Breaking 100

I have been playing golf for two years now and have been working on my swing with my pro. I have shot below 50 on nine holes many times, but until last weekend, I had never broken 100.

Last weekend I shot 92 on a course that I had only played one before. Heron Lakes (Green BacK) Portland, Oregon. I missed quite a few birdie putts and a couple of stupid mistakes and two bad breaks dropped me out of contention for a sub-90 performance. I would have died if I had completely skipped the 90's altogether, but 92 makes me pretty damn happy!

The only bad thing is now my goal is down to breaking 90 which give me no time to work my way down through the 90's.

I really think I can break 90 next weekend. My swing is on track right now. If I can make a few putts, I'm golden.

Man it feels good to work hard and achieve. That's what people don't get about golf. It's not about winning and losing, it's about a long-term commitment toward gradual improvement. It's about patience and persistence no matter how hard it may get along the way.

And sometimes it gets really tough!!

From 130 to 92 in two years. Feels gooooooooood.

I had an old pro at a course I used to play a long time ago tell me that it is common for someone to see a dramatic one round improvement. It does mean your improving but he warned don't look for your game to stay there. You will go back up and then gradually get your game back down to your new low score. Then if you keep on playing regularly you will probably experience the same type of one round dramatic turn around and repeat the pattern.

A friend of mine regularly shoots about 105 or so. Sometimes he's up around 114, and I've seen him break 100 on several rounds, but probably not 97. Anyway, he goes out and shoots an 88 at a pretty decent course about 6 weeks ago. Shortly thereafter, his game fell apart, and just yesterday he "finally" got it back down to 100. The interesting thing is, that he shot a 55 on the front (normal) and a 45 on the back (not so normal) for a 100.

I hope you're right, and that you've gotten past the 90's, but I wouldn't count on it. Like the earlier replier stated, you'll probably yo yo up and down. The point is, not to get disgusted. It's like a stock market graph that "in general" goes up (or down) but it gradual.

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The GolfHound

Well, I have yet to break 90, but I have not been above 100 since this post. This is very encouraging. 92,94,96,94

The only frustrating part is the 2 foot birdie putts I like to miss and the occassional melt-down (especially during the middle holes of the back nine).

If I can just manage to keep my concentration, I know I can eliminate the stupid errors and break 90.

I just have to maintain my focus. Easier said than done. Makes me appreciate the mental toughness of the pros.

jspivey,

congrats.

This is my 3rd year playing and with a lot of consistent practise I've broken 90. My handicap remains 19, but it has gone down each year.

I live in the Canadian prairies, so golf season is short. It's like Mike Weir said, this past winter he practised his swing mechanics in his basement infront of a mirrir...ditto.

My goal by the end of this season is to shoot low 80's. I've revamped everything this year, right down to my putting stroke. I now go lead hand low...I find it makes for an easier repeatable stroke. And I practise for pace...makes saving par much easier.

MG.

Hey Multigrain,

I know what you are talking about. I too am from the Canadian prairies (Edmonton) and I spend a LOT of time working on small pieces of my game during the winter. This past winter I spent about 1 hour a day, on average, working on my putting. What I found helped the most with my putting was that I would putt two balls at the same time. I had an area about 10 feet from the ball returner that had a few different breaks (depending on where you placed the ball) and by the end of the winter I was sinking both balls 8/10 times. At times I was even using 3 balls. My putting improved dramatically on the course and I very rarely miss anything under 10 feet now.

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Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

..another skill I practise indoors is my chipping. I use my PW and 7Iron. I'm rarely on the green in reg, but usually on the fringe anywhere AROUND the green.

I've come to prefer to chip my ball to the pin than putt off the green...I've engrained two great stroke keys and now expect to sink my chips or get it within 4-5 feet for an easier par save. When I'm not totally duffing...my birdies this years have all come from chipping.

No matter what one uses..you need to build confidence in that technique and trust your swing. Half the battle right there, eh.

GW