A lesson in perseverance

Well, as usual the season started badly one bad round and one N/R so far and the handicap goes up 0.2 because of it. To add insult to injury I have had a 69 and two 70's between them....typical. Just goes to show you what happens when it counts. So the third medal of the season rolls round today and down I go hits an ok drive and approach to the 1st and lo and behold, the greenkeeper has decided to sand and feed the greens!!!!! On the day of a medal!!!!! So we are up agaisnt it from the start having to sweep the green of little stones and such before putting. I started with a par but then had 5 straight bogies after some poor ball striking and a couple of bits of bad luck. And to top it all off a fairly strong westerly wind is becoming a very strong westerly wind and all the holes I have played up until this point are downwind!!! So I'm standing on the 7th tee a single shot under my handicap with the hardest hole on the course before me.

Now, normally the red mist would have descended and I would have started to play hockey just trying to hit the ball really hard. But I decided against it knowing that despite the conditions I'm perfectly capable of finishing the final 12 holes in level par if I play well. So I smoke one away down the fairway about 290 knock a wedge to 15 feet and safe two putt par a par on the eighth is followed by a couple of hard holes into the wind. A silly bogey on nine followed by a scrambled bogey on ten and I have just about given up. But I am still able to make my buffer zone if I stick in and make no more mistakes....a tall order since I still have 4 long-ish par fours into the wind to play. However, I hole a handfull of 6 footers and finish right on the buffer zone.

Moral of the story, stick in even when it seems hopeless.

I learnt a big lesson today and hopefully it will calm the nerves for subsequent Medals and repair the early damage.

D.

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Longniddry Golf Club Champ 2005.

In the Taylor Made Bag:

Callaway FT-3 Tour 9.5 Aldila NV 65S

Callaway Steelhead 3 Wood

Callaway Steelhead 5 Wood

Callaway X-16 3-PW

MacGregor Tourney 52 Degree

Cobra Phil Rodgers 59 Degree Rusty

Odyssey DFX 2-Ball

Callaway Tour iX

Pretty good, Mizuno - it could be worse!

My first two rounds (9 holes) were 59 and 55... for a screaming 114! My new putter and I need some alone time...

Nothing worse than making GIR, then 4 jacking for a double

I felt that very same wind mate! Was bloody cold.

I also am feelin the "stick in" vibe after today . Was +4 through 4 and all but gave up, so told my partner jus record my strokes dont bother tellin me my score. So i play on, and play pretty well, but not sure how well until i ask to know my score on 17. I played 5-17 2 under and was only +2. So obviously i bogey 17 lol but still got the handicap cut. Best round of my year anyway

sticking in is crucial form my game espectially just because my consistency is at the extremes and so when i just play shot by shots instead of playing a hole or a round it helps hugely

I Liked the idea of having the score recorded but not knowing what it is. To qualify for a handicap in Holland you have to return 1 card a year with more than 36 stapleford points on it. I am nearly there with cards of 34 and 35. Yes I could lie as my friend marks my cards and give myself a couple of shots and collect that all important 36 but I would only be lying to myself.

Anyway back to the point. I played on Sunday full of hope but after triple bogies on the first 3 holes I knew today was not my day. So I told my partner that I would not be recording my score. Boy did I have so much fun the rest of the day. I had a 10 foot chip in to the hole. I pared 2 holes and finished on the 18th buy landing on the green in 2 and 2 putting.

Why did my game improve? Got to be the lack of pressure. So for the next few weeks no scoring just enjoying then maybe score the last 9 or alternate holes to work on the pressure. Will let you all know how it goes. Oh and the RH drill works a dream.

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And remember whatever the score enjoy your golf .

"Perserverance" I know this is an older thread, but it brought back some memories. Back in the late 50s when I took up this game, my goal was to break 80 as quickly as I could. I have that score card hanging on the wall just above this computer which was the first time I broke 80. On the card is is a big fat "7" on the first hole (par 4). I can remember thinking to my self that "it won't happen today" and played on hoping for at least a low 80s score. As it turned out I shot 39/39 for a 78, and since I was in our club tournament, we kept each other score cards, with a signature for attestment. It's a little discolored, but the memory of not giving up is a fond one. GJS

The three p's - well four if you include perseverance. I'm team captain for this years division 1 pennant team. These three p's will be our team rules;

- play your own game;
- play percentanges; and finally
- play the shot at hand.

The last being the most important. There is no point worrying about that blastard shot you duffed. Take one deep breath and play the shot at hand.

When I've played to these rules I've had a good score. I haven't applied myself 100 percent yet and when I do, watch out!

Darn ... I read it 'pervertness' ... was I ever disappointed

Anyway ... my game has been stuck for 2 years, shooting 30+ stableford on every round, but never above 36.

THIS year however ... mark my words ... I will break 90, so help me god!