DQOTD: Play for Score Above All Else?

[Midpack]

I'm just coming back after a 15+ year layoff. It's no surprise I'm way more consistent with my irons than "woods" so far. I'm in a senior league, playing a relatively short course so I can reach almost all the greens in regulation without using woods. I took out a wood last week (my first round) three times and bad things happened all three times - two lost balls, one in an adjacent fairway. So would you

a) just play irons for now and most likely score lower (leave woods for the driving range for now), or

b) use a driver/woods anywhere I would if I had my old form back (assuming that'll happen) and accept whatever scores I get.

Just curious what others might say.

My handicap was 12-14 when I was playing regularly years ago, last week it was 22 using almost nothing but irons. If I get back to shooting in the 80's consistently I'll be satisfied for this year at least.

Edited May 16, 2017 by Midpack

[David in FL]

Let me ask you in another way...

...Is your goal right now to score as low as possible, or to regain the skill you previously had, so that ultimately you can score much lower than you do now?

That should answer your question.  

[Pretzel]

I propose an option 3. If you practice with your woods you should be able to get them to be at least manageable fairly quickly. Perhaps spend an hour or two split across several different days working with them to get a little more comfortable before going out and playing with them.

Being closer to the hole with the longer-hitting woods will let you lower your score by a fair amount, so it's definitely worth the work to be able to use them.

[MacDutch]

I would always opt for the woods. Maybe you need a fitting? Or maybe no woods but hybrids?

[Midpack]

Last week I used woods 3 times, all 3 failed. Today I used woods 3 times, 2 fails and 1 great drive. But I scored better anyway. So I'll continue on the range with my woods, and work them in slowly until I'm hitting them well enough.

[iacas]

My answer to the question is "no."

But I'll also point this out… https://thesandtrap.com/how-to/create-a-poll