I've never been so mad to shoot a 78

[right handed phil mickelson]

Day started off pretty good. Got up early and went to the doctors office because I've been sick recently and it won't go away (bronchitis). I was feeling pretty good afterwards (only thing was a persistent cough).

Like every wednesday I was planning on going to the High School golf clinic that is held at my home course from 3-5 for high school kids. I went over to my friends house that lives in the development because I usually give him a ride in the golf cart down to the course. I got over there pretty early, at about 1:00. We chilled and played some Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010, guitar hero, and I ordered some pizza. Then the rain came. It rained pretty hard and sure enough the golf clinic was cancelled. But hey, now we can go golfing. So me and Gabe go down to the golf course because there's hardly anyone there, and play 18 holes.

Front 9- We didn't hit any range balls to warm up or anything, and we just went right out. I started off with a double bogey of course. But proceeded to go par, birdie, par, par, par, par, bogey, par, for a 38. Not a bad start. I could get my goal of a 72 if I just have two birdies on the back, which is so much easier than the front.

Back 9- Started off pretty good with par, par, par, birdie. Then had a little blemish on 14 with a bogey. Pars on 15 and 16, and then came the good stuff. Finished double, double for a 78. I had fun breaking that steelhead driver over my knee. I ended up with 30 putts which I guess isn't that bad, but only 6 G.I.R's. I vote that there should be punching bags on every hole for the frustrated golfer (every golfer). Anyways, thanks for listening to the rant. Have fun golfing!

~RHPM

[wedge player]

i know what you mean,i get aggrivated wen i go above 40 for nine,78-79 im starting to be really dissapointed in myself.

[bogeyhitter25]

Oh I know the feeling. I can't stand shooting 78s.

[cirem22]

if i only i knew the feeling of shooting close to that score

[CG031]

I certainly know how you feel. I had a chance to shoot in the low 80's the other day in a tournament (on an extremely difficult Country Club that I've only played one other time, so low 80's is a GREAT round for me in a tourney there) but I finished double, par, bogey. If I could've par'd out (three of the easier holes on the course) I would've finished with an 82 but finished with an 85.

[leo3]

Breaking clubs over your knee? Punching bags? Sounds like a self control issue causing those late round chokes.

[imtomtomim]

I wish I could get back to 78's right now. At least you're not shooting 4 strokes worse a side right now.

[right handed phil mickelson]

  leo3 said:

Breaking clubs over your knee? Punching bags? Sounds like a self control issue causing those late round chokes.

Well I broke the club over my knee on the last hole. Plus, I've never done anything like that in my life. I didn't know where it came from. And yes, punching bags. There isn't ONE golfer I know that doesn't have a little anger in them on the course. Cmon, It's golf. Plus, punching bags are a harmless and great way to get out anger.

[Smarf]

  right handed phil mickelson said:

Well I broke the club over my knee on the last hole. Plus, I've never done anything like that in my life. I didn't know where it came from.

I think there is a big difference between having a little anger in you on the course and resorting to breaking your clubs or punching a bag. I was fortunate enough to learn that at a young age when I broke a video game controller. It was the only one I had and my parents refused to buy me another. So I mowed grass for a few weeks until I saved up enough and now I have a greater respect for the things I own.

[~Troy]

What club did you break? At least be it one your RARELY use. If you're going to overreact on a club like that, at least let it be one you never use.

On one of the easier courses I play on, I normally shoot Par or better, I had one of those days where I shot 38/39 for a 77. Was I mad? Yes, I slammed a couple of clubs, but not hard, just enough to vent a little anger, I got more pissed at myself because I put a tiny tiny tiny chip in my 1 month old King Cobra S9-1 F paint job than actually shooting the score. (Boy was I pissed about that, never did anything bad w/ that club again) But c'mon breaking a club over your knee?

[right handed phil mickelson]

Look, I never said I'm not sorry that I did it. I am. I honestly had no idea what had come over me. It was an old steelhead driver that I have no clue why I had it in my bag.

[lumpuckeroo]

  right handed phil mickelson said:

And yes, punching bags. There isn't ONE golfer I know that doesn't have a little anger in them on the course. Cmon, It's golf. Plus, punching bags are a harmless and great way to get out anger.

Not sure who you golf with, but I know many golfers that play with no anger. For many golf is a chance to relax and enjoy, not a source of anger.

[mirv]

i adhere as best i can to something i read once about tiger's routine after hitting a bad shot - it's okay to be angry for ten paces, but after ten paces, be focusing on your next shot. leave that bad shot behind. another thought that i keep in mind is what moe norman said - golf is a walk in the park. the worst thing that's going to happen is you're going to lose your ball.

one time - just once - about two years ago, i was quite irritated with myself for slicing my driver every single time i'd pulled it out during that particular round. finally after 14 or 15 holes, i'd had enough, and whapped it on the ground hard enough that the head popped clean off it. my father saw me doing this, and i'd never been so embarrassed in my life. i felt instantly childish - beyond childish. i refuse to let myself lose my temper like that ever again on the course. i'll just keep myself in check with good old fashioned maturity and self-control.

[hockeyboy22094]

  wedge player said:

i know what you mean,i get aggrivated wen i go above 40 for nine,78-79 im starting to be really dissapointed in myself.

i agree but with my handicap its about right.

[JKilgore44]

It's okay dude, I get angry out there too. I feel like if I don't meet my expectations I am failing myself. People who don't show any emotion when they play aren't pushing themselves hard enough IMO. I'm not suggesting that breaking a club over your knee is particularly smart, but I've broken clubs too so who am I to judge you? The only advice I would give is to break it over the cart or wrap it around a tree, it won't hurt nearly as bad.

PS, I played the two Ritz-Carelton courses in Naples this summer and they're both top-notch!

[right handed phil mickelson]

  JKilgore44 said:

It's okay dude, I get angry out there too. I feel like if I don't meet my expectations I am failing myself. People who don't show any emotion when they play aren't pushing themselves hard enough IMO. I'm not suggesting that breaking a club over your knee is particularly smart, but I've broken clubs too so who am I to judge you? The only advice I would give is to break it over the cart or wrap it around a tree, it won't hurt nearly as bad.

1. It was graphite shaft so it broke pretty easily. And if I broke it on a tree it would most likely send a piece flying in a given direction and that wouldn't be too good. 2. I admit I did get a little overboard on the breaking the club thing, and I do feel bad about it. It's never happened before and I hope it never happens again. 3. Yeah, Naples has some pretty good courses. Thanks for the post.

[hkmp5]

Did your mommy by it for you ? maybe she can by you a new one so you can break it again when you have a bad day.

let me guess you were raised at the country club you dad has a high paying job and you get to act like your two.

I use to have friends just like you in high school , I thought it was neat that they had every thing handed to them when they wanted it , funny thing is 30 years later they still act the same way.

grow up.

[wedge player]

  hkmp5 said:

Did your mommy by it for you ? maybe she can by you a new one so you can break it again when you have a bad day.

im gonna have to stick up for rhpm here,he broke an old club that he wasnt sure how it got there,i guess you think that throwing an old ball away is bad as well??or wat about pga pros that have broke clubs the better you get the madder you get about bad playing,it happens.its a part of life people vent.