First hole birdie curse...reality or not??

[golfunit]

There's times I'm glad a birdie putt on our first hole stays just out of the cup. It just seems like somethin' bad is gonna happen if I birdie that first hole.

Always nice to start off under par, but I'd much rather birdie the second hole.

Just sayin'....

[chingali]

I'd rather birdie the both of them!

[Saks]

No way! The start is very important for me. Our second hole is the hardest on the course, I play it so much better coming of a birdie or an outrageous up and down...gives me heaps of confidence that things are going well! I like to get excited and play much better when the putts drop etc

[Undr Par]

Always nice to start off under par, but I'd much rather birdie the second hole.

no offense but, what are you saying... I mean everybody I know who plays Golf or has played Golf wants to get off to a great start, and all that jinx crap is hogwash imho

[MrSandman]

First Hole Birdie Curse = REALITY!!! (For some)

Starting out with a birdie can change your mentality. It might raise your expectations, which is not a bad thing, but can result in you failing to go through your routine and cause greater disappointment on poor shots (when you would normally accept those poor shots and grind it out).

Sort of like: "Oh man, I birdied the first hole, I am in for a great round!!" Then you mishit a shot, and catch a bad break with a lie, and you double a hole, suddenly you are thinking, "Ut oh, I just made a mistake, what a terrible move, now I have to try harder or else I will blow this career round..." When in reality, if you were 1 over at that point with a par/bogey, you would still be in good mental shape.


Of course this isn't true for all, but I used to suffer from it back when I was younger.

[ChiChiIsMe]

I birdied #1 last Sunday. And had 2 more on the side! I'll start that way anytime!

[bigphil]

as of late this is true for me too! my home course the opening hole is a 400 yd par 4. i always have a beautiful drive on the hole leaving me 100-115 yds for a nice full sw. the last few times out i have birdied it and then doubled the second hole

[Wisco-Kid]

I have not had a look at birdie on the first hole yet this year!
When I have birdied the first hole though it hasn't put a curse on me. Gave me a bit of confidence and I play really well.

[WhiteSoxFan]

No curse. I birdied #1 on Saturday, and it led to me tying my career round.

[JKilgore44]

I almost always birdie the first hole at my home course. It's a downhill 484yd par 5 (from the tips!). If I make a par, I feel like I have blown an opportunity. However, the second hole is the hardest hole on the course and I have NEVER birdied it.

As far as a curse goes, I can't think that's true. Would you rather start with a double and work your way back? I prefer to start with a birdie and take it in stride. You can only play one shot at time...

[Dent]

REAL!!!!

Both rounds at the same course i birdied 1 and 2. Right after them both I fell apart on.

The second round I finished +1 on the front, and +9 on the back. Birdies psyc me out.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Whachutalkinbout Willis? Birdie as many as you can!!! If birdies are curses, im just going to quit golf today.

[Dent]

Whachutalkinbout Willis? Birdie as many as you can!!! If birdies are curses, im just going to quit golf today.

they are only a curse on the first hole. Its just how it goes. I love paring the first.

[DavidFehertysBike]

they are only a curse on the first hole. Its just how it goes. I love paring the first.

They're not curses, they're crack! Dont feel that way. Hit one and you just have to go back for more!

On a serious note though, I usually play my better rounds when I have a hot start. (for me, a hot start is par or under after 4 holes) Early birdies just make the round easier, imo.

[iacas]

When I played Oakland Hills a few years ago, I lipped out a 15-footer for birdie at the first hole, birdied the second, and promptly declared that I was done, because it was all bound to be downhill from there.

It wasn't ALL downhill, but I didn't end up -9, either. Or even -1. But I digress...

I think if birdieing the first hole is a "curse" to you, then you've got to work on your mental game. It's that simple.

[Dent]

I cant keep an under par, although everyone seems to disagree with me. I then played a stretch of 2 par 3's over 200 yards each and I couldn't keep it on the last one.

I find par 3's over 200 very tough.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Yes indeed they are..especially if they're 215+ with a bunker gaurding the front three-quarters of the green like this one I played in south jersey last year. Ridiculous....one of the most incompetently designed golf holes ive ever seen...but thats another topic..

[JKilgore44]

I agree. I want to stack up as many quick birdies as I can before I get to a long Par 3. I hate par 3's that get over 200yds. If I have to hit more than a 5 iron into them, I would rather not play them.