Regional Golf Tournament Week....Bust

[CoryMartin]

I don't know where to put this and I was just wanting to vent/inquire from the great minds of The Sand Trap.

This past week Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday has been the Regional Meet a two day tournament with two rounds of 18 holes each. I had a practice couple holes on the first day (Tuesday).

Now for the past month I have really been off the wall in and of scores. I began the season with a few low 80's on tough courses and two 70's. Then this past month I have shot a low 100 score, a 90, an 80 and one 77.

I played about one week ago thats about it and shot a low 80 and threw in some work on the range and stuff occasionally.

We get here and the practice holes went pretty well a couple pars, a double and a birdie.

We Wednesday I shot a 109. Hitting 3 FIR and only 2 GIR.

Today I shot a 114. HItting 2 FIR and a whopping 0 GIR.

I don't know what has happened. I know its probably a mental thing but I am so distraught over it. I mean, I had a shot at MVP of school golf (coach said all I had to do was beat a team mate here and its "mine"). But I didn't.

Then I feel like a bust being the #1 seed and finishing dead last in group rankings today. The golf course wasn't great and a little longer than normal but nothing bad. Turtleback greens on the back nine, OB everywhere on the front nine.

Now this was my last two rounds of the year for me being a senior. Today was my last wrong for a whopping 114. I have 0 pars, 3 bogeys, 9 doubles, 4 triples, 1 four and 1 five.

I finished my last round of golf as a Senior high school golfer without a single par. I want to just put the clubs up and say "to hell with it all" and just go and put them away and enjoy my rest of school without a single golf ball struck. Yet I don't want to be a quitter, I just feel discouraged anywhere near the topic of golf.

What to do? Should I just go get lessons and keep trucking. Or what? Im confused and ah.

[jtw89]

Take a break for a short while, and then go play some golf for fun!  My brother-in-law felt the same after his senior season.  He didn't play all summer, and found some other things to do.  Now, he loves the game again.  He got a lot worse taking a few months off, but he has a whole lot more fun now.

[darkhunter139]

If playing competitively is not fun anymore than you should really consider giving it up.  It is just a game, if you are not enjoying it anymore there is no point at putting yourself through that.

[TyWebbb]

  darkhunter139 said:

Originally Posted by darkhunter139

If playing competitively is not fun anymore than you should really consider giving it up.  It is just a game, if you are not enjoying it anymore there is no point at putting yourself through that.

Exactly.

Note that there is a difference between "not fun because you played terribly" and "not fun because you're legitimately burnt".  After I throw up a stinker I feel awful immediately after and sometimes into that evening.  A part of me wants to go pawn my entire bag and shoes.  Then I'll just talk myself into believing that that last round wasn't my game.  That I am capable of playing a LOT better and I reaffirm those thoughts by remembering great rounds I've had.  Sounds like you've played some pretty nice rounds in your day.  That's the golfer you are, the 70's guy.  Definitely not the 100+ guy.

Since you're having such trouble hitting the fairway give the lumber a break for a while.  Stick it in the closet for the rest of the summer even.  Better a 215 hybrid down the middle than hitting 3...5...7.... off the box. Spend some time around the chipping green.  That's my favorite place to practice.  Gaining a little confidence in your short game will relieve some pressure on your approach shots and even off the tee.

All of that being said, if you're legitimately burnt then you do need to take a break from the game for a while.  You're 18, go chase girls and enjoy being with your friends.  Golf will always be there when you're ready to go back.

Good luck to you and God bless!

[VMAN]

Sometimes you just need a break to see things clearly.

I love golf and get grumpy if I don't play, I also love the pressure of a putt to win a match or the pressure of a big tournament or game.  In fact I don't enjoy playing without something on the line as much as with.  I practice to beat my buddies and to get better.

But sometimes, the best thing to do is take a few weeks off...no range...no putting.  Just focus on other things.  That usually works for me.