What would you do on 17th hole, when score doesn't count?

Here's a hypothetical situation.

Suppose it's not a tournament and you are playing casually. You are 6 shots over your handicap through 16 holes. For example, if you are 12 handicap, you are already 18 over through 16 holes. This implies the score from this round is unlikely to count towards your handicap (bottom 10 rounds of last 20 rounds).

How would you play the last 2 holes?

1. Use the same strategy that you played the first 16 holes.
2. Play more aggressively (such as going for 2 on par-5)
3. Play more conservatively (such as laying up on par-5)
4. Practice shots that you normally wouldn't try.
5. other

I'd say it would depend on what part of my game is malfunctioning to make me shoot over my handicap.


I'd played aggressively if I was hitting long clubs farther and pretty nice.
More conservatively if I wasn't hitting long clubs well
And I probably would practice shots I normally wouldn't try lol..

Either #1 or #2

Every hole is a gome, with a target. Even though i didn't play well on the previous 16 holes, I still strive for the best I can do on the last two holes.

Depends on what improvement is needed, and how the remaining two holes set-up to help with the needed improvement (ex: if your driving has left you, and one hole is a Par-3, then you won't get much help). You can always either head over to the practice range after, or else play more holes to "practice" if time and course activity allows.

After being well over your HC through 16, you're probably ready for the 19th anyway...

I wouldn't change anything from what I'd do any other day. I'm not going all Tin Cup just because I'm having a bad round. I'll still try to make the best score I can on those last 2 holes, and that means not playing any different than I normally would.

I would try and birdie the last two holes to get my score down. Maybe that means playing a little more aggresive, but I would still play within my game.

This situation happened to me last thursday. Had a lesson on wed and everything was going well. Went to a new course(to me) thursday to play, Kearney Hills and out of the first 17 holes i hit 2 fairways. Was a link style course so needless to say i lost quite a few balls. Hole 18 is a 535yd par5. I was tired of losing balls so i grab my 4i to poke it out into the fairway. This is when Larry, a guy we got paired up with says, "In all the years i have played here i have never seen anyone on in 2"

The 4 goes swiftly back in the bag and out comes the driver. My playing partner grins ever so slightly at me as i walk up to tee the ball. I love things like this, a little pressure helps me in these types of situations. I decide....old grip, old ball posistion, old steep downswing. Rip the ball up the middle about 285-290, leaving a great lie for my 3w. I had about 245 on the card to carry the green but it was slightly up hill. I would guess i needed to carry 250 to the front edge with the incline. Well i let her rip, carry the front of the green and leave myself a 20 footer for eagle. The putt rolls about 8inches past the hole and i tap in for birdie and a 94.......yeah a 94. Was the worst round i had played in probably 2 years but this hole made everything ok.


I always go for it unless i am doing really well and wanna play it safe. If you are out with friends you might as well see what your capable of and go for it. Going for it and getting an eagle or birdie is a much better ending to a bad round than a lay up play for a safe par. My .02

Great story! I'm sure you will forget the 94 but you will remember the 18th hole for a long long time.

This is why we play golf. Go out and have fun!