How do you handle it when you have mentally checked out during a round?

Last time that happened to me, I broke my 3 wood before calling it quits. The clubs aren't mine, and I was afraid the driver would've been next.

 

On the way home though, I cursed myself for quitting - never again.

 

Also interested in replies.

I take 3 more balls out of my bag and play best ball with myself trying to work on strategy and accuracy. 

 

If I'm giving up on the round, I may as well try to learn something from it. 

I find that when I start to zone out its usually because im hungry or getting dehydrated. I always carry a few protein bars and also gatorade and a water to keep me fresh. Helps on those hot days.

I was playing last round and something funny happened. Hole 11 par 5, I tee up and drive the ball, walk back to the cart, put the club away, get in the cart, and right as I start to drive after my ball.... I have no Idea where it went. I try to think back on the shot with no recall. Drove up and down the fairway, and along the sides, but couldn't find the ball lol. Not sure where it went. Forgot my shot in the short walk back to the cart, not sure what I was thinking about at the time.

Sometimes you might just need to slow down. For me, once i get checked out and pissed at myself i start to rush so i can finish the round or the hole. If I realize I'm doing this, i just stand back, settle myself by taking a few more practice swings and imagine the next shot before standing to the ball. I also try to treat every shot as the first shot and leave the past shots where they are.

Ussually when i play ive got a couple of bets. I do play alone but when i do its practice for me. I average about 175 balls a day on the range (range plan at my course). But when my game goes south wirh money on the line it is good for me to just slow everything down and take a few extra seconds to look at my shot.

I drink Miller Lite.

Do something different, try to play a different shot. Like on a Tee shot, imagine that you need to curve the ball around a tree in a shot shape that your comfortable with. Just give you something to focus on.

my game has been solid lately until I get on the greens.   Putter has consistently left the building.    Totally kills me mentally & I find it's tough to bounce back when I start 3 putting and mis-reading putts consistently.

I have some serious temperament issues. I just take my time and forget everything that has happened in my round. I pretty much start again. This has really helped me to improve my focus and concentration and shoot consistently better scores

I slow down and pop a beer. That's the only reason I bring beer on to the course. By the time I've finished the first beer I've either chilled out or wrote the round off as practice. Seriously the practice round can be a good thing. Attempting shots I wouldn't if I was trying to be conservative with a good score in mind. Which is usually a good reminder that trying to bend one around a tree and getting rejected by a branch is not as smart as laying up and taking my lump.

It depends on the day.  If its not very busy, I'll just relax a bit on a tee or after 9 and take a break, let groups go on ahead until I feel I can continue.  If it is busy, I take my time (not slowing pace of play too much), but take a few deep breaths before your shot and relax while going to your next one.  Talk with your group and enjoy the day.  I have definitely called it quits though, because of how bad I was playing or I was just not into it that day.  Sometimes, it's just a little too much.

Beer

This guy gets it.

 

I do the same, turn it into a practice round and work on getting some on the course reps.

Assuming you are in a situation that you keeps you from calling it a practice round, you just get gritty.  If not, call it a practice round as some of these other guys have said.  I'm not saying scratch it just because your not playing well...  I'm saying scratch it if you mentally just aren't wanting to play. 

If you "give up" on a round and then post the score, the effect on your handicap is equivalent to sandbagging. I'm not calling you a sandbagger but the impact is the same.

 

Here is my advice:

 

If this happens anytime from 1 thru 12 then you have 3 choices:

 

1) Call it - Get in the cart and go home. Make love to your wife, mow the yard, spend time with your kids. Whatever. Just forget golf for the day

2) Throw your score card in the nearest trash can and convert to practice round. Have some fun and at least get some work in

3) Take a 5-10 minute break, clear your mind and suck it up. Learning how to focus is just as important as learning how to play

 

If this happens during or after the 13th hole, then option 3 above is your only choice. You have committed to the round and you have a moral golf obligation to try as hard as you can to score as well as you can. If you do this and still score bad then your conscience will be clear knowing you did not give up and the score can be posted honestly.

 

This is of course just my opinion :)