Why is golf so cruel and unusual?

[jewestcoast]

Last weekend I played a course that I haven't played in over 2 years and had only played there in a scramble format. It is harder than my home course and has a tougher slope and course rating. It has been really wet here in Oregon and the course is playing long and really tough.
Fast forward....
I play the first 7 holes in 4 under, running in a few 30 footers and hitting the ball close on a few holes. My buddy looks at me and says "keep it going pal." This is where it gets really cruel.
After turning in 33 (3 under) I proceed to make an absolute mess of the back side and shoot 33-46=79. There were hosel shanks, chunked wedges and all sorts of assorted poor shots. I made 2 doubles and a triple. I left the golf course really deflated and embarrassed.

How does one of the best starts in my life turn into such a disaster?
Why are the golf Gods so cruel?

These are questions that have yet to be answered but I will continue to tee it up and go find it.
The mystery of golf is what keeps me coming back; no 2 rounds are ever the same.

[Shanks A Million]

How does one of the best starts in my life turn into such a disaster?

Expectations. Psychology 101. When you are expecting to do well, you become fearful of mistakes. More fear means more mistakes. That's why Tiger wins so much, his swing isn't the best, his putting isn't the best, but he's comfortable with a lead.

[Chas]

Not a bad theory I suppose.

OTOH, you need to make a meaningful sacrifice to said Golfing Gods or things will only get worse.

Build a pyre and when it's good and hot, place your golf bag (full) on the flames. All except your putter, which you break across your knee into three pieces and throw into a deep body of water, on a moonlit night of course.

Good luck to you Sir.

[p.s. I wish I had your problems .... ]

[Meddle]

p.s. I wish I had your problems ....

Haha totally. I'm wondering how you pulled off a 46 with 2 doubles and a triple, I need some of that magic. Speaking as a player who regularly gets 2 doubles and a triple when playing nine. lol

[uttexas]

Hitting a golf ball consistently with the correct distance and direction is difficult. Hogan has been paraphrased as saying he hit the ball exactly how he wanted once per round. It's early in the golf season, your swing and golf game will improve.

[kevin.chan]

You are not alone ...lol !

[peter draggin]

Not a bad theory I suppose.

that doesnt work.....all it did for me was made me buy new clubs that behave the same way...lol

[osubuckeye2012]

Yeah, I would say once you turned in 33, you started subconsciously putting a little more pressure on yourself each shot. There is a reason pro's always say one shot at a time. Believe me, I've been involved in some train wrecks of my own. They aren't fun!
Golf God's are cruel most of the time, but you'll go back to the course again and again because of that 33, not because of the 46. It's the little successes in all the tragedies that keeps us slaves of this game.

[Par Fore]

You are not alone ...lol !

LOL, what he said....

I was about a 14 handi.....made my first eagle ever, 9 iron from about 140, on the very first hole.....nothing like starting out with a 2 on a par 4......this was long ago, but things got ugly from there, it was a course I had never played before....ended up shooting 100.....now that is embarrassing, 79 ain't so bad

[Fourputt]

Last weekend I played a course that I haven't played in over 2 years and had only played there in a scramble format. It is harder than my home course and has a tougher slope and course rating. It has been really wet here in Oregon and the course is playing long and really tough.

I had a similar experience last September, and I was playing with the head pro at my home course. I shot the best front 9 of my life, turning in 33 (-3). I was still 3 under through 11, then played bogey golf the rest of the way in for a 76. It was still the best round of the season, but when you look at my course handicap of 12, such opportunities aren't going to come very often, if ever.

I think that the gods of golf just want to be sure that we never lose our humility.