This game is so frustrating!!!

[mcfc_nick]

so this morning i was playing at Ellesmere GC (home course) and was playing the round of my life, literally, on the front i had 2 birdies, 1 bogey and 6 pars so was 1-under through 9 and was pumped, i was actually thinking about shooting under par as i know that i can play the back 9 pretty well. so we (me and my dad) start the 10th, i play 2 good golf shots and make a par there. i tee off on 11 and hit it about 265 (pretty much as far as i can) down the middle and thinking to myself 'im doing pretty well here', so ive got about 160 left, get out the 5 iron trying to play an easy shot into the green, then i go and hit it fat, couple of bounces and into the ditch about 50 yards in front of the green, drop and hit it into the bunker (was right at the flag but just didnt carry) then don't get up and down, triple-bogey 7, then 3-putt the reasonable par-3 12th from 20 feet, bogey, standard bogey on the 13th (i bogey that hole almost every time). we then play 499 yard par-5, 2 awesome shots gets me about 80 yards away, hit my third and it looked awesome trying to fly it onto the green and leave myself in the middle, but i fly it about 10 yards further than i could, 2 bounces and into the stream at the back of the green, drop and dont get up and down (again), double-bogey 7, missed a 6-footer for birdie on the short par-4 15th which would have helped as i was beating myself up around this point. 2 great shots to the middle of the 16th, about 30 feet away, 3-putt bogey. lose my tee shot a little left on the 282-yard 17th with a 5-iron and end up blocked out by the trees so have to hit sideways, then hit my 120-yard approach in the bunker, again dont get up and down, double bogey 6 when i should be looking at a chance of a 3. we then play the 18th, an easy 147 yard par-3, i hit my 7-iron easy to about 3 feet (if that) and then go and miss that to top off the day.

all in all a round at which i was thinking was going to be close to level at the turn, turns into me shooting a 9-over par 79, still a very decent round for me but could have been so much better and is soo frustrating as i know i should have done better!! anyway, im going playing it again in about an hour or so so we'll see if we can improve

[kpaulhus]

I hear ya man. I was playing yesterday and the course had just punched their greens 6 days ago. I shot like 8 or 9 over on the front (greens were extra bouncy) lol. I ended up putting the score card in the back of the cart since I had declared before the round I was just out there practicing. Well I recapped my back 9 on the 18th green and I had shot 6 pars, 2 bogeys and a birdie. 1 over......so really I shot an 82, just messing around. It is a weird game.

[blackxpress]

i was actually thinking about shooting under par as i know that i can play the back 9 pretty well.

That was your first mistake. I know it's easier said than done but you have to play one shot at a time. As soon as you started thinking about the score I'll bet you started tensing up, which explains why you lost your feel in the short game. I wish I could practice what I preach but, alas, I've done the same exact thing many times. And, yes, golf is very frustrating.

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

Went put after work yesterday. Figured we could at least get 9 in and if we got around quick, maybe 18.

First 9 - 48. Yea. Pushes, pulls, fatness... nauseating. As bad as I can play. But, I'm an addict, so after the 9th we figured - ehh, it's early enough; there are leagues goin off both sides here but if we head across town Genesee Valley will be able to get us off one side...

Second 9 - 38. With two 6's on easy par 4's.

It's not your fault. It's the game. She's got a sick sense of humor.

[CarlSpackler]

That was your first mistake. I know it's easier said than done but you have to play one shot at a time. As soon as you started thinking about the score I'll bet you started tensing up, which explains why you lost your feel in the short game. I wish I could practice what I preach but, alas, I've done the same exact thing many times. And, yes, golf is very frustrating.

+1 I started with a double last night, then par, then a dreaded snowman. Instead of thowing in the towel and calling it a bad night, it worked to my advantage as my opponent took his foot off the gas thinking the round was in the bag. I won most of the holes from then on because I just kept plodding along focusing on my routine and forgetting about what has already happend or what might happen. Keep your breathing steady no matter if you are doing great or awful.

[Zeph]

My signature tells the tale of today, so I can only concur on your statement in the topic title. I often wonder why we time after time put us through this stuff.

[KD Epic]

Classic Golf Shirt:

"I hate this game."

"I hate this game."

"I hate this game."

"I love this game."

Pretty much how it goes for me -- It only takes one great shot to make it all worth it sometimes.

[nuck81]

Today was a "This is a waste of time and money" for me.

I'm gonna drink some beer and play some Mario, I'll be fine by the morning

[Shanks A Million]

That was your first mistake. I know it's easier said than done but you have to play one shot at a time. As soon as you started thinking about the score I'll bet you started tensing up, which explains why you lost your feel in the short game. I wish I could practice what I preach but, alas, I've done the same exact thing many times. And, yes, golf is very frustrating.

My thoughts too. When you're doing well, just relax, and don't worry about the "what if." Just play, and add later.

[jamo]

My signature tells the tale of today, so I can only concur on your statement in the topic title. I often wonder why we time after time put us through this stuff.

But it's that last straight shot that keeps you coming back for more.

[Ash1974]

But it's that last straight shot that keeps you coming back for more.

Sure is, had an Ok round yesterday 3 pars, too many bogies, 2 tripples and an 8 on a easy par 4, driving was the main cause of the high numbers but on the 18th (long par4) I hit the best drive of the day, creamed a 3 wood to 10 feet and lipped the birdy put for a tap in par

[jamo]

Sure is, had an Ok round yesterday 3 pars, too many bogies, 2 tripples and an 8 on a easy par 4, driving was the main cause of the high numbers but on the 18th (long par4) I hit the best drive of the day, creamed a 3 wood to 10 feet and lipped the birdy put for a tap in par

2 times this year my swing's been a little wonky the whole round, but found the right fix in the least 3 holes. To me, that's frustrating, but sort of in a good way.

[GrahamD]

I sort of the same, when im not in a competition im a scratch golfer but when I play in competition i turn into my usual 11 over par shitness, my scorecards are always very odd aswell, it wud b like par,par,par,par,birdie,triple,double,double,par,par,par,par,par etc...

[blackxpress]

I've had lessons from 5 different instructors. The one I have now is helping me far more than any of the others. One of the things he really stresses is tempo. He told me to really focus on my tempo, especially counting to 3 in the backswing and beginning my downswing with my hip rotation. This is especially helpful when things begin to go south out on the course. He said that when I start having a bad round I need to put everything else out of my mind and just zero in on slowing down my tempo. When I step up to the ball I don't think about the score or what just went wrong on the last hole or the fact that I need a birdie on this hole to break 50. All I'm thinking about is my preshot routine and then 1-2-3, turn those hips! It isn't foolproof of course but it has helped me a lot. I don't have near as many blow up holes as I used to have and I manage to keep my emotions on a more even keel too. Amazing how many good holes I actually have late in otherwise crappy rounds. Prime example was last Thursday at Pipestone. The course pretty much kicked my butt. I shot 50 on the front but barely missed a birdie on #6, which is one of the more difficult par 5 holes. That ended up being my only par on the front 9. The back nine wasn't much better. I shot 47 but parred the last 2 holes. Ending a crappy round with a par on #18 is a testament to my newly found ability to stay focused on one shot at a time. If you'd ever played Pipestone you'd understand. #18 is a rough hole.