Warm up ideas to play a better front 9

I usually tee off around late morning (9:30-11) and I always try to give myself 60-45 minutes before tee off to warm up and putt. I typically get a small bucket to take to the range. When I get there, I spend a few minutes stretching. I pull my driver, 5i (because it gives me great feedback), 8i (my favorite club and I always seem to be 150ish out) and PW to warm up with. I start low and move high (PW --> Driver). I hit about 5 balls with the PW, 6-7 with the 8i, 10 with the 5i and the rest (15 or so) with the driver. I do this because I struggle most with my long game. After I hit for 30 minutes or so, I use the rest of the 15 minutes putting and getting my distance and "brush" stroke down. I then proceed to check in with the starter.

I don't understand why I always play the back 9 way better than the front 9. To give you an idea, here are some of my recent rounds:

-Plum Creek 70.7/125 (+13, +7)

-Republic 69.1/118 (+14, +11)

-Bandit 67.6/114 (+16, +8) honestly their front 9 is just insanely hard

-Quail Creek 70.2/121 (+13,+8)

Every time I finish the front 9, I go in, get something to eat and tell my self, "New 9. Let's get it". I don't adjust the way I play the game or attack the holes, I just execute much better.

It almost feels like I don't find my "groove" until the back 9. For example, I hit 4/8 fairways and 1 GIR on the front 9 and 6/7 fairways and 3 GIR on the back 9 last week. It seems like my confidence grows as I play. I feel better about picking a spot and being able to hit it (or get relatively close) as I play.

So the question is: What do you suggest I do to get my front 9 on track to play a "full round". Any warm up tips or routines you recommend? Thanks

Try hitting fewer shots with your driver (4 or 5). That club makes you do funny things to your swing if you get carried away with it.

Have a plan for how you are going to play the first three holes. That will get you concentrating right away. I might guess the reason why you play better on the back side is that you have finally warmed up your mind.

I will give that a shot. Thanks

Besides a more consistent swing? Just to bluntly put it, you are a 20 handicap, and you are shooting around your handicap.  I might say there is nothing wrong with what you are playing, but could be just the swing. Even then bad swings can be consistent. So you might just need time to get use to the pacing of the golf round.

I would say the main issue is that hitting balls on the range is nothing like playing golf. I would guess you just hit one ball after another, get into a groove. Then when you are on the course you got to hit a ball. Walk to your ball, maybe wait around, then try to hit another. See the difference.

Basically here is what I would do, warm up. Maybe take 3/4ths that bucket and just get loose. The last 1/4th of the bucket I would try to play out the first few holes you are going to play. Imagine you are on the tee and the drive you want to hit. Now go through your routine on the range, and hit the ball. Now wait about 1-2 minutes. Then imagine you are in the middle of the fairway some realistic distance out. Go through the same thing again, hit the shot. I would just practice driver and approach shots, mimic what you would do on the course. Just try to get that pace of play ingrained before you go out to play.

Yes I realize I am a 20 hcp, but I usually play the back 9 in the single digits where I never play the front 9 in single digits. To me, I am doing something wrong indicating I could be doing something different before my front 9 to prepare me for a good round. Not that you can't do math, but if you take my front 9 and put it on track with my back 9 (+8, +9) I become a 17 hcp or so. That would put me in the 80's and that's all I want from this game. I feel like that is having a good, fun round. I have no interest in pursuing perfect mechanics or becoming a scratch golfer as you and so many others seem to continue to pursue.

Everything with you, and couple others on here, is achieving the perfect, consistent swing. Realize that really isn't a helpful answer to 99.99% of weekend golfers. I realize my swing is not perfect. Now the last paragraph, that's a good answer. I appreciate that. I will give that a go, because that does make sense as you are saying, a range is not like the course. I bet that will help. Thanks again.

Yes, the panic attacks are real sometimes! haha

These are great ideas, Scott. Thanks!