Plan to Bogey

[Disastrous]

I have been playing golf off and on for the past 11 years. I really enjoy playing but haven’t seen the kinds of improvements one would expect from 11 years experience. My first mistake was learning how to swing on my own just so that I could occasionally get the ball going in the right direction. I spent $500 on lessons a few years back and that helped a bit in the frequency of good shots but I still continued to blow up enough holes to keep my score in the 90’s an the dreaded triple digits every now and again.

I started to get in the bad habit of starting a round hitting the ball the way I was trained and then switching to a bastardized version of it and my old swing after a few holes of frustrating madness.

A couple of months ago I went out and played with rain in the forecast. It was a slow drizzle and I didn’t expect much (read relaxed). I managed to score an 87. This has been the only time I have ever accomplished this elusive feat. I decided then that I would give myself the rest of this year to duplicate or better that score or give up on ever being anything other than a very casual golfer.

I have begun practicing at the range about 3 hours each evening. I spend about 30-45 minutes on the range and split the rest between the putting and chipping greens.

One of the main changes I am making is planning my round prior to play. I am not a scratch golfer. I think it is ridiculous to approach each hole as though I will par it. I know that approach shots greater than 200 yards are a weakness of mine. I plan to bogey on holes that are notoriously difficult for me. I will give myself an extra stroke to get on the green by laying up so that I can use my shorter irons that are more comfortable to hit. I figure that this course management approach will take some pressure off and give me a bit more confidence on the holes I plan to par. I also have left four of the five par 3’s as bogeys so that I have a bit of wiggle room. The plan works out so that I only plan on getting par for 6 holes. If I bogey the other 12, I end up with an 82 (par 70) or 12 over.

Does my plan sound reasonable?

Regards,
Mark

[Dub]

Sounds very reasonable to me.

Your first two paragraphs described my game exactly. I didn't spend quite that much on lessons, though. I just kept buying new clubs...thinking that was the answer.

[NI4NI]

Well, you shot 87 (not sure if it's at your "home" course), so you know that you're capable of shooting that low. The key now is replicate the method used in the rain for future rounds. Sounds like the rain caused you to slow down, be more methodical, go easy on the tempo, and play within yourself with better course management.

Everything sounds reasonable - plus the bulk of your practice time seems logical. Practicing <100 yards and in (esp. putting) is the key to lowering the scores (plus sound course management).

Good luck.

[whetstone]

Great minds think alike...
http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthr...h+handicappers

[NI4NI]

Or, fools seldom differ?

[Happy Dragon]

That's a great plan, kind of tough practicing that long though. If you have the time, more power to you!

The key is to minimize big numbers. Practice pitching, chipping, and putting the most. When you pitch or chip, focus on hitting the green first to give yourself a look at a par putt. Even on short chips and pitches, aim to the fat of the greens. When you get better, try to put it within a ten-foot circle around the pin.

Also, off the tee, don't try to correct your slice or hook during the round. Just play it. You waste shots trying to figure it out on the course. Leave that work for the range. If you're slicing it, tee it up on the far right hand side of the tee box, aim left and bring it back into play. This gives you the largest margin for error. If you hook it, good luck. That's a tougher shot to play, but essential try to do the opposite.

Good luck!

[mc0388]

That's a great plan, kind of tough practicing that long though. If you have the time, more power to you!

Happy Dragon is right on all counts. Following that instruction will help you break 90's easily

For ever one above: You can't allow yourself to pretend a bogey is ok. That thought process will translate into the rest of your game. If anything think 'Birdy' and except a par on your toughest hole. You'll be stuck in the 90's forever with the bogey business!

[NI4NI]

For ever one above: You can't allow yourself to pretend a bogey is ok. That thought process will translate into the rest of your game. If anything think 'Birdy' and except a par on your toughest hole. You'll be stuck in the 90's forever with the bogey business!

I disagree - golf improvement is progressive, and also relative to your HC. While true that one should always keep positive thoughts and aim for best case outcomes, expecting par on low HC holes runs counter to setting realistic short-term and attainable goals (for a high HC'er). Anything measurably better and sustainable compared to your past best is golden...if it's bogey golf, then so be it. Once you've gained the experience and skills commensurate with a mid to low HC'er, then your mental makeup should change to more lofty goals. My $.02

[whetstone]

Touche'

Or, fools seldom differ?

[whetstone]

Agreed. Play to your strengths. If you've never broken 100, play every hole for bogey and you'll shave strokes.

I disagree - golf improvement is progressive, and also relative to your HC. While true that one should always keep positive thoughts and aim for best case outcomes, expecting par on low HC holes runs counter to setting realistic short-term and attainable goals (for a high HC'er). Anything measurably better and sustainable compared to your past best is golden...if it's bogey golf, then so be it.

[Happy Dragon]

Touche'

This is funny only because I can't read the word touche without thinking about dropping the T and adding a D.

Peace!

[Fat Slice]

I think playing for bogey is a good plan if what is inflating your score is blown long approach shots. If on the other hand, your short game is weak, your drives go OB, or you chunk in the fairway...then laying up really won't help. I am all for course management to play within your abilities, but a good objective analysis of where you are adding strokes will go a long way to help you find an *effective* strategy (lessons and management) to get your handicap down.

[zeg]

I think playing for bogey is a good plan if what is inflating your score is blown long approach shots. If on the other hand, your short game is weak, your drives go OB, or you chunk in the fairway...then laying up really won't help. I am all for course management to play within your abilities, but a good objective analysis of where you are adding strokes will go a long way to help you find an *effective* strategy (lessons and management) to get your handicap down.

Agreed. Playing for bogey doesn't mean you don't believe you can get a par, it means you don't believe you MUST get a par. It's the difference between deciding to go for a long iron into a tight green to have a look at par and deciding to lay up because you just don't have that shot in your bag. It's great to be confident and optimistic, but not to a fault. After all, par is just a number. Even the pros know they're not going to birdie every hole.

In short, the key to winning is to pick your battles wisely.

[ks8829]

I think that strategy is important to your improvement of your score.

do you ask yourself these questions below:

1) what caused your higher than boogie holes and what can you do to avoid it next time?
2) What part of my game needs improvement?
3) Do you keep score to record, putts per holes, up and down per hole, greens hit on regulaton, fairways hit.
4) sometimes knowing your limits and help to play for no worse than boogie.

The most satisfying thing that a golfer can do is focus practice on a specific area, for example short straight 3 foot putts and practice this for your next play and you discover that what you practice has help to lower your score for the round.

[Disastrous]

I think zeg hit it on the head. It takes a little pressure off if I have a plan to play a bit more coservatively. I always want to get a birdie and usually end up with one or two over the course of 3 rounds. I always end up with double bogey+ every round. Pars come and go so my strategy has me approach the holes that are more difficult in a more reasonable manner while still having the goal of improvement. I appreciate all the input.