You’ve only been playing for 2 years and you’re a 13 handicap? That’s really good.
I have some ‘legendary meltdown golf stories’ but I think I’ll save them for another day. In other words, what you pulled off there really isn’t as bad as you think it is.
@Dorian
Agree. This is a guy who’s going to get to a single digit pretty soon and be very frustrated about the stagnation in improvement at that level. Welcome!
Never shot an even round. Most recent round shot 36 even on front nine, +1 going into a birdie-able par 4 17th. Bogey 17, double 18 for a 76. A great day and a cap round, but damn it.
Imo, blowing up is a necessary failure to go to the next level. You have the talent; just gotta string it along for a day.
I was coming in on #9 (of 9) for men’s league one day. I was 2 under. Thought to myself, I won the pot for sure, might as well sweeten it up with a skin. It’s a drivable par 4, so even on a lost ball, par is possible and with a bogey I’d still be under par and win the pot by a few strokes. I block the drive right, drop, shank OB, then I don’t recall after, but I walked away at +3 or +4. It was ugly.
About the same handicap as you. Shot 37 on front nine. Birdie on the 10th. If I remember right, I shot a 52 on the last 8 holes. Went from hitting great shots, to I have no idea what I’m doing. It was like a switch went off in my head. I’ve never had 2 so different 9s in my life.
This year my goal was to break 90. I’ve had decent rounds that unwound towards the end and my PB was 93 around the middle of September. I was driving home from work one day and on a lark called the pro shop to see whether there were any late twilight tee times available. Gunned it to the course - was just hoping to play a few holes after work, nothing special. The round started okayish, had some decent holes, but nothing super special. Ended up shooting 47 on the front - not a single par, but only two doubles, so was decently pleased with that result. The course was empty, so it was playing fast and I decided to see whether I could finish the full 18 that day.
Played first two holes on the back and bogeyed both of them - a decent result. Third one on the back is a looooong par 5 that ends near the water. Approach shots on that one end up in the water or sand about 80% of the time for me. That evening I was on the green in 3 and two-putt for par. Next up, peninsula par 3. I lose about a sleeve of balls there on average. this time? just short of the green, great chip to within ~8 feet of the hole and sink it for another par. Next up, another par 5. GIR AGAIN?!?!? even 3 putt for bogey couldn’t wipe a smile from my face. Hole 7 is the longest par 3 on the course. Bad news for me. Never really felt good on that hole. Decided to experiment and try to hit a 4h with 70% power instead of a long iron. Nailed it. Ball runs onto the green. 2-putt. PAR. I am having an absolute blast at this point. Even bogeys on the next par 4 feel good. I am nailing my drives; my approach shots kinda suck, but that’s okay, we are still having fun. This is an awesome game!
After hole 7 I got stuck waiting for a solo in front of me, so I put in the scores for the last two holes onto the cart’s GPS. That’s when it hit me. I have finished 16 holes with a 79. Two holes left. Two par 4’s. Score a bogey on both and I have achieved my goal for the year. All of a sudden the pressure is on.
Hole 17 - good drive, but I slice the shit out of the approach shot and end up 20 yards left of the pin, barely missing the water hazard. Chip onto the green, two putt and it’s a bogey. Not great, not terrible.
Hole 18. Xena 9. Second hardest hole on the course. A dogleg left with a water hazard on the left, hills and trees on the right, and a narrow fairway in the middle. Even if I nail the drive, I still have ~180 approach shot that has to cover at least 150 to get over the water. Difficult. One step at a time though. Drive. Line up. Practice swing. Good. Step up.
NAILED IT. Straight down the middle and my usual slice became a cute little fade that rolled out to the middle of the fairway. I have options now. Go for the green? Doable, but risky. Decide to take a more calculated approach. Take out my PW and decide to get closer to the green and avoid water altogether. Safer that way. All I need is a 5 and I am laughing all the way home with an 89 in under 3 hours. Once decided on the safe course of action all I could think of was Vegas and the fucking Mirage. Line up. Forget to take a practice swing.
And I end up throwing the biggest hook of my life straight into the drink. Triple bogey for a PB of 91. Cause fuck you, that’s why.
Lol I shoot a 37 on the first 4-5 holes.
I never add up my score at 9. Just play hard and add at the end. Helps to not know, even if you have an idea where you are at.
Been exactly where you are a couple of times this past golf season.
On the positive side, got my first eagle!
Years ago I was really grinding to break 80. Shot 36 on the front, 8 over on the back for an 80 for like the 4th time.
51 yr old 5 hcp.
I am all of you. Been playing the best golf of my life the last 2 years.
Here’s a quick ten things that can help you break 80.
Find it in the dirt, you have to practice. Especially putting and short game.
Practice your putting and short game.
@Vic
Practice your putting and short game.
1 or 2 hero shots a round if it doesn’t bring in trouble.
Play away from 6, take your medicine and give yourself a putt to make.
Stay present, one shot at a time… easier said than done, it is a learned skill. You’re only as good as your next shot.
Take more club, and swing smoother…
Play the miss if you’re not catching it clean.
Find the center of the club face.
Shit, you all know this…go practice, have fun,
Stay level and connected and swing to finish…
Watch Ben Hogan and Tiger…
Practice your short game and putting.
Takes the pressure off of your long game, just hit it out there, hit it up there and get it inside a three-foot circle.
I shot an 81 this weekend with a 9 on hole #13, and missed two putts inside of three feet…
I shot 33 on the front once. 4 birdies including a streak of 3 in a row by sinking three 20+ ft putts. Followed it up with a 47 on the back for a smooth 80.
Played a course where the front is harder than the back.
Front 39, I was going nuts in my head.
10th - bogey - cool
11th - bogey cool, I’m breaking 90 EASILY!!!
12 - 8
13 - 8
14 - 8
Finished with a 51 on the back for an even 90. Wanted to die.
However, 2 weeks later went 42 - 42 for an 84!!! Followed it with a 102.
Golf is hard.
Legendary meltdown? Order up!
It took me about 3 years to break 100. I was on 18 with a 94, Par 4. Finally a good chance to finally break 100.
I sent three straight shots into the bushes 15 yards, 45 degrees right of me. Finally got out, sent it into the woods. Lost 4 balls in the blink of an eye and torpedoed my scorecard.
Funniest meltdown I’ve ever seen was a friend hitting 4 straight balls into the water in the same spot. The last one, he just said screw it and dropped in the middle of the fairway. Then hit an almost 90-degree shank right into the exact same spot as the previous ones. I wish I could say I kept my cool but I about died laughing while he was losing his mind.
I had the exact opposite on Monday. I’m a 9 hcp. Shot a 48 on the front and damn near walked off the course. It was cold and wet and I was playing like shit. My swing continued feeling like shit, but due to a lack of no longer giving a shit and lights out putting, I shot a 37 on the back.
Had my best 9 holes ever this season on the front 9. Hit every green in regulation.
Thought too much about the same things you did. Even not knowing the score I knew it was good.
Had a similarly bad back 9 as you did.
My previous best ever 9 holes was on that same back 9. But it wasn’t to be on that day.
I went 43-32 for a 75 once. Had a spectacular 8 on the 5th hole… Started birdie-birdie on the back. After I birdied the 15th, kids I was playing with became very quiet… It was a fun round. Had I gone 32-43 I don’t think it would have been so fun, or memorable.
Sounds pretty bog-standard tbh (I’m the same handicap)
I can’t hit a 37 without taking risks, and I can’t get away with that level of risk for 18 holes.
After the first mistake it’s usually just doubling down on the aggressive approach.
How tf do you start golfing around a 28? So you’re just shooting 100 from the get-go?