Rant: Choking At 18

[mdvaldosta]

Well, I really didn't choke (in my mind) but it sure felt that way. Played the front 9 at +2 for a 38. Was happy, my lowest score since I started playing golf again. Played well on the back also, was +3 overall going into the 18th hole...

Was completely calm, didn't feel any pressure at all. Normally don't hit driver there because of the tight fairway and water to the right, did anyways because I felt good and ended up getting the ball wet. Took a drop (behind the only tree on the hole), and rather than punching back out I tried to hook the ball out over the water and back to the green. Failed, it went straight.

Ended up with an 8 on the hole, with 2 in the water. Shot a 79. Best round so far, but played so much better than that. Funny thing is, I'm not upset about it. All I remember was the 17 holes of good play. Anyone else done this?

[DavidFehertysBike]

I did a similar thing yesterday. Kind of similar hole, too. 440 yards with water and then a forced carry over more water to get to the green. It was unseasonable cold in jersey yesterday and the ball wasnt flying. So I was left with about 190 yards to carry his water. Normally, i would have been around 140-150 from the middle on this hole.

I should have laid up infront of the water instead of tring to rip a 5 iron 190 yards in 50 degree weather. I dunked it 10 yards short into the water and ended up with double on the hole. If i had parred i would have shot my best round of this season so far. Settled for 77. Im not partucallary angry about it either. Ill be there again.

[iWALK18]

Yeah been there before. A few years ago, I had to get up and down for par from 40 yards on a par 5 18th to break 90 for the first time. There was a small pond right in front of the green. Obviously I hit it fat and put it right in the middle of the water.

[jorruss]

As a college player, I was playing a regional tournament in rainy, windy, 45 degree weather. I was just cruising along making pars and I figured to be in the middle of the pack. On the 10th tee of the final round, my coach approached me to tell me I was leading the tournament by 4 strokes with 9 holes to play!

I promptly proceeded to hit 3 balls OB and finished 4th.

As a wise old man once told me - "It's a hard game. Shit happens."

[DJYoshi]

I DID THIS THE OTHER DAY! at my home course (byrne) I started off of the back and was 4 over thru 9.
i was in a zone after the turn and after a birdie-bogey-bogey exchange.... i stepped up to the 9th tee... thinking: if I par this, I shoot my all-time low of 75 at the course.. i'll be really happy. since i've been in a FUNK since last september really.
it's not a really long hole... 440 par 4. down hill.
after the drive i was 127 away.
easy pitching wedge right? aim for the middle of the green...and be happy with a par (pin placement was back right of the green...long or right = in thick rough with an uphill flop to try to get up & down).
i skulled my wedge into the woods. drop..now i'm hitting 4... from thick rough. uncomfortable distance of 60 yards. and i don't even get out.
i end up with a QUAD on the hole! A QUAD! I haven't had a QUAD in ages... probably since the end of my 1st year... i was LIVID. I went from possibly shooting the best round i've ever had to.... CHOKING on the final hole and shooting a 79.... what could've been....

[Prairie Golfer]

9 days ago I had a chance to break 90 and drove ob on #18 and took an 8 for 90.

Usually I blow up at the start and never get a chance to choke.

[Kcas77]

  mdvaldosta said:

Well, I really didn't choke (in my mind) but it sure felt that way. Played the front 9 at +2 for a 38. Was happy, my lowest score since I started playing golf again. Played well on the back also, was +3 overall going into the 18th hole...

sounds like you set your self up for disaster by hitting a club off the tee you were not completly comfortable with.

[Grndslmhttr3]

It's not uncommon for me to start my round choking like Mama Cass eating a ham sandwich. I don't usually choke later in rounds, because at that point, I'm usually in a groove, or don't have a good score to choke on. Of course, there's always the "once in a while" ordeal. That's always fun.

[Dave24309]

Do you see a common theme here? Water. I have done that myself on more than one occasion. Good round going. Last couple of holes I start worrying about keeping it going. Of course, 18 has water on the left. But I usually fade/slice and of course there is plenty of room on the right. But nooooo. Plunk!

We need to get together and ban all water on 18. It's our only hope Obi-wan.

[IPgolfer]

yea i have done this a few times when im going for a best round and io just know it and the pressure just gets to me and ill be topping shots and slicing them etc it really annoys me

[Neco]

There is always one hole from hell per round.

[elementz]

I haven't really choked yet since I can't break a 100 but here is a story about a buddy of mine.

He is a scratch golfer and played in the club championship (2 day tourney) and heading to the 17th, he was 4 up on his playing partner. He proceeded to double 17 and double 18 while his oppenent made par. They went to a playoff and he lost on the extra hole.

He still has nightmares about that. Granted, the 17th is one of the toughest holes on the course, but the 18th is a gimmie par 3. Dead straight and 140 yards.