Match play time again...

[Fat Slice]

Last year I lost in the finals. This year will be tougher as I get fewer strokes (last year 33 HI, this year 22). Field of 16, so Octa, Quarter, Semi, then Final.

First round I am playing against my buddy (and usual golf partner) who is a 3 index. He's VERY competitive (I am not). Still, I am in it to win it, and figure the best thing to do is to get up on him early or at least frustrate him by halving holes by shooting bogey to his par and par to his birdie until I can catch him. I am sure to have a few bad holes that he can count on beating me, but usually I blow up and have some decent holes so I figure I will have a good chance. I am thinking I'll get 1 stroke every hole, and perhaps 2 strokes on 1 or maybe 2 holes (depending on the relative course handicaps). I'll figure it for 1 stroke per hole, just to be safe.

So, yesterday I played like this (on a similar course):

+2 +1 +0 +1 +0 +0 +1 +2 +0 (front)
+2 +0 +1 +2 +1 +4 +0 +1 -1 (back)

I'll figure (for fun) that he shoots par every hole.

So, giving me a stroke a hole, It would be something like this:

-1, -1, E, E, +1, +2, +2, +1, +2 (end the front nine up 2)
+1, +2, +2, +1, +1, E, +1, +1, +2 (go into the last hole up 1, win by 2)

I shot seven holes yesterday par or better. I figure that's what I am going to have to do to have a shot at winning.

The best advice, of course, is play well every shot, but, beyond that, any advice taking on a 3-hcp with strokes in match play?