Some encouragement (I know, ENCOURAGEMENT!)

[Macmike2112]

Well, hopefully these can be some good words for anyone struggling.

Yesterday I went out to play with 3 buddies of mine and one of their dads, just a practice round for a little fun. As we walked up to hole one I was expecting to be disappointed and almost wished I had taken my girlfriend up on swimming in her pool! haha

Well, after a pretty bad but somehow-on-the-fairway tee shot, I was thinking it may be OK. I got a 6 on the par 4 first and drove to hole 2 wishing I hadn't putted so poorly. After almost putting down a 5 on the first hole, to make myself feel better, I hear my friend's dad say "Man, I don't cheat in golf." It hit me. As simple as it is, cheating in golf is maybe one of the dumbest things you can do! You know what you shot and if you're just out there to have fun and maybe get better, there is no reason to cheat.

To finish up, my friend's dad told me to tee up my ball lower on hole #2 as I was using my Cobra 3W (Gotta get that oversize). I crushed it, a great shot. For the rest of my round, I was focused but not worried, just having probably the most fun round of my life.

Ended up birding a short par 4 (my first!) and parring both par 5's. I had shot a 45 on the par 36, a score am very happy with as I am normally an upwards of 50 guy.

It is an amazing feeling to see your game you have worked on come together! Hitting the range to make sure it wasn't a fluke. My work is never done.

Not sure if anyone cares, just thought I'd share some encouragement for any depressed golfer.

Keep working, it'll come!


Thanks, Mike

[golfaddiction]

I 100% stopped cheating at the start of last season. Before then, I would possibly give myself short putts even if I missed, or would take a mulligan or replace a lost ball without penalty. Then I realized that nobody cares about my scores but me. If I hit two balls OB, who cares that my score was 88 and not 84? Writing 84 and feeling like my score card is irrelevant doesn't make any sense. I write the 88 and understand that if I kept the ball in play I could have had a 84.

I've had to check the internet with my cell phone numerous times this year to make sure I'm playing within the rules. I had a double-hit chip a few weeks ago that cost me +2. I was also pleasantly surprised after thinking I hit a tee shot OB, but ended up finding it in the woods just a few feet off the rough. Since there were no OB stakes, I was able to take an unplayable and drop close by in the rough for +1, then finish up for bogey.