badly bitten by this wonderful game.

Went to a society outing today. My thinking was positive and my aim was to play bogie golf with anything else being a bonus. Well, started great and turned with 19 stableford points. Good, considering I only had 1 par in there. Then it happened. Double bogey, double bogey, double bogey. Three points from three holes really kicked me in the teeth. interest was dwindling, but tried to hold on. The next par five saw me on deck in three, but ended with a seven!!. After that it was all a struggle. Funny when I didnt care, I managed to par the last two home!! Positive mental attitude is a big necessity with this game.

Cheers,
Robert

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"Play to your ability, not your expectation"

I'm always amazed at how I play when my attitude is "I'll do everything I can to hit this one where I want, but if I don't, I'll do everything I can to hit the next one where I want". I find I play some decent golf (for a 23 capper) when I stop engaging my brain on every shot over every detail. I had some fantastic chips and pitches this weekend when I would simply stand beside my ball making practice swings, feeling for the right one - then trying to duplicate it.

I had a rough outing lately too. Sunday I went out and double bogeyed the first 5 holes. It was a real interesting round. I don't think I ever played 9 holes without a bogey before. Ended up with 6 double bogeys, 2 pars and a birdie.

Hi Robert...

For me, and seemingly for you to in the round you mention, bad things start to happen once I become actively aware of the scorecard.

IMO we should try to avoid "scorecard pressure" wherever possible.

Have resolved to do everything I can to just write down the number and move to the next tee. Will only add up the half way score of the guy whose card I'm marking so he knows where he's at and only if he asks me to.

Then as we go during the round, try to forget what I did that put the ball in whatever position I find it and just try to work out what I need to do with it now that it is where it is...

This may be a bad analogy, but we'll see how we go...

Very rarely does anyone learn anything from history as history happens, it is only in the classroom (read practice tee/fairway/putting green) that historical events can be studied and lessons learned...

For me its focus on the next thing you need to do as you can't change something once its already done...

Cheers

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Look at the Target, Look at the Ball, Swing... Dr Bob Rotella...

there is something in what you say ben!
hurried up to the 1st tee the other day ( a tricky par3)
took out a seven iron, 2 practice swings, set up and swish!
the result was a nice drawn shot 2 feet from the hole!
previous to that never got anywhere near the green by over analysing!

WOW SLATS! That avatar made me jump!


Robert,

I agree with Scrags, focusing on a good score can transform the rest of the card to toast.

I read something a while back that seems to help me in these situations, when faced with a difficult or hole saving shot I think to myself "This shot is possible" not "I have to make this shot to save the hole" It takes the pressure of you.