Sanded Greens

[Harmonious]

If this doesn't prove how goofy this game is, I don't know what does. Here goes:

My home course aerified all the greens last Monday and Tuesday. This was with the BIG hole puncher, not just the slicing kind of aerifier. Then they really sanded the greens and rolled them as best they could to at least open the course back up. But they were hardly playable.

I played on Thursday just to get some exercise. I had already convinced myself to take the "2 putt maximum" on the greens because of their condition. On the 2nd hole, I missed the green and made a feeble chip to about 10 feet. Oh well, I thought, I'll just smack it up there and take my 2 putts for bogey. Wouldn't you know the ball went dead center into the cup for a scrambling par. On the 5th hole, I hit a good approach to about 15'. Again, I figured 2 putts for a par. Didn't really worry about lining up the putt, just smacked it. Again, dead center for a birdie.

This went on all day long. I wouldn't try to read any breaks (which way does sand break, anyway?) just guessed at a general direction. I didn't worry about running it way past the hole because I had already given myself a 2 putt. Just stepped up and hit it without caring whether it went in or not.

As it turned out, I never 3 putted, so I didn't have to invoke the 2-putt max clause. Made 3 nice birdie putts, and saved 2 or 3 more up and downs with putts over 10'. At the end of the day, I counted my putts...26! Best putting day all year.

So now I'm wondering whether it was just one of those goofy days, or did my "don't care" approach to putting allow me to make a better stroke? I'm going to try the same approach next time out, just to see. If I putt as well the next time, I'll be a believer.

[nuck81]

or did my "don't care" approach to putting allow me to make a better stroke? I'm going to try the same approach next time out, just to see. If I putt as well the next time, I'll be a believer.

Bob Rotella would approve of this....

[montru]

At least you could make a putt on your sanded greens. When they did the greens at one of our courses it was sanded so heavey on some of them that it was like trying to putt in a bunker, we tried to play the two putt max but it was just no fun, we went back to the clubhouse after about 7 holes and got a rain check for 18 holes and went to one of our other courses to play.

[SaltyDog]

Some of best days are when I don't care or think too much...just hit the ball based on "feel"

I think if you implement that approach every time, you'll get similar results, imo.

[zeg]

So now I'm wondering whether it was just one of those goofy days, or did my "don't care" approach to putting allow me to make a better stroke? I'm going to try the same approach next time out, just to see. If I putt as well the next time, I'll be a believer.

If you can pull this off, I think you'll be pleased. I know that when I've tried it --- not usually with putting, but with iron strokes, it's harder than it should be. The problem is that I find myself anticipating the result of being relaxed instead of just being relaxed. Today you were really not expecting anything, so it worked... good luck with it!

[JML22]

My dont care days = missing every putt low