Almost got it

God that's penal - he'll not play to that for a while, but I suppose it reflects the fact that (as I remember from only a few months ago ) those 100+ scores just have a couple more bad and perhaps a couple worse blow ups than a score that hovers around 90 - which is why,as I found out a few weeks ago , a ton can still come back and bite yer bum if you're a bit off that day.

So, yes, on potential that might be right if he plays bogey type golf for the rest but even so...

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

Gents...

When lodging your 5 (or however many your capper asks for) cards for handicapping purposes, any hole where you score more than 2 over the card is adjusted back to 2 over the card. So anything more than a 7 on a Par 5 will be cut back to a 7.

And once that is done, the capper then has discretion of up to 2 strokes if he thinks it is warranted.

How do I know this....

Well according to the 5 cards I put in last August/September to re-establish my playing handicap after my lay off, with adjustment, I should have been given 20 (or 19.5 exact) but, the capper said he was giving me 18 (17.5 exact) because he had played with me in one of my 5 handicapping rounds in which I was only 2 over the card though the first 7 holes. The fact I blew out and shot 99 for the day didn't seem to matter much.

Turns out he was pretty much on the money as for the moment, I have been maintaining my 17 cap pretty much without issue.

And, my Pennant side Captain loves me, because I have won both my matches this season against lower cap opponents... But, thats another thread...

Cheers

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Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe....

OK, I've decided to adopt this thread as my occasional (far more occasional than Slats, The Dog or Scragger) journal.

Especially as I'm tempted to give up again.

Woke up this morning, Father's Day - by 11:00 offspring still asleep (how do teenagers do that?) so went to range. Met mate, decided to have a round.

First 9 (we play the 9 twice) Tony keeps the card, I just tell him whats what after each hole. 3rd hole realise that we are playing off the competition tees. Never mind, resolve to do best.

Finish the 9 to find I'm 44 (par 35) playing bogey golf, previous best off the men's non medal tees 41 in better conditions (its a bit windy today) so v. happy.

Second 9 make a REALLY stupid mistake on every hole trying to force it to a PB.

52.

Depressed.

But looking on the bright side. Not giving up really. Just have to realise that the most important distance in my game is the bit between my ears.

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

Good to read mate, if not nice to empathise. It's always great to hear about other people's rounds.

There can't be a golfer on the planet who hasn't felt the sniff of success and bombed out in a flaming mess from trying too hard - BUT - and it's a big but - what's wrong with that? What's wrong with recognising your success and setting yourself a target of capitalising on it? As long as you don't beat the **** out of yourself for not meeting the target.

I'm all for it - (and I know most don't agree! ) - set yourself the number, add it up as you go along, but - for me - I guess, the most important thing is to remember The Plan, and play my own game. I still here an Antipodean voice in my head reminding me to 'swing easy', and it always helps.

But the 44 is great! That amazing round is in there - it just wants you to help it be released!

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~_~_~_~_~
Personal bests 2007;
Best 18: 78 (+12)
Best 9: 37 (+4)
Best Stableford: 45 pts
Best total putts: 28
Best total length sunk putts (ft): 54

Club tourney history this year: Captain's Day - 1st; Club foursomes - 2nd; Dimex Stableford - 2nd; Club Championship - 13/28 gross, joint 5/28 nett; Ferebee Shield - 2nd; Sept Medal 2nd; Autumn Stableford - 1st

keep the faith brother
its a long and rocky road to golf excellence
wont be long till you are putting 2 good 9's together

A better day.

I went out yesterday for my local course's "unlimited play for a tenner" deal, having got there a little early (to beat the 1st tee queue) I went out before the shop opened.

The first 9 was pretty poor - especially chipping - so before starting around the loop again I went to the shop to pay, tore up the first card and did some "back to basics" practice on the chips.

Next 18, 44 (35) out, 48 (same 35) back with some mixed feelings, outside the eighties but the score swing between the two 9s was better than last time out.

As I finish I meet someone I know just finishing up on the range who suggests we go out for a quick 9 (a quick 9! I've already done 27 ).

First 9 44 but this time the round includes my shot of the week.

We come to the 5th (SI 1) with me 1 stroke up (my playing partner has introduced an element of competition here ).

Nice strike but a bit right and smack into the fairway bunker on the full; the glory shot to the green is fraught with danger so I take the sensible option and play a wedge that should leave me an easy sand iron to the green, two putts and walk away with my bogey on a hole that I get two shots on. The wedge is fine but the sand iron is a weak push that leaves me 10yd short of a nasty greenside bunker with the pin about the same behind it. My partner meanwhile has a five footer for par and is looking a little smug.

Following the advice of Ian Hancock, Nicole and others I stand behind the ball, visualise the flight over the bunker, the landing, the release and the roll into the hole, I stand beside the ball and take a practice swing, then, without delaying, move in closer to play my shot.

B**gg*r me the ball does exactly what I visualised . I'm embarrassed to say that I celebrated like Monty Panesar taking a wicket and my partner looked suitably dumbstruck.

So a 44 with 15 putts including holing out with that little pitch - so a few shots left out there. Dave fancies doing the 2nd 9 so despite being cream crackered off we go.

This time a 46 but with 20 putts - unfortunately I had 3 three putts each on holes where I was putting for birdie; tbh I think I was just too tired to concentrate.

Overall a 90, with two halves put together. Also 35 putts with 4 3 putts, I'm normally around 30ppr with a best of 27 so as I say some room for improvement.

I also learnt a lesson.

On that last 18, having already played three nines, I was too tired to go gung-ho and I was also aware of playing against someone - rather than just against myself and the course - in almost a match play situation and for once I managed to play the full round (rather just the odd hole) a shot at a time each time with the the sole intention of making the next shot easier.

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

Awesome!

Good god, man - if you're not entitled to celebrate after a shot like that, when are you?!

That really is a lot of golf - bet you're going to be feeling that today!

Congrats and enjoy, mate

great shot robin!.........or should we call you the marathon man

if i tried to play thatmuch golf in one day i wouldnt be able to walk for a week!

Robin, No wonder you look so old!

A little more restrained yesterday; 3 nines and then I went to one of the holes on the Par 3 and practised around the green especially in the sand.

Anyway a 47 and then two 44s.

Some of the shots I "missed" on the 1st 9 suggest that I'd skimped on my warm up, I hadn't hit a utility on the range and I certainly I didn't hit one on the course - guess what I did before the next 9.

In a strange way the most pleasing thing was how poorly I putted, on all 3 rounds I left some shots on the green and I really think the last 44 could have been 40 on a better putting day. Though then something else could have been "off".

I think I said I'd been neglecting my short game to work with the driverso to help me back into the routine does anyone have some simple putting drills to share that make the practice more interesting?

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

Robin,

Here are a few I like to use:

make a number of putts from different places to the fringe, try and get the ball to stop as near the fringe as possible. It is good for distance but without the disappointment of not holeing the ball.

Place 4 balls equally spaced around the hole at a 1 foot radius, putt all 4 in succession, only when you have holed them all move them to a 2 foot radius, and so on wider and wider.

Very windy, wet, and strange day today.

The morning round started off as one of those those rounds where every error costs.

Wasn't strilking the ball at well tbh (awful actually) - but four pen strokes (and some nasty bunkers) in the 1st 9 holes just aint fair - but I scrambled really really well and quite proud at holding it together to do so; 2nd 9 (same 9 / different flag) pulled things together for a 44 and total 93 - which in reality is not that bad given a PB of 86 and an opening 49.

Had a break, had a drink and went out for the afternoon round. Same s****py stuff, less punishment and a still scrambly 90.

Checked watch and realised I had time to squeeze a quick last 9 in.

Par, Bogey, Bogey, Par - 2 over after 4 with three "3"s to come; suddenly playing a different game, record 9 hole score on the cards then - roll of thunder, flash of lightening, bugger I don't want to die - those 4 holes though were a sudden glimpse through the curtain at the next stage from bogey(ish) golf.

What happens if I strike the ball well AND get up and down from the mistakes????

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

Hey Robin, it has been my experience that what happens is you play somewhere between "par" and "bogey" golf...

And good luck to you too...

My last round out, from memory 6 of my 9 pars come pretty much exactly because of the point you raise, where I missed a GIR I was able to get close and 1 putt. Short game good = good scoring opportunites.

Never mind the blowout holes, we all have them, one round soon you'll have 10 or 12 or more good holes and be shooting low numbers.

Keep positive and keep at it...

Cheers

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Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe....

What happens if I strike the ball well AND get up and down from the mistakes????

hi robin
if you do achieve the above statement then you will be well on the way to shooting lower scores.

keep the faith brother