Range work not translating to the course, but I am still improving

[codwater]

I shot 142. Played with a friend who has been trying to get together for a round with me. I see it as an improvement. This was only my second round. I played 9 about six weeks ago after my first lesson and shot 72 (144 if we assume I did the other 9 the same). Took three lessons (every other week) and hit the range three times a week. Even though 2 strokes over six weeks does not sound like much to shave off, it was more about the couple of good holes I was able to put together. Also, I played from the ladies and amature tees six weeks ago, and the guy I played with this time insisted that we hit from back tees. So shaving off two shots, putting together two bogies that were INCHES from being par, and winning one hole against a guy who has been playing his whole life made me feel it was good round for me.

The messed up thing is that at my last golf lesson I hit about 50 balls. Of those 50, 20 were straight, as long as they should have been, and landed exactly where I was targeting; 20 of the balls were straight, as long as they should have been, but were not on target; the remaining shots were not bad, but also nothing sing about. I really thought that would translate better to the course. It took me about three holes to feel like I was in rythem. That is when I got my first bogey, and it the hole I won. It was par three. The ball landed to the right of the green under an oak tree. When I got there, a large root was about 6 inches behind where I wanted to hit the ball. I some how skipped the ball up on the green about 15 feet from the hole. I missed my putt by about 2 inches. My partner, botched the hole entirely.

The other bogey was a par four. I hit my tee shot way off to the right. My second shot landed me under another oak on some soft wet dirt way off to the left. Again, I was able to skip the ball up on the green within 20 feet of the hole. I read a break from right to left, and I hit the ball within an inch this time. My partner birdied the hole.

I fell apart on the back nine. I will spare the gory details. In summary, I skulled a lot of balls, hit into the water 4 time off the tee on the same hole, and hit the cart girl's cart from about 150 yards. When we got to 18, I told my partner, I was going to really concentrate and get my par. It was a par 5. I hit a great tee shot out driving my partner. set up for my second shot and hit a great shot that should have put me about 30 yards from the green. Unfortunately, the ball hit a very narrow tall dying pine tree. I had to make the decision to go over the water or lay up. I decided to stick with my plan to par the hole and I went for it. Somehow I completely misfired and the ball ended up exactly where it would have if I would have laid up. I ended up shooting eight on the hole, but I could feel it coming together.

Next week I work on the driver with a pro. I don't think I need any putting advice, as I made many first putts and never went over two putts. So, I think that the next lesson I have, I will see if the pro will walk 9 with me to help me translate the range work to the course.

*Thanks for catching the incorrect score. Not sure why I put 172. It was really a 142.

[iacas]

I edited your post because it said you shot 172 originally.

Two shots is not representative of your improvement because of the different tees you played, indeed. If you're like most new-ish golfers I'd recommend you work on two things:

1. Hitting the ball somewhat solidly every time. The fats, thins, tops, etc. can kill you.

2. Work on having a somewhat dependable short game. Learn a basic pitch, a basic chip, and learn to control the distances you hit your putts.

It feels like you know this, but the range is for work, and if you work diligently, it will pay off. "Work" has a bad connotation but if you learn to enjoy it, and you can psych yourself up by knowing that "every time I do this I'm getting a little bit better" then you'll turn "work" into fun.

[Grndslmhttr3]

Originally Posted by iacas

2. Work on having a somewhat dependable short game. Learn a basic pitch, a basic chip, and learn to control the distances you hit your putts.

This is what I was told when I first got into golf. It was funny because I had a piss-poor swing (not that my swing is anywhere near perfect now, either), but once I got close to the green I was surprisingly competent at getting the ball on and somewhat close to the hole. Of course, eventually I did get lessons and spent a pretty good amount of time learning the mechanics of the golf swing and started spending more and more time at the range. I think a couple times I actually brought Ben Hogan's Five Lessons with me to the range.

While it may seem like a pain in the ass, and while the amount of practice required may be a bit daunting, like iacas said, you can actually have quite a bit of fun in working to elevate your game, especially when you get to the point where you feel some sense of reward and accomplishment by hitting the ball well. Just don't get discouraged by a bad day at the range or on the course, and keep practicing.