Thanks to both of you. Robert, for what it's worth, I'm 50,000 words into writing a novel, and since I started playing golf, I don't seem to get a lot of time to write anymore

Scrags, all points I completely agree with, and can totally see what you mean. The way I score is using Wireless18 on my phone - that is, I fill it in hole by hole, score, putts, fairways found, etc, and then as soon as I press keylock, it shows me my gross, though like you say, I don't especially want to know it.

It was something my Dad said to me a couple of weeks ago - the worst thing you can do is stand on the last couple of tees and say to yourself, "Now - if I can just get a..."

I guess one of the interesting - well, fascinating - thnigs about this amazing game, is that it IS a game of psychology and pressure. It's just how you manage that. Your pennant game (I read about it with fascination and admiration when you first posted it ) I think is an object lesson in how to do it correctly. You managed the pressure by turning your back on it, and reaped the result your deserved.

I've still yet to play a competitive game, but the biggest pressure game I've ever had to play is tomorrow. It's the first of my three cards for handicap, and when I rang the old boy (who'd very experienced) to sort it, he said, "Now - are you sure you're ready for a card?"

I said, "Yeah, I think so, I keep scoring in the 90's," and my last 3 rounds have been. "Fine," he said. "We tend to say anything under 100 is," which I take to mean if I score under a 100 the card will still count, though it will still be towards a 28. Now, part of me will be gutted to get a 28. I honestly know I can play to 25 and I'm getting better and better.

On the other hand, the only guy who can do anything about that is me. It's up to me to play better, and again, it's one of the brilliant things about golf.

So now I have the panic and the pressure of not just playing to my 9 hole magic number (45) (twice), but I've the pressure sneaking up behind me of my shoulder demon saying, "It's not 90 you're trying to break, you chimp. It's 100. Who do you think you're trying to kid anyway?"

And I can see the first tee shot in my head now. Long up hill, fairway pinching at about 150, OB left, and a world of trouble in the trees on the right.

God.

That's going to be pressure.

On the other hand, I know how I'm going to play it. I've seen so many people try to blast a driver up the hill and I've only seen one person hit the fairway from it in the last week. The extra 70 yards isn't worth the pressure and the trouble that will follow from getting it wrong. No, I'll take a three iron and follow my mantra, "KEEP THE BALL IN PLAY!"

And it seems to me that pressure never goes away; I don't think my brother (playing off 9 HC) feels any less pressure than I do on a big shot. And I don't think he says, "If only I'd..." any less than I do. Things are rough all over, right?

So to hell with it. Tomorrow, my target is below 100, and anything better is a bonus. If I get a handicap of 28, then so be it - it ain't gonna stay that way for long.

And thank you, Scrags. I'm sure you're right. Tomorrow, the most important thing to do is (a) relax, and (b) enjoy it. Everything else will be what it will be...

PS However, heading out for a last practice round now