What's so special about the 70's?

[holeinon3]

I've shot 80 three times. One time i had to par to shoot 79 the other I had to birdie, and the most recent I had to bogey. Needless to say I choked on the last attempt, and I think it's because the number seems so special to me, but is there really difference between 79 and 80, besides one stroke?

[DavidFehertysBike]

Well you made this thread about it...80 is a mystical golf barrier to break through. Its an acheivement most golfers never attain. But in terms of just pure golf, i agree the only difference between 79 and 80 is one stroke.

[martytilma]

I've shot 80 three times. One time i had to par to shoot 79 the other I had to birdie, and the most recent I had to bogey. Needless to say I choked on the last attempt, and I think it's because the number seems so special to me, but is there really difference between 79 and 80, besides one stroke?

Yes there is!! One stroke lower is always better now matter what it is! I had a chance to shoot a 69 once. All I had to do was par the 18th, an somewhat easy par 5. I decided to play it safe and not go for it in 2. Big mistake! I choked on a couple of shots, and proceeded to bogey the hole for a 70!

[The Recreational Golfer]

On the one hand, it is just a number. Maybe a psychologist in the group could explain why shooting 80 instead of 81 isn't a big deal, but shooting 79 instead of 80 is. Changing the number in the ten's place means a lot to us for some reason. Of course, this is all because we have ten fingers to count on. If we had eight fingers, like Mickey Mouse does, or twelve, we'd think about numbers differently.

[Deryck Griffith]

Breaking 80 is a huge deal. It's a milestone and experience that you can document as doing "before" making that much easier to do it again. With that experience, you can build on it and go lower

[case31]

The percentage of golfers that shoot in the 70s is really low. It's an accomplishment of 18 holes of good golf. Think of it this way...do you chip and putt before playing, or even just for practice? Do you ever go to the range? You do that in order to improve your game and to shoot better scores.
I know when I shoot 80, I can't help but think about the 2-3 shots I could have played better. In my opinion, it's the worst possible score.

[Kieran123]

First of all, shooting in the 80's is still good. Shooting in the low 80's is even better. But breaking into the 70's means you're getting a closer to shooting par, which is a great milestone.

Getting into the 70's has been the toughest milestone for me to break, and I think it is for a lot of golfers, so it makes it much more satisfying when it does happen IMO

I will do it this season :)

[plugged]

Well, a lot of people will tell you disco and bell-bottom jeans, but I hated both when I was growing up. Now, I did like Fleetwood Mac and the Farrah hairstyle on the girls, so that was a plus.

[Leftygolfer]

For me it is a sign of consistancy. I've only shoot in the 70s a handful of times and it has been too long. It is hard to do. 7 over on a par 72 is good golf. And who doesn't want to play well?

[sean_miller]

It's like a 99 cent item versus one priced at $1.00. The difference seems like more than 1 penny.

Personally, I look at shooting a 79 as somewhere between expectation and great accomplishment, depending on the course rating. A 79 on a course rated at 68.0 is not as satisfying as an 80 on a course rated at 73.0. Now, if I was still waiting to break 80 this season, that opinion might be different.

[SpoiledRotten]

On the one hand, it is just a number. Maybe a psychologist in the group could explain why shooting 80 instead of 81 isn't a big deal, but shooting 79 instead of 80 is. Changing the number in the ten's place means a lot to us for some reason. Of course, this is all because we have ten fingers to count on. If we had eight fingers, like Mickey Mouse does, or twelve, we'd think about numbers differently.

It seems to be a huge deal in most of our lives, regardless to whether it's golf or something else. Breaking into that next group of numbers, whether up or down, seems to do something to the thinking process. How many times to you think how stupid it seems to put a price tag on a car of $27999.95 rather than $28,000.00? Only on nickle between that number and the $28,000.00 mark. I guess people don't think it's as bad paying $27999.95 than to pay $28,000.00. Maybe that example is all about all of those zeros.

Crap! Sean, you beat me to it... I didn't read all the way to the end before posting... but then... I never do.

[DaSportsGuy]

It's the fact that you are breaking a personal barrier and setting a new personal low.

Also, it might help not to add up your score until the end. The one time I shot an 80 I had no clue until I got to the computer and added it up.

[WUTiger]

I have broken 80 twice, both times with scores of 77. In either round, I could have had a 74 or a 75 if I omitted a couple of boneheaded, bad judgment shots. I guess it's easiest if you "break through" with a cushion.

Just let it happen. Be the ball, as someone says.

[tm22721]

I've shot 80 three times. One time i had to par to shoot 79 the other I had to birdie, and the most recent I had to bogey. Needless to say I choked on the last attempt, and I think it's because the number seems so special to me, but is there really difference between 79 and 80, besides one stroke?

My handicap just dropped to 7.2, I am not bragging, just relieved because it has been a very long journey (5 yrs) and recently I am improving much faster. I just read a book called 'Down to Scratch' by Abe Mitchell written early last century. It has elements of the DOCF methodology which is what I am working on.

[colin007]

I have broken 80 twice, both times with scores of 77. In either round, I could have had a 74 or a 75 if I omitted a couple of boneheaded, bad judgment shots. I guess it's easiest if you "break through" with a cushion.

was that a long time ago? i would think 77 is out of reach for a 21 hcp.

[WUTiger]

was that a long time ago?

I'm afraid so. Like, 1974. I had just come off active duty in the Marine Corps, was in super shape, and had just switched from regular to stiff shafts to quit hooking the ball.

Next time was in 1978(?). When I was in my 20s, I would go out about twice a week and hit up to 400 balls, and play a couple of times. In two seasons, I actually played to a 12 HDCP. But, my fundamentals weren't that good, and I had consistency problems hole to hole. I've been rebuilding my swing the last couple of years, and actually shot an 89 last week (on a shorter course). But, it'll take a lot of work before I break 80 again.

[kpaulhus]

I have shot two 79's in the last 2 months. The first one was jubilation, but then I realized it was a really easy course. Differential wise, it was my 5th best round. Then this past weekend I went to the course where I learned how to play. I have never broken 90 at this course.....but then again a bad customer service experience has kept me away for about a year and a half. I played friday and shot an 82. The course was great, the people where great, and I had saturday and sunday to pay again. So I shot an 81 on Saturday and a 79 on Sunday. Pretty much 3 similar rounds, but on my 79 round I only had 29 putts. This one felt much better than the last.

[sean_miller]

I'm afraid so. Like, 1974. I had just come off active duty in the Marine Corps, was in super shape, and had just switched from regular to stiff shafts to quit hooking the ball.

Based on the courses last 6 courses I've played, a score of 89 would lead to differential ranging from 12.0 to 20.3.