My theory about golf - wonder what you think about it.

[Shorty]

I thought I might expand a little on why I am the way I am about golf and am very interested in what others think.

It may also explain why it is my belief that unless you play by the rules you really have no idea how good you are or what your handicap is if you don't come from a golfing environment where everything counts.

OK - here's some small picture stuff.

Yesterday, on the 7th I hit an 8 iron that lipped out and ended up 2 feet from the hole. 2 putt par.

On the 8th I had a pitch from the trees from 40 yards out that hit the flag and ended up 6 feet from the hole. 2 putt bogey.

I drove the ball better than I have in ages.

My score was one of the worst I have had in a couple of years.

If I wasn't scoring correctly I'd have driven home thinking about the great shots I hit.

Instead I drove home thinking about how shit I am at the game.

Here's the bigger picture stuff

My theory is that 90 percent of the way we play (or 80 or 95 or whatever) is pretty much the same EVERY TIME we play.

I expect to hit a couple of shots to tap in range each round from 40 to 100 metres.

I expect to hit one shot really well on each and every hole. Not counting putts or chips. Full shots.

Each round I expect to hit at least one shot that would end up on any highlight reel.

My theory

It's the 10 percent (or 5 or 15) that makes the difference to a score.

The majority of our play is almost always the same.

Most of our rounds are stableford. Three bad shots can lead to 3 misses which gives you 30 points all other things being equal.

A shit score. But.....three poor shots over 4 and a half hours or thereabouts. One bad shot PER HOUR!!!

Some days you make everything inside 6 feet.

Other days you miss short putts on each of the first 4 holes. Then you end up on a tree root on the 12th and 3 putt 17 and 18.

You drive home thinking about how hopeless you are but then think "Hey  - i three putted twice and hit 4 bad shots in the whole round. Mostly I was great. Look at my score, though!!

Other times you think about how good you are because you had a good score.

But really - your game was the same, but you made all the 3 footers and didn't end up stymied or three putt.

And you chipped in and made two long putts.

6 unexpected bonuses  - again in 4 and a half hours.

Now......if you aren't scoring properly, you disregard that missed 3 footer and kick the ball away from the root because it will damage  your new club. You don't count the one you hit in the water on 15 because you "never do that".

Bingo - the 6 or 7 or 15 shots which are the difference between a nett 72 and a nett 80 are magically erased and you think you are doing OK.

Or - you are going great and then on the 18th you have an 8. You birdied the hole last week, so really, it's a par, isn't it? Not an 8. You wouldn't normally do that, or leave the ball in that bunker on the second when you missed the green from 120 metres out and thought the bunker shot was an easy one. Mark yourself down for a bogey. You should REALLY have had par there - no need to ruin your card so early on is there? It's not like you USUALLY triple bogey that hole.

So.....we bash ourselves up because we hit  three or four bad iron or tee shots which ruined our score and had two three putts. Take them away and there's a round that's 8 shots better.

If you aren't counting everything, it's easy to see why a score of 95 felt like it could have been low 80s (or whatever your benchmark is).

And-----if you are beginning, forget scoring . That's when you should be focusing on the shots you hit rather than your score.

In summary I think we should go easy on ourselves because the difference between a good score and a terrible score might be 4 bad shots and a couple of three putts. Or an unexpected or even unfair lost ball. Or you hit your bag (when you left it up the rough) and have a 2 shot penalty when things were going OK. The next week you make a couple of long putts and don't hit it in the trees and you think you played great. But really, you hit 5 shots differently and perhaps had a little luck.

It's the 5 percent or 10 percent that makes all the difference. And if you aren't scoring properly you don't even realise it.

I'd love to hear what others think.

[CraiginKSA]

It's as if you read my mind!!  I had a round the other day where I hit a couple of balls OB and topped one into the weeds (lost ball).  So three swings turned my 93 into a 99!!

Golf is so extremely punitive.  You can be rolling along and then DISASTER!  I had a good round going the other day (for me), five over after 7 with a three putt.  Then I lost a ball right, hit another into the brush and had to make an up and down for a 9.  I was never the same after that for that round.

It's all about holding it together for 18 holes.  As a 17 HC, I can usually hold it together for 4-6 holes.  Then a couple of bad holes, then get it going again.  But to keep it straight for 18 is a challenge.  BUt I don't fool myself or "cheat" to get a good score because really what purpose would that serve?  Take your medicine, work on your game, count the bad shots as incentive to NOT make that bad shot again and then rack up all the strokes at the end.

I plan on playing for many years to come.  I know I'm going to hit a lot of bad shots.  And I'll hit some great ones in the bargain - hole a long putt, chip it in, stiff it from a long way out...  That's the beauty of the game.

[Beachcomber]

I have a brain fart at least 3 or 4 times a round.  Outside of those mishaps... I'm slightly above average.  Getting to scratch seems awful difficult... But I know it is just as you said... The 5 or 10 percent.

[BWChuck]

Originally Posted by Shorty

And-----if you are beginning, forget scoring . That's when you should be focusing on the shots you hit rather than your score.

I'm fairly new, and I mostly agree.  I always keep score, but I do come out feeling much better when I strike the ball better (and execute shots the way i intend to) with a worse score.  Focusing on score alone (especially if not all strokes are properly accounted for), can be misleading for ones improvement.

Originally Posted by Shorty

But really, you hit 5 shots differently and perhaps had a little luck.

I think the entire 5-10% you're talking about comes down to luck.  Examples of good and bad luck could include:  hitting the flag stick, landing in a divot (or other unexpected bad lies), bounces (in general) that could have been very different if landed only inches away from where it did, tree ricochet, etc.

I truly believe that the luck balances out over longer periods of time, but not normally in the course of one round.  You have your good scoring days and your bad scoring days, and they aren't necessarily reflective of your ball striking/targeting and short game.

[onlybereaved]

I agree with most of the original post... I think?

Some rounds I went home wondering how I managed to shoot an 82 after playing what felt like a round full of terrible shots and mistakes (more so than normal for me and my current handicap index).  On the other hand, I have had rounds where I shot an 87 or an 89 and felt that I played well but couldn't score , or that it didn't reflect on the card etc.

I agree with having to count all of your strokes, and it's funny that you mentioned not wanting to hurt a club so you move it from a tree-root etc.  I actually had to get a new shaft on my pitching wedge last season after hitting a shot where there was a tree to my front left.  I tried holding off no the follow through, but wrapped my club around the tree.  I stuck the shot to within 4 or 5 feet, but missed the putt and walked away with par on a round that ended up being like a 93 or something God awful.

Count all of your strokes, folks.

[brettski01]

I do agree with what your saying. A good round can turn into an average round with a couple of lipped out putts, a bad lie in a bunker, landing in a divot etc

Some people say you gotta have a good short game to be a good player. I also agree with that too.

But for me i think the main thing i focus on is driving accuracy. The most enjoyable rounds ive had is when im hitting fairways. My confidence goes up, im hitting my second shot from a better lie, if i miss the green its usually an easy chip and putt. At worse ill bogey.

If im driving bad and missing fairways im in trouble from the start. Birdie is basically gone. My second shot becomes alot harder. When you miss the green out of the rough you leave it in a worse position than if you were too miss out of the fairway.

[mck]

Originally Posted by onlybereaved

Count all of your strokes, folks.

Can be easier said than done.  I've found it hard to break old habits.  For years we played with one mulligan per side, many times I never used the mulligan but every tee box I stood on I could tell myself "I still have my mulligan", it  becomes a crutch you rely on.  The game's much different when everything counts.  People new to the game are better off never playing that way.

[Snakey]

Here I am with a mental picture of Shorty as a knee sock wearing Gollum spewing vitriol and all the time he was a Yoda wrapped in a bunny rug.This thoughtful incisive thread encapsulates' what golf is all about.We have become obssessed about the final score rather than how we play.When you scramble through tree's and bunkers and still end up in the mid eighties , is it as satisfying as' hitting drives down the middle or pitch shots going right where you want them and then coming undone with some three putts and duffed chips and ending up on the wrong side of ninety.The enjoyment of the good shots are the ones you remember .(äs the Bard said money for nothing and the apostophes for free)

[Mattplusness]

Didn't read lol

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Mattplusness

Didn't read lol

It ends with, "I'd love to hear what others think." I also lol'd.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by Snakey

Here I am with a mental picture of Shorty as a knee sock wearing Gollum spewing vitriol and all the time he was a Yoda wrapped in a bunny rug.

For the record, Snakey, my forum identity has nothing to do with my physical stature.

[LovinItAll]

Didn't read lol

You're a poker player, right? TLDR......

[Lefty-Golfer]

the best i can figure the key to golf is not the good shots being great but the bad ones not killing you....lose a stroke for a poor swing not 2 and you will find shooting mid 80's is not hard or good enough to make you happy. Stupid game!!

[sean_miller]

Your second and third shots are the most important to playing consistent golf. Keep the first shot in a good position for the second. Hit the second to a good position to make a good third. It's harder than it sounds though.

[Dave2512]

I would think any golfer that's been at it a while would have a similar view. The entire reason I am honest about my score is to set a mark to better. It's also why I track stats, which is new for me. It's also why I invest the time and money. After a bad round I want to be out there as soon as possible to right the wrongs armed with the knowledge to make an attempt to avoid the previous rounds mistakes.

[darkhunter139]

I think I can one up you all on screwing up a decent round this week. I managed to 6 putt the 17th hole yesterday and card a 10. My score could have easily been my best of the season but it ended up just as bad as usual. Good post!

[tristanhilton85]

I tend to agree with Shorty... it's a handful of shots that either make it a great day with a great score or turn it around and make it lousy. If you are going to keep score, I agree that it needs to be by the book because otherwise it's just a random number that can't really be compared to anything.

[Grumpter]

About a week ago I shot 7 over 77...... with 6 penalty strokes (hit 3 off the tee 3 times). Since then I have followed that up with 2 scores of 91 and a DNF (walked off the course after 10 holes after losing 7 balls in 5 holes). My tee shots are killing me. There used to be a time when hitting one shot OB was a bad day... not anymore.