Tell us about your game today...

First topic message reminder :

Congrats Super!

Well, here's the "down" story to all the good rounds I've posted since I returned to golf at the beginning of July. I have just had my worst round of golf. 17 stableford points. 1 gross par and 4 nett pars. Lucky it was only a friendly game. Too many bunkers, and too many to get out of them. Putting all over the place. Funny thing is, I hit 13 good tee shots. But my approach shots are terrible. Need to get better by Monday as it is a qualifying competition and I am on the cusp of going up.

Game 3 of the year yesterday. Couple of pars and lots of rubbish. Leaves and wet long grass causing havoc and reall case of severe lefts from the tee. Still enjoyed it. Now baby has turned one, hopefully next year I can squeeze in a few more games

Had a good game today. Even with a blob and 4 x 1 point holes, still managed 39 stableford points. Was a team game (4 ball alliance) so I might be in for a little money. Pick and place on the fairways, but otherwise the course is holding up well.

Good work INW - glad to hear the course holding up well I'm due to play Saturday in a Winter Stableford and will be my first game in about 4 weeks!

Davie wrote:Good work INW - glad to hear the course holding up well I'm due to play Saturday in a Winter Stableford and will be my first game in about 4 weeks!

Note the rule changes - I'm leaving the flag in a lot of the time. Greens are still fast. And we start at the 10th for the time being.

The clarification of the DZ at the back of 2nd is good news - and also the new local rule about the drop from the path on 15th...

10th tee start is normal at this time of year - probable back to the 1st mid-February

Davie wrote:The clarification of the DZ at the back of 2nd is good news - and also the new local rule about the drop from the path on 15th...

10th tee start is normal at this time of year - probable back to the 1st mid-February

You two guys at the same club? Can’t believe I never noticed before.

That's right JAS ... INW joined last year after a layoff through illness or injury (I think). We've never met yet though!

Had my first round of the year on Sunday. Course in excellent condition for this time of year, it's been pretty dry and mild for the last few weeks.

The forecast was 5 degrees but feeling like 3 with the wind, so I wrapped up in my warmest golf gear. My car told me the temp was 5 degrees when I arrived at 9am, but no wind and then started to warm up when the sun came out so I was roasting hot and started to shed layers after a few holes.

My game was pretty ropey, first time picking up a club for 4 weeks, no proper warm up, very poor ball striking but still managed 34 points. I think when the weather behaves, golf is much easier in winter. Just great to be out there - and not trudging around a muddy bog.

Well that good score of mine yesterday contributed to a winning team score. £13 added to my pro shop account.

Davie wrote:That's right JAS ... INW joined last year after a layoff through illness or injury (I think). We've never met yet though!

I feel a 3 ball coming on sometime soon ;-) I was going to say I’m less than an hour away but I moved a bit further down the M4 to Chippenham last year so just over an hour now.

Well done on the winnings INW

Played yesterday, weather not bad! Golf, not bad. Some good shots, even holed a long birdie putt. Some iffy golf one of my last shots of the day went into the pond. But enjoyable.

We have some bandits in the senior section of our club. Seniors play every Monday with a different type of tournament each week. Today it was a Medalford. Teams of four, best two scores per hole count. Medalford is where your stableford score on one nine is subtracted from your medal score on the other nine to give a total. Lowest total wins. Our course is 35-35 = 70. So a "par" score would be (35 x 2) - (2 x 18) = 34. That is made up of the two best scores being net par on every hole. Our team had a 66 on the medal, and 42 points on the stableford = 24 points. We thought we did OK. I don't know if it will be a winning score, because I left before all the teams came in, but the leaders in the clubhouse had a score of 10. Just 10. Medal score of 57 minus stableford score of 47. They said they dovetailed. No money in the Pro Shop account for me today!

That's some scoring INW - I looked at the start sheet and you had a fairly decent team yourself. I wouldn't mind betting that the bandit score came from the group 2 behind you ;-)

No it was the one immediately behind us. There was a 21, a 19 and an 18 in before us as well.
I think three of them are fairly new to the section as the one "old hand" in the group didn't know the other three.

It's why handicaps ruin the fun of competition.

You're a golfing Tory, Mac. Elitist and out of touch. Your opinion has merit amongst the upper hierarchy of privileged ability but smashes the enthusiasm and willingness of the playing masses. Macaret Thatcher.

After a decent run of form and consistency last year I got back to Cat 1, just. I like playing competitions but if they were all gross I just wouldn't bother. There is literally (literally literally, not metaphorically literally) no point. That's from a statistically fairly decent player (sorry if it sounds conceited, it's not my intent).

The last 2 weeks me and my partner have been beaten by a pairing with an 18 handicapper playing really well (2 down and 1 down). If it'd been flat feet, we'd have tw@tted them by 6 or 7, but as it was in a handicapped match they absolutely deserved to win, and more to the point they absolutely deserved to start off with at least a decent chance to be able to win before we started.

McLaren wrote:It's why not having handicaps ruins the chancefun of competition for the vast majority of people that play golf.

Fixed it for you.

Roller_Coaster wrote:You're a golfing Tory, Mac. Elitist and out of touch.

Mac thinks the backstop plan means leaving an Irish flag in the hole when putting.

Roller_Coaster wrote:You're a golfing Tory, Mac. Elitist and out of touch. Your opinion has merit amongst the upper hierarchy of privileged ability but smashes the enthusiasm and willingness of the playing masses. Macaret Thatcher.

After a decent run of form and consistency last year I got back to Cat 1, just. I like playing competitions but if they were all gross I just wouldn't bother. There is literally (literally literally, not metaphorically literally) no point. That's from a statistically fairly decent player (sorry if it sounds conceited, it's not my intent).

The last 2 weeks me and my partner have been beaten by a pairing with an 18 handicapper playing really well (2 down and 1 down). If it'd been flat feet, we'd have tw@tted them by 6 or 7, but as it was in a handicapped match they absolutely deserved to win, and more to the point they absolutely deserved to start off with at least a decent chance to be able to win before we started.

McLaren wrote:It's why not having handicaps ruins the chancefun of competition for the vast majority of people that play golf.

Fixed it for you.

Mac isn't even a good golfer Roller, he professes not to have a handicap, but has admitted in the past to being of a 7-8 standard.

Personally, I only play medals to reduce my handicap, I don't care about winning them in the slightest. However, I do think that having a high handicap, encourages people to maintain them at that level if they're cleaning up in competitions.

If you win competitions, does your hc not get adjusted?

beninho wrote:If you win competitions, does your hc not get adjusted?

Not necessarily, you only get cut if you beat CSS with your Net Score. It has been also been known for guys to maintain a crap handicap by throwing in bad rounds.

The handicap system makes golf fun and inclusive, but it ceases to be a real competition IMO. And that’s from a crap golfer who needs a handicap. At the end of the day if you need to be given 8 shots to beat someone then you know they are the better player, unless you beat them by 9 of course.

super_realist wrote:

beninho wrote:If you win competitions, does your hc not get adjusted?

Not necessarily, you only get cut if you beat CSS with your Net Score.  It has been also been known for guys to maintain a crap handicap by throwing in bad rounds.

Can't really see the satisfaction gained by distorting your handicap to win any competition . . . . . .

Are your clubs using the USGA system these days?

I'm not sure Kwini, a bit early here for any counting comps.

I think our club is ready for the new handicapping system but we have to wait for our “region” to give us the go ahead. In our Seniors group we have at least one qualifying competition each month and I will also play in any 5 day comps. If I go up, so be it, if I come down I’m happy because it should mean I’ve won some more money for my pro shop account.

kwinigolfer wrote:

super_realist wrote:

beninho wrote:If you win competitions, does your hc not get adjusted?

Not necessarily, you only get cut if you beat CSS with your Net Score.  It has been also been known for guys to maintain a crap handicap by throwing in bad rounds.

Can't really see the satisfaction gained by distorting your handicap to win any competition . . . . . .

Are your clubs using the USGA system these days?

Think Congu are moving to it from next year. Not sure if that’s confirm as apparently it involves a lot of ratings having to be done.

Yes they are still saying from 2020. They have been rating courses for about the last 12 months in preparation for this

Qualifying Stableford Comp today. 37 points. Overall winner. £18 in pro shop account and a 0.6 cut. Happy days.

Nice one INW

Davie wrote:Yes they are still saying from 2020. They have been rating courses for about the last 12 months in preparation for this

The World Handicap System is still on course to be implemented in 2020 although the Scottish Golf website says: "further information will be available towards the end of 2018" and there's nothing there. I do have my doubts. It does however explain the following:

"The way golfers around the world will calculate their handicaps is set to be transformed by a new system developed by the USGA and The R&A, with key features designed to provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability. The new World Handicap System, to be implemented in 2020, follows an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities: Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA." So it's not just the USGA system.

CONGU's website has no mention of it at all  

As I'm taking over as our Club's Handicap and Competitions Secretary next year, I'm waiting with a certain amount of fear and trepidation …..

You'll be fine LP. It'll be over-explained and under-understood. You'll get a few questions a week and the answer to all of them will be "the computer works it out based on <insert glib explanation of how it works - such as average of your 8 best rounds in the last 20> and we just put on the board what the computer has worked out"

So much for the promising signs of a couple of weeks ago. 35 points around Tenby and 32 points around Royal Porthcawl created the impression I’m lining up for 2019 in a much better place than I have been in the last 3-4 years, game in half decent shape coming off winter work and also uninjured (for a change).

Well didn’t take long for the building confidence to take its first slap on the face in the first qualifier of the year. Ok it was in a 4 club wind but at my level and the experience of playing a lot of “windy” golf, the scale of the back 9 capitulation was horrific. Nice steady start, 1 over through 5 then out of nowhere thinned on into the drink on 6th, dropped and then proceeded to give the 1st ball a bit of company in the aquatic hazard...ouch a quadruple bogey 7, Told myself I wouldnt be the only one throwing in big numbers today, forget it it was a one off. Steadied the ship somewhat before mentally disintegrating after 12, par 5 into the teeth of the wind and I’ve nailed driver, driver, 4 iron. The latter shot was struck exactly as I wanted, good low trajectory and on the line I wanted, as can happen on wild days, up pops a gust from a slightly different angle and pushes the dying flight left, it lands on the lip of the bunker, thinks about it for a few secs but by the time the 4 iron was back it the bag the ball had trickled into the bunker, not just in the bunker but into an ukraked footprint. 3 shots later I’m out the bunker but the head was now not only out of the bunker but out of the golf course. Completed the round but the last 6 holes were completely devoid of any focus whatsoever. Draw a line under it and start afresh next time, those kind of things can happen in any round, thankfully they are fairly rare.

I'm never wrong wrote:Qualifying Stableford Comp today. 37 points. Overall winner. £18 in pro shop account and a 0.6 cut. Happy days.

Well in fact, it didn't turn out to be so happy days. In playing that round, I got "Housemaids knee" or bursitis. Bursitis is an inflammation or swelling of the fluid filled sac cushioning a joint - in my case the knee. Extremely painful. Had a scan - no damage. Doctor doesn't like to drain it as it could come back, and there is a small risk of an infection with the drainage. Saw the physio - nothing he could do. So I had to give up golf from that day to this. About 3 weeks in I walked 18 holes, but that brought the pain on again. Had to sleep sitting upright in a chair. Walked 9 holes on Wednesday without playing, that was fine. Played 18 holes from a buggy today, no effects....except for the scorecard. Will try 18 holes walking on Monday. So that will be 8 weeks away from golf.

Played today with no after effects. Looking good. Played Medalford - see post above re Jan 21. This time our team had a score of 15. BEATEN AGAIN By a score of 10 Grrr.

Game getting back on track after my stroke. Last three rounds have been 77,78,77.
Just need to keep the 7's off my card.

I'm never wrong wrote:Played today with no after effects. Looking good. Played Medalford - see post above re Jan 21. This time our team had a score of 15. BEATEN AGAIN By a score of 10 Grrr.

Good to hear (the comfort not the losing!)

4putt wrote:Game getting back on track after my stroke. Last three rounds have been 77,78,77.
Just need to keep the 7's off my card.

I managed that on Saturday. Replaced with an 8 though.

On a par 3.

Flights to glasgow in august booked. Troon is a given, looking at turnbury, but not confirmed,any othet recommendations for that way,if it falls through? Though could do Dundonald again.

beninho wrote:Flights to glasgow in august booked. Troon is a given, looking at turnbury, but not confirmed,any othet recommendations for that way,if it falls through? Though could do Dundonald again.

Tons down there Beninho. Western Gailes, Kilmarnock Barassie, Prestwick, Machrihanish,

First round of the year, in the 90’s so good for me. Nice flat course helped, but hit some nice shots, particularly mid irons, 7 or 8 pars, again that’s good for me but a few triples never helps! Actually played the back 9 better than the front, usually the other way round. Always good to beat a guy who is about half your age and plays far more often, I always seem to drag him down to my level!

Went out yesterday- first time for a week due to Easter. Now I don’t know what has happened. It I am suddenly hitting the ball further. An extra two clubs. I would like to think my game has improved, but others I spoke to had the same experience. So it must be down to the weather or the course firming up. Two clubs takes a lot of getting used to.

Disaster in my quest to fill in my retirement time and get playing again ,Only 2 1/2 rounds in 6 weeks intense hip and back pain after last 18 and only managing about 4 holes before the problem really kicks in. One physio thinks me left leg(with the new hip)is shorter than the right causing an imbalance across the pelvis.The other fella reckons my right hip is on the way out so waiting on x ray results.Trying again tomorrow but I'm not optimistic.

I took mum to my chiropractor on her last visit (back and leg issues) and  X-ray showed that her new hip effectively made one leg longer than the other.  He said he sees quite often because artificial hips don't come in a huge selection of sizes.  Gave her a wedge to put in the shoe of  her shorter leg and it seemed to help.  Or it would have helped if she had worn it on a regular basis -- but that's another story. Good luck.

dynamark wrote:Disaster in my quest to fill in my retirement time and get playing again ,Only 2 1/2 rounds in 6 weeks intense hip and back pain after last 18 and only managing about 4 holes before the problem really kicks in. One physio thinks me left leg(with the new hip)is shorter than the right causing an imbalance across the pelvis.The other fella reckons my right hip is on the way out so waiting on x ray results.Trying again tomorrow but I'm not optimistic.

It'll be fine after brexit.

Thanks Plunky similar advice from physio no 1 and I'm wearing it around home as well.That s the thing Mac I'm not waiting for brexit for that or anything else so I'm doing something about it with the insoles and the exercises.
Hopefully we all live long enough to find out .

I know almost everyone is better then me, but I shot 83 and am pretty damn pleased. Would have been better if I hadn't stuck 2 in the pond on 18 and took an 8.

Input on to the online handicap thing and it puts me to 18, I was previously at 20'

First round since last October and with new (well, new to me) irons and driver in the bag. Not too bad and, unusually for me, driving was a real strong suit.
First round pairs KO and we won 1-up, so a good day .
Even the experimental 'left hand low' putter style I'm determined to trial was going OK. Not sure I'll stick with it, but I guess it just feels weird at the moment. We'll see. Anyone else putt cack-handed?

Hello there,

Long time listener, first time caller.

Played my first round in about a year yesterday and after some help. I'm not a seasoned golfer, i'm playing more for enjoyment. My issue is, on my drive, i am constantly slicing it. Sometimes a huge amount. Any advice on how to correct this?

I'd say get a couple of lessons Beer.

It could be any number of things and only someone that actually knows (a) about the swing, (b) about YOUR swing in particular and (c) about how to teach someone about the swing will be of any use.

One thing not to do (and I'm aware of the irony in my answer) is get people on an anonymous forum to tell you what to do (unless it's to do what I say )

Incidentally - what I've done about problems in my game is... ignored my own advice and carried on regardless trying to figure it out as I go along

Don't let me put you off posting though - sorry if it's not what you were looking for!

Welcome to going beyond listening and calling in