Opinions needed

[NickDarius]

OK so lately I seem to have crossed over a threshold in my golf game. I have gone from bogey being the result of a well played hole, to bogey is the result of a mistake I made along the way down the hole.

This last month I've been playing great (for me) golf. My last four 9 holes have been 42, 44, 41 and 44. I've gone from 46-51 range to the 41-44 range per 9 lately and it seems that par is attainable on almost every hole lately.

What I want to know is can I "proclaim" I've broken the 80s using my last batch of 9 hole rounds? I don't play 18 all that often because I simply don't have the time to do so, and when I do play 18 it's usually on a new course, where as my 9 hole rounds are on the same course, that I know pretty well now.

My handicap last season was an 18.2, but this year I haven't bother calculating it yet. I only play for fun, but my goal this season was to break 80s.

What do you think, have I broken the 80s?

[alomar123]

I would say no, unless you played the 9 twice back to back. You are eliminating the fatigue of 18 which can take affect. But, Id say pretty confidently that you are capable of shooting in the 80s. Good progress.

[sean_miller]

OK so lately I seem to have crossed over a threshold in my golf game. I have gone from bogey being the result of a well played hole, to bogey is the result of a mistake I made along the way down the hole.

Do you mean "broken INTO the 80s" or "broken 90"? Either way, I vote for "not yet".

[Tugglife2]

He means broken 90. I vote for "not yet" as well with the qualifier being that you can and should be able to if you played 18.

[clubchamp]

Playing 18 is a lot more mentally and physically demanding then just playing 9. However you are still playing good golf but I wouldn't say you've broke 80 until you do it.

[Slammin' Sam]

I agree with the others. When you can sustain that effort through 18 holes, then you will have broken 90. Good job though...keep it up.

[NickDarius]

Yeah, I guess it was just hopeful thinking! I tend to agree to make legit it has to happen on a full 18.

Oh and I do mean break into the 80s. I've been shooting 90s since last season. I think I only have 1 round in a dozen that was a 101. I've shot as low as 91 many 93-96 rounds. Just last week on a new course after working all day I shot a 96, and I felt I left 4-5 strokes out there along with losing 2 balls that I couldn't for the life of me figure out why? It was getting dark since we played to dusk so that didn't help.

The difference lately, I've been avoiding that 1-2 blowup holes that hurt my score, and I've been putting considerably better. I've gone from 20-22 putts per 9 to 16-18 putts lately.

So I do agree that I have the game to break into the 80s, and hopefully I'll get a chance to do soon enough. And obviously there will be many 90+ rounds in my future, hopefully nothing over a 99!!!

[SeanMcFarlin]

Good job. But it needs to be 18 in the same day. I have been doing the same because the end of last year my handicap was 35+ and now its low 20s. You could probably shoot in the 80s if you played 18.

[bwdial]

I agree with most of the people... it needs to be a full eighteen. The other day, I shot 37 on the front (par 35) and if I'd walked off the course at that point, I could have claimed a 74 - which would have been the first time I'd ever broken 80 - but I shot a 48 on the back.

[brgolf]

I think it's pretty clear OP is discussing breaking 90 and given the information provided he has 'all but done it'.

If someone at the club asks can you break 90 he should probably say no. However for the purposes of his progression it is very much 'next target 85'.