on Tuesday, a Par round tomorrow, but hoping for the monthly medal on Tuesday, or definitely the Pennant round on Monday week.

Pennant round 4
Personally lost 6 & 5
Kooyonga is a wonderful course, smooth fairways, quick greens, but I saw more sand than there is at the beach.
More often than not would take a second shot to get out of the bunkers, but then I would get out well.
My opponent was a very experienced player, on her home course. She knew the greens, and played accordingly.
I am not really disappointed in how I played or my ball-striking, I was simply beaten by a clearly better, and more experienced player.

Team lost 0 – 5

Next games,
tomorrow – Par,
Friday – Stableford,
Monday – last Pennant Round (of a season best forgotten)

Mekat, I see that you are still feeling some frustration when the tees are placed up at your course. Your observations about your matchplay above seemed to show frustration that the shorter hitter was being brought into contention being able to reach the greens, whereas your length had been your advantage.

From the perspective from a high handicapper, that wouldn’t seem like such an advantage to me. If I was playing a much lower handicapper in match play on a shorter course, it might bring me back in length to be hitting into the greens, but there is a couple of reasons why I would still think that my opponent had the advantage.

First is that I am much less experienced at hitting into greens in regulations and being able to do so would likely be feeling unsure of myself and plus hitting with longer irons and less consistency. It occurs to me that with your length, you could turn the fact of hitting into greens with short irons into a real strength. If you could, it seems that this would likely help your putts per GIR stat that you have been working on.

I was specifically describing handicap match play, and alluding to par threes and the shorter par fours; but my major issue was that the handicap difference (number of shots given) does not change when the nature of the course is changed through shortening the course with short tee markers.

An allowance is granted to the changed condition through the course rating for stroke, stableofrd, and Par variants.

My argument was essentially that (in handicap match play) where there is a fixed difference between the players handicaps on each hole, changing the nature of the holes distorts the handicap difference and the balance the system provides, tilting what should be a level playing field in favour of the higher handicapper.

Mekat, I wasn’t at all suggesting that your perception was unjustified. Rather, I was wondering how you could turn those situations when they arise around so that you approach them with an attacking mindset. It may be that what you posted was merely frustration after a day you felt was stacked against you and had no effect on your mental state when you were playing the game. I just noticed that a couple of times you have mentioned that you feel like you play less well when the markers are forward (though this is relevant to handicap match-play, I think that you have said the same thing about stroke or other events in the past).

Anyway of course up to you whether you think that there might be something worth exploring. I don’t profess to be any expert in match-play and imagine that faced with any match-up, I would immediately fall to water.

I wonder if something in my mind prevents me from taking the short marks seriously… It could be just that I am playing careless and crap golf at the moment, especially since the club championship.

On March 31, I played off 7. By the time of the Club Championship final on May 1, I was playing off 8, today I blew out to 10… My handicap has blown out 1.9 strokes from just the last 6 rounds. Of those 6 rounds four have been off the short marks, and contributed 1.3 of the handicap blow out…. the other .6 was today…

Me thinks your dabbling in the ask a pro section has had the most effect, in a negative sense.

see my post above

How would I describe today in a single phrase?
How not to…

1. Do not begin a round without the merest hint of a warm up.
Today I arrived at the pro shop (25 minutes before expected tee time) to the news that there were many pull-outs from the morning’s game.

2. Do not begin a round after rushing from the pro-shop to the first tee, and to the first shot.
At the Pro-shop I was told that there were a pew people on the tee and that I could go with them and hit off… so I rushed down to join them and promptly sliced my drive into trees.

3.Do not rush to the second shot if the first is crap
Having sliced my drive into trees, I went straight to the ball and (without hesitation, or a moment’s care) sliced it deeper into the trees.

4. and Never, NEVER do the above on a Par round.
Having sliced twice into trees on the par four first, I picked up the ball, for today’s was a Par round.

A rushed, flustered, butchered nightmare was the first.
On the second tee, after hitting my drive just left of the green, the pair behind us caught up and one told me that she was only playing nine and the other did not have someone to mark her card, so I said that I would fall back and join up with them on the third.

On the second, I chipped on, but missed the putt, so another pick-up. I said good bye to the ladies I had started with, and waited for the pair behind. As I watched them, the two became three, as someone had played the first with a couple of guys behind the pair following me.

By now the group I had left were half way down the third, and so I was committed to join the (now) trio coming off the second green. Juggling cards, and working out scores, then play the third. My drive hits the fairway, but the second shot finds sand. I confirm and conclude a scoring issue with my former group in front. Out of the sand and onto the green, and the par putt misses and it’s another pick-up.

Flustered and frustrated on the fourth, but hopeful everything was sorted. Drive narrowly missed fairway left, second shot mid fairway just outside 150, third a tad short, on for four – two putt bogey, a square.

Fifth, drive run off back of green, chip on, putt missed, pick-up.

At this point I was still giving shot preparation scant regard with little to no pre-shot routine.

Sixth, drive to middle of fairway, second shot sprayed left, third bladed across green, fourth chipped on, bogey putt missed… picked up.

Determined to start taking the game seriously from the seventh.
Drive hit fairway, second shot finished off fairway right, third short of green, chipped on, par putt missed, bogey putt stopped short – pick up… Just could not get focussed.

Eighth, good drive down fairway left, long wait then sprayed second shot into fairway bunker, third shot onto green, first putt short, par putt missed, pick up… Seven down after eight.

Decided to give up after the ninth while standing on the ninth tee.

Ninth, drive onto fairway right, second shot low flight finishing mid green, two putt par a plus, but no change of mind, game over, six down.

I know initially I was given no score for the round… but later, after some putting practice. I was berated for pulling out after nine holes… and given a 21 differential for the round (-12). I was also accused of ‘protecting my handicap’. I believe that if I had gone home after club announcements and not practised my putting I would still be a 9 handicapper tonight…. not that I really care.

Friday, Par, standard course (9 holes extrapolated), result: 95 off stick (-12 pts)
Differential 21

Handicap blows out .6 to 9.6