My handicap is total and utter bull#%#*!!!

[jewestcoast]

Okay, I know, there are worse problems to have but....
I feel like I need to rant a little.
The problem is this:
When I started playing again in March (the start of our season in Oregon generally) my handicap was 4.2; after shaking off the rust I got on a little hot streak-during the summer- and had 4 under par rounds (66,68,71,71) on our little muni which I play almost every week. My handicap has plummeted to a 2.2
The yardage is 6,714 (par 72) with a slope of 118 and a course rating of 70.9. This is not exactly the toughest track in the Northwest, you know?

The problem is this: When I play in our Men's Club net events (which we have too many of) and get paired with higher handicap players I am expected to shoot 70-74 each time I play. I don't always play that well. For me to shoot around or under par a lot of things have to go right; I have to make some putts, I have to keep the ball in play and I have to PAY ATTENTION!
Truth be told I just AIN'T THAT GOOD some times and feel like trying to have fun instead of shooting a number each week. I feel like if I don't put up a number I have let the other players on my given team down and go home feeling crappy.

My game is certainly suspect...
1. My course "management" skills are crappy.
2. I can't work the ball left to right very well.
3. My sand play is often horrible.
4. I only play once or twice a week (on the weekends) and don't have time to practice in between at all.

Maybe I am just disheartened because I have had a small wrist injury and haven't been hitting the ball (or scoring well) for a few weeks now. Dunno.

I remember when this game was fun and all of a sudden it isn't that much....

Just wanted to get that off my chest.
Has anyone else ever felt the pressure to produce lower numbers than they were capable of, for the most part?

Thanks.

[iacas]

I don't. I play as well as I can on every given day, every given shot.

Clearly you're capable - but even the USGA will tell you that you should play to your handicap only about 20-25% of the time.

Your handicap isn't "total and utter bull." For the hundredth time or so, it's a number that lists your potential, not your average ability.

[Kingfisher]

When I started playing again in March (the start of our season in Oregon generally) my handicap was 4.2; after shaking off the rust I got on a little hot streak-during the summer- and had 4 under par rounds (66,68,71,71) on our little muni which I play almost every week. My handicap has plummeted to a 2.2

So, you have crappy course management, you can't work the ball, you're sand play is horrible and you only get to play once or twice a week?

Despite all of this, you can still manage to shoot sub par rounds - so you must be doing something right? Like iacas says, your handicap is a reflection of your potential, which in your case is shooting 66 or 68. Truth be told you are THAT GOOD

[kpaulhus]

Buddy, I wish I had the problem of having a 2.2 handicap lol

[enis750]

i tend to shoot like crap with someone, that has "heard i am a scratch golfer"
ummm...dudes im not even close, im a 5
so for some reason i am exptected to shoot like it..never do

[FrankZ]

Booo Hooo Hooo. "crappy" course management, can't work the ball, horrible out of the sand...give me a break. you shoot around Par, bro! I can't sniff par. I shot one over once for 9 holes and when it dawned on me I crapped my pants and shot 48 on the back nine!