Stopping the blowout holes

Gidday everyone,

This is my first post for a while so bare with me. I have been sitting around the14 handicap range for the past couple of years and have been frustrated by ruining great rounds with big numbers on 1 or 2 holes, EG: podium finishes in consecutive monthly medal's recently with 9 and 10 on the card respectively.

My course is a group 1 course in Newcastle Australia and is quite penal on way-wood drives and big numbers happen easily if you loose your head. So, this brings me to my point. I went out for a practice round this afternoon to do an experiment that I think everyone should try. To play a 5iron off the tee on every par 4&5!

I hit my 5iron around 170m and was amazed when I walked off after 9 holes shooting 2 over off the stick with very little drama. I didn't try and hit the longer par 4's in 2, just laying up in front and got up and down on most and even birdied one of the par 5's with a dead stick PW and parred the other one. I didn't even look like getting in trouble. 38 is my lowest 9 holes ever.

So what am I saying, well I guess I've had a holy crap moment and having my wife say 'Really that's nice dear', I needed to share with someone that gives a hoot! Now I'm not saying I'm selling my driver and buying a pencil bag and only carry 5 clubs. But maybe the big dog is not the club of choice on every hole and long irons into elevated greens maybe are shots best left to the low markers even on the par 4's.

Now I just have to deal with my ego on Saturday and the crap I will cop from my buddies for hitting rescue on a par 5 and laying up on those long par 4's.

Anyway thanks for listening, love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers

I hear ya buddy. I'm a 25 so ya know where I stand but, those two or three holes kill me.

Decided to take some lessons to straighten out the driver. For me staying on the short grass off the tee is paramount but at my age I gotta use the big dog

Finally realised the importance of the short game and practice it.

Can't wait for green grass

My last round this past weekend, I started out not so great, but got it together mid-round and was scoring well.  Then, came to a par 5 that has two carries over water.  I rinsed 4 balls.  Ruined my round.

I tried something this past summer, and now that I think about it, was one of my best scores all year.  I will try it again.  At the time, I was a 9 handicap for this course (I've since risen to 11).  What I did was before I teed off, I took the score card and circled the top 9 handicap holes.  I played these holes as if bogey was my par.  I also teed off with a hybrid on every par 5.  I broke 80 that round.

I'm not sure why I didn't continue to play that way.  I bet it has something to do with thinking I'm better than I actually am and should be getting birdie looks on every hole.  Haha.

Hey Moe, I hear ya! I'll go out for 4 or 5 holes after work sometimes and use my carry bag with a 3 wood, 5 hybrid, 7i, 9i and sw. Never in trouble and feels so stress free, need to bring that to my weekend competitions.

I think if a person is out to score their best, they should tee off with the longest club they can hit with confidence (unless the hole is wide open, then let the big dog eat). Nothing wrong with an iron or hybrid. I'm lucky that I can hit my 3 wood very accurately 230ish (more ish than 230 :-) ). I suggest getting a bucket of balls and just hitting the driver. Keep hitting it until you can hit the ball where you're aiming. Take something off the driver at first. Everyone can hit the driver straight on a half swing (maybe I'm being too optimistic there :-)). Slowly bring up the speed and find out when you start losing it. The goal is not to hit it far. It is to control your swing to hit it at your target. Always work on good mechanics. Pretty soon you'll be able to hit it. I've done that with all my clubs. I take longer between swings since I'm setting up every practice shot to keep it in play. Practice with a purpose, not just to warm up.) I hate taking penalty strokes more than anything else in golf.

I can relate to this post! I guess I'd be around 24 handicap going by my summer rounds this year (usually only 9 holes after work so no handicap). But its the big scores that kill! Massive slices with driver plus poor short game. Both seem to be improving recently on the range, courses are too wet to be much fun at the moment. I came across this link last week which CURED my slice:. Search(Best Driver Video) Drive the Ball without Slicing. Also posted in another post. It may not help everyone, but it has me! Can't wait to actually try it on the course. Hoping to get my handicap into the teens next year...