I think I've figured this game out

**MasterP** · July 29, 2010

I had the round of my life a few days ago, and after reflecting on it the object of the game is much clearer to me.

In short I shot a 72 on my usual course. It's a par 70, and only 6200 yards or so, but I went 36 front, 36 back. Honestly the round didn't feel all that special while I was playing it. I did notice that I was on GIR just about every hole, and when I wasn't I was chipping from just off the green.

My driving and putting weren't anything special, I've had better days for both, but my irons were on fire. Every approach shot, or 2nd shot I hit was solid and went where I intended them to. No flubs, no OB, no crazy recover shots from under a tree, and no water balls. I just kept the ball in play, and played golf to a target instead of playing swing and trying to look pretty. My swing was relaxed and I played up a club and took easy swings when I wasn't sure of the yardage or the shot.

I think I'll retire now while I'm a 2

**kpaulhus** · July 29, 2010

You need to update the handicap in your profile lol

Congrats on the 72!

**Tugglife2** · July 29, 2010

Be so kind and share your epiphany with us so we can all shoot 72's.

**DavidFehertysBike** · July 29, 2010

Now you've done it...you're going to shoot 110 next time you play, now. Never say you've figured the game out. Its like touching the conference championship trophy in hockey.

**trog2233** · July 29, 2010

Now you've done it...you're going to shoot 110 next time you play, now. Never say you've figured the game out. Its like touching the conference championship trophy in hockey.

Hey actually then Pens touched the conference trophy and still won haha.

Anyways...Congrats. Thats crazy that a 18 hdcp shoots 2 over!

**Zeph** · July 29, 2010

I think I'll retire now while I'm a 2

You better, because random statistics claim you should play poorly the next rounds.

Hope you don't follow that statistic. Congrats on a very good round, next time you play, try to find the same feelings and mental place. Always remember and focus on what you have done right, not when you play bad.

**double_j** · July 29, 2010

Now you've done it...you're going to shoot 110 next time you play, now. Never say you've figured the game out. Its like touching the conference championship trophy in hockey.

This. Golf giveth and golf taketh away.

We've all had those periods when everything is clicking and moving along well and then BAM! - it goes away for a while. Also, it's easy to say that all you need to do is to hit fairways and greens when you're actually hitting fairways and greens. I felt the same way a couple of weeks ago (6 consecutive rounds in the high 70's/low 80's) before a bunch of of high 80's and >90s brought me back to Earth.

kokkikikko · July 29, 2010

Golf seems so easy when you are playing well.
But dear God it is hard when things aren't going your way.

**MasterP** · July 29, 2010

I don't have an official GHIN or club handicap, but I've been playing around a 14 this year, I need to do some math and figure it out now. Probably around a 10 now, the course is only rated 68 and 115.

The secret is to play 1 ball the whole round, no lost balls means no penalties. And fairways and greens, and short par 5's help too

**deronsizemore** · July 29, 2010

Now you've done it...you're going to shoot 110 next time you play, now. Never say you've figured the game out. Its like touching the conference championship trophy in hockey.

+1. Never, ever, ever, EVER say or even think to yourself that you think you've got this game figured out. The golf Gods will bring the thunder down upon you.

**Dave H** · July 29, 2010

I don't have an official GHIN or club handicap, but I've been playing around a 14 this year, I need to do some math and figure it out now. Probably around a 10 now, the course is only rated 68 and 115.

What course? Just curious.

**MasterP** · July 29, 2010

What course? Just curious.

Gleneagles in Lemont. Red course

**brgolf** · July 29, 2010

Congrats on the round but from the way you describe it things just fell into place. For example not knowing distances is usually not a good thing!

**pittpanther** · July 29, 2010

I did notice that I was on GIR just about every hole, and when I wasn't I was chipping from just off the green.

I've said this a thousand times - conventional wisdom on this board is that the short game is where improvement comes, but I disagree. For those who are not single-digit handicaps, it's the APPROACH where things go wrong. Duff, fat, thin, or just plain "it didn't go in the direction I wanted", when these happen on the approach shot, they keep you from GIR, they waste strokes, and suddenly you're shooting for bogey instead of par.

When I'm 20 yards out, things can only go so wrong, but when I'm 150 yards out, lots of badness can happen.

**Dave H** · July 29, 2010

Gleneagles in Lemont. Red course

Cool. Never played there before.

**bplewis24** · July 29, 2010

Now you've done it...you're going to shoot 110 next time you play, now. Never say you've figured the game out. Its like touching the conference championship trophy in hockey.

You got that right. About 4 months ago I shot a personal best of 80, and that was with a double or triple bogey on one of the last 3 holes. That was my best score by 6 strokes, and I typically shot high 80s at that time.

I distinctly remember thinking to myself "wow, I've figured it out." I consciously told myself not to say it out loud. But just thinking it was a bad idea. I didn't break 90 again for a few weeks. Brandon

**MasterP** · July 30, 2010

I've said this a thousand times - conventional wisdom on this board is that the short game is where improvement comes, but I disagree. For those who are not single-digit handicaps, it's the APPROACH where things go wrong. Duff, fat, thin, or just plain "it didn't go in the direction I wanted", when these happen on the approach shot, they keep you from GIR, they waste strokes, and suddenly you're shooting for bogey instead of par.

Last year a 150 yard approach shot was pretty much a hit and pray for me. If you think about it, it's one of the hardest regularly performed shots in the game of golf. You're hitting off the ground from a distance that may or may not be your exact club yardage to a target 10-20 yards across and the same deep. Lots can go wrong even if you hit the ball decent.

Compared to the drive which is normally just directional control and up on a tee, and the putt where as long as you have some sense of feel you should leave it close. Sure there are harder shots, but not ones that you'd encounter 14 times during a round.

**MasterP** · July 30, 2010

Cool. Never played there before.

$30 twilight w/cart, hard to beat in the Chicago area. It's honestly pretty easy, and short, but for $30 I can't complain

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