Golf

[Smashing-Pumpkin]

6 hours ago, The Bear said:

I haven't played Six Hills in about 15 years, but will be playing it in a couple of months. Last time I was there it was a fairly average not much cop course. 

Do you ever play at Wergs GC?

 

Last winter we were looking for somewhere dry where you could use a trolley rather than carry and Wergs GC was open. We only knew of it from being on the doorstep of South Staffordshire (great course). Me and a couple of friends were pleasantly surprised with the course, very dry which was nice, some nice holes particularly on the back 9 I felt, all for about £25 quid each.

 

Its not Longcliffe or The Leicestershire, but was a very tidy course and only about 20 years old I believe?

[The Bear]

No not heard of that one. Cheers I'll take a look. 

 

Edit - Almost the other side of Wolvo is too far for me. I'm in Burton and anything more than about 45 mins is too far just for a casual game. 

Edited 14 June 2022 by The Bear

[Izzy]

On 05/06/2022 at 18:25, Manini said:

Give Bob Does Sports a go. Not serious in the slightest but it’s a good laugh. 

Thanks to you I'm now hooked.

 

Fvcking hilarious 

 

Edited 15 June 2022 by Izzy

[Guest Manini]

9 minutes ago, Izzy said:

Thanks to you I'm now hooked.

 

Fvcking hilarious 

 

 “Joey cold cuts is beefing with the IRS….who beefs with the IRS?” 
 

Not sure if you’ve seen that one yet but well funny  

 

Bob’s heckling pro sports people Is unreal as well. Especially when they recognise him and join in, the pitcher at the baseball is hilarious. 

[Nod.E]

Really struggling with it at the moment. This is a cry for help!

 

Brief history:

 

- Started 4 years ago as a 26 year old 

- Had a fair few lessons to get me going and started off 28, which I struggled to get down. Wasn't improving much and found my course difficult 

- Joined new club due to logistics / friends moving about, handicap slowly began to tumble to low twenties. Having a few more lessons at this point and started to really feel like I was improving (more than my handicap would suggest)

- Lockdown, not much golf. Lost my way slightly

- Furlough. All I could do was play golf. Got better again and handicap began to come down again. Came out of lockdown in winter 2020 and shot 83 in my first comp back in April 2021. Handicap index down to 14 (12 or 13 on most courses)

- Lessons seem to send me backwards through summer and I struggle to score. By the end of the season I'm moving house and busy with work. Keep shooting mid 90s and handicap creeps up to 16.

 

That brings me to this season. Had loads of lessons through winter and currently having a lesson every week or so. I'm busy with a house renovation and generally feel pretty preoccupied mentally with either the renovation or work (which I'm not enjoying).

 

I go out there and pretty much without fail capitulate mentally in comps. I know I've got it in me ability wise to par or birdie any hole on my course. Today I went out in 43 (+8, with a quad bogey), came back in 52. I genuinely haven't shot below my handicap now in about 30 or 40 comps. Really feels like a bit of a monkey on the back situation. Playing off 17.6 now.

 

I've tried taking CBD, but it doesn't seem to do anything.

 

I've tried listening to mental strength podcasts, but I can't take them seriously. 

 

I tell myself it doesn't matter, it means nothing (and genuinely believe this), but I still get pissed off at a bad shot or I'll have a bad thought before an important shot and mess it up, then capitulate.

 

Without fail my score card goes something like:

 

6 holes: Pars and the odd birdie 

6 holes: Bogeys

3 holes: Doubles 

3 holes: Trebles or worse

 

I don't know if it's just that I place too much emphasis on getting my enjoyment from golf (by doing well), as work is boring and drags and beyond that I have house renovations to worry about. How do you turn up in a positive mindset and maintain it? Can't just flick a switch.

 

I can't see that there's an obvious area to improve in my game technically. I've got all areas of my game 'in the locker', to some extent at least. Which areas fancy coming out will vary round to round or week to week.

 

The biggest area for improvement that I can see is mentally. How not to throw in the towel. How not to let a bad shot bother me. How to step up to a shot without negative thoughts. 

 

All seems a lot easier said than done and I feel utterly defeated by the game at the moment.

[The Year Of The Fox]

4 hours ago, Nod.E said:

Really struggling with it at the moment. This is a cry for help!

 

Brief history:

 

- Started 4 years ago as a 26 year old 

- Had a fair few lessons to get me going and started off 28, which I struggled to get down. Wasn't improving much and found my course difficult 

- Joined new club due to logistics / friends moving about, handicap slowly began to tumble to low twenties. Having a few more lessons at this point and started to really feel like I was improving (more than my handicap would suggest)

- Lockdown, not much golf. Lost my way slightly

- Furlough. All I could do was play golf. Got better again and handicap began to come down again. Came out of lockdown in winter 2020 and shot 83 in my first comp back in April 2021. Handicap index down to 14 (12 or 13 on most courses)

- Lessons seem to send me backwards through summer and I struggle to score. By the end of the season I'm moving house and busy with work. Keep shooting mid 90s and handicap creeps up to 16.

 

That brings me to this season. Had loads of lessons through winter and currently having a lesson every week or so. I'm busy with a house renovation and generally feel pretty preoccupied mentally with either the renovation or work (which I'm not enjoying).

 

I go out there and pretty much without fail capitulate mentally in comps. I know I've got it in me ability wise to par or birdie any hole on my course. Today I went out in 43 (+8, with a quad bogey), came back in 52. I genuinely haven't shot below my handicap now in about 30 or 40 comps. Really feels like a bit of a monkey on the back situation. Playing off 17.6 now.

 

I've tried taking CBD, but it doesn't seem to do anything.

 

I've tried listening to mental strength podcasts, but I can't take them seriously. 

 

I tell myself it doesn't matter, it means nothing (and genuinely believe this), but I still get pissed off at a bad shot or I'll have a bad thought before an important shot and mess it up, then capitulate.

 

Without fail my score card goes something like:

 

6 holes: Pars and the odd birdie 

6 holes: Bogeys

3 holes: Doubles 

3 holes: Trebles or worse

 

I don't know if it's just that I place too much emphasis on getting my enjoyment from golf (by doing well), as work is boring and drags and beyond that I have house renovations to worry about. How do you turn up in a positive mindset and maintain it? Can't just flick a switch.

 

I can't see that there's an obvious area to improve in my game technically. I've got all areas of my game 'in the locker', to some extent at least. Which areas fancy coming out will vary round to round or week to week.

 

The biggest area for improvement that I can see is mentally. How not to throw in the towel. How not to let a bad shot bother me. How to step up to a shot without negative thoughts. 

 

All seems a lot easier said than done and I feel utterly defeated by the game at the moment.

I’m interested in any answers to this problem too.
 

I think Tiger has said before that he has an imaginary line about 2/3 yards in front of his golf ball. When he’s hit a bad shot and he passes over that line, he’s trained himself to learn to completely forget about the bad shot and move on

 

I have it in me to play some decent golf for my standard, but it’s always two or three holes that completely let me down. 
 

I don’t get stressed about it during the round. I purposely never keep track of my score during a round- ( I just know if I’m playing well or scoring well) so I don’t put myself under pressure during the latter stages. 
 

A good example is that I was level par thru 6 a few months ago. That’s unreal for me. I’ve forgotten what I ended up going round in as it ended up being something shite after completely capitulating 
 

As a side note, what also hacks me off with myself is seeing how other people progress, whilst my handicap remains pretty much constant. I know of one guy who’s index was 18 in January. It’s now down to 11 🤯

 

 

Hes probably practicing more than me in fairness but it’s still frustrating 

[The Year Of The Fox]

Come on Rory 

[Izzy]

16 hours ago, Nod.E said:

I tell myself it doesn't matter, it means nothing (and genuinely believe this), but I still get pissed off at a bad shot or I'll have a bad thought before an important shot and mess it up, then capitulate.

 

Without fail my score card goes something like:

 

6 holes: Pars and the odd birdie 

6 holes: Bogeys

3 holes: Doubles 

3 holes: Trebles or worse

 

I don't know if it's just that I place too much emphasis on getting my enjoyment from golf (by doing well), as work is boring and drags and beyond that I have house renovations to worry about. How do you turn up in a positive mindset and maintain it? Can't just flick a switch.

 

I can't see that there's an obvious area to improve in my game technically. I've got all areas of my game 'in the locker', to some extent at least. Which areas fancy coming out will vary round to round or week to week.

 

The biggest area for improvement that I can see is mentally. How not to throw in the towel. How not to let a bad shot bother me. How to step up to a shot without negative thoughts. 

 

All seems a lot easier said than done and I feel utterly defeated by the game at the moment.

Good post mate, I'm sure we can all relate...

 

Sounds like technically you've got a decent swing and the fact you know you can birdie every hole suggests your issue is indeed mental. The doubles, trebles, or worse, are killing your score and if you can eliminate those, you'd be shooting low 80's consistently. 

 

The key that I found over the years I played is not to let one bad shot completely fvck up the hole. I've seen too many players get frustrated and then compound things by not taking their medicine or getting down on themselves. Even the pro's make bogeys (and even the odd double/treble) but they have a repeatable pre shot routine and a process that always stays consistent.  

 

One way to avoid the negative thoughts is visualization and positive self talk. For example, you can either step up on the tee and tell yourself that you're going to smash your drive down the left side with a gentle fade and let it peel off a target in the distance (and visualize that shot) OR you can tell yourself to make sure you don't hit it in the water or the trap! The interesting thing about the brain is that it doesn't compute the word DON'T.

 

So if I said to you whatever you do, DON'T think of a pink elephant - what are you thinking about?

 

The best book I ever read was Zen Golf and it was a game changer for me.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zen-Golf-Dr-Joseph-Parent/dp/0007205309/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1TNNYVTPA2505&keywords=golf+mental+game&qid=1655399064&sprefix=golf+mental+%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-3

 

Golf is a mental game!

[Super_horns]

2 hours ago, The Year Of The Fox said:

Come on Rory 

The USA PGA will probably be hoping someone likes him wins this week and it's a classic tournament.

 

To take away the attention from the LIV golf stuff.

 

Certainly won't want one of the defectors to win!

 

 

[goody2028]

Nets at Forest Hill will be fixed from tomorrow. Might get the course back to some normality with the 10th onwards

[Clever Fox]

On 16/06/2022 at 01:11, Nod.E said:

Really struggling with it at the moment. This is a cry for help!

 

Brief history:

 

- Started 4 years ago as a 26 year old 

- Had a fair few lessons to get me going and started off 28, which I struggled to get down. Wasn't improving much and found my course difficult 

- Joined new club due to logistics / friends moving about, handicap slowly began to tumble to low twenties. Having a few more lessons at this point and started to really feel like I was improving (more than my handicap would suggest)

- Lockdown, not much golf. Lost my way slightly

- Furlough. All I could do was play golf. Got better again and handicap began to come down again. Came out of lockdown in winter 2020 and shot 83 in my first comp back in April 2021. Handicap index down to 14 (12 or 13 on most courses)

- Lessons seem to send me backwards through summer and I struggle to score. By the end of the season I'm moving house and busy with work. Keep shooting mid 90s and handicap creeps up to 16.

 

That brings me to this season. Had loads of lessons through winter and currently having a lesson every week or so. I'm busy with a house renovation and generally feel pretty preoccupied mentally with either the renovation or work (which I'm not enjoying).

 

I go out there and pretty much without fail capitulate mentally in comps. I know I've got it in me ability wise to par or birdie any hole on my course. Today I went out in 43 (+8, with a quad bogey), came back in 52. I genuinely haven't shot below my handicap now in about 30 or 40 comps. Really feels like a bit of a monkey on the back situation. Playing off 17.6 now.

 

I've tried taking CBD, but it doesn't seem to do anything.

 

I've tried listening to mental strength podcasts, but I can't take them seriously. 

 

I tell myself it doesn't matter, it means nothing (and genuinely believe this), but I still get pissed off at a bad shot or I'll have a bad thought before an important shot and mess it up, then capitulate.

 

Without fail my score card goes something like:

 

6 holes: Pars and the odd birdie 

6 holes: Bogeys

3 holes: Doubles 

3 holes: Trebles or worse

 

I don't know if it's just that I place too much emphasis on getting my enjoyment from golf (by doing well), as work is boring and drags and beyond that I have house renovations to worry about. How do you turn up in a positive mindset and maintain it? Can't just flick a switch.

 

I can't see that there's an obvious area to improve in my game technically. I've got all areas of my game 'in the locker', to some extent at least. Which areas fancy coming out will vary round to round or week to week.

 

The biggest area for improvement that I can see is mentally. How not to throw in the towel. How not to let a bad shot bother me. How to step up to a shot without negative thoughts. 

 

All seems a lot easier said than done and I feel utterly defeated by the game at the moment.

I understand your frustration, it's such an unforgiving game.

The first thing I'd suggest is analysis your game.

When I was feeling like you I used to rate every shot in book or a second Card. Then study it the next day and see where I maybe went wrong. It's amazing how you can replay the game. After doing this for a while you begin to see a pattern to your game and area's you can improve.

The other key areas are Putting. Are you really a good putter or just average.

I spent a lot of time practicing putting to the extent that I could putt in the 20s per round. Which is in the pro range.

You have to Hone a good putting stroke.

The other area crucial to that is pitching and chipping in close.

It's no good just finding the green you need to be able to get it close on the holes that allow you, to give yourself a real chance of holing it.

The other key thing I discovered about myself that made a big difference was Dehydration. Not during a game but the two or 3 days before. I'd make sure to drink 2 or 3 pints of water with a Baroca in one of them. Then I always felt energised on the course. I found this to be my biggest asset going out on the course. You'll think straighter and make better choices before you hit the shot.

Dehydration really is a light bulb moment, for me anyway.

Don't be too hard on yourself either. It's only fun if you are enjoying it.

A pro told me this one time.

Even the pros ( outside the top ten ) are playing for 2 good weeks in the year to keep their card and make a few Bob.

Enjoy your game.

 

[The Year Of The Fox]

16 hours ago, Izzy said:

Good post mate, I'm sure we can all relate...

 

Sounds like technically you've got a decent swing and the fact you know you can birdie every hole suggests your issue is indeed mental. The doubles, trebles, or worse, are killing your score and if you can eliminate those, you'd be shooting low 80's consistently. 

 

The key that I found over the years I played is not to let one bad shot completely fvck up the hole. I've seen too many players get frustrated and then compound things by not taking their medicine or getting down on themselves. Even the pro's make bogeys (and even the odd double/treble) but they have a repeatable pre shot routine and a process that always stays consistent.  

 

One way to avoid the negative thoughts is visualization and positive self talk. For example, you can either step up on the tee and tell yourself that you're going to smash your drive down the left side with a gentle fade and let it peel off a target in the distance (and visualize that shot) OR you can tell yourself to make sure you don't hit it in the water or the trap! The interesting thing about the brain is that it doesn't compute the word DON'T.

 

So if I said to you whatever you do, DON'T think of a pink elephant - what are you thinking about?

 

The best book I ever read was Zen Golf and it was a game changer for me.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zen-Golf-Dr-Joseph-Parent/dp/0007205309/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1TNNYVTPA2505&keywords=golf+mental+game&qid=1655399064&sprefix=golf+mental+%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-3

 

Golf is a mental game!

Just purchased this book last night because of what you said- thanks 

 

 

See you in Augusta next year 🙏🏻 😂

 

 

[Nod.E]

12 hours ago, Clever Fox said:

 

Enjoy your game.

 

Thanks!

 

I actually have a shotscope watch so have a pretty decent understanding of where I'm dropping shots. My touch around the greens is probably a strength of mine, I'm probably unusual in that I'd prefer a delicate little 20/30 yard clip onto the green than a 70 yard half swing. Definitely looks as though I'm not putting it close enough on those, and to compound that issue my long putting isn't good enough to compensate. I'm probably something like average from within 5 foot, no major issue but not amazing either.

 

There may be something in your dehydration point. Mrs Nod.E is always giving me stick for not drinking enough, and maybe the capitulation is more about getting tired and losing concentration. I felt it last night in a doubles match play. Pressure off as nothing to do with handicap, but I still fell off for a good few holes. Thankfully my partner carried us and we won 3&2.

 

Thanks also @Izzy - I've heard the same thing about the brain not computing the word 'don't'! I love a hole requiring a right to left shot shape because I can just tell myself to aim it down the right and try to draw the tits off it. Hate, however, a hole with little room left which requires a fade (if there's also trouble right - I play at quite a tight course!) The last thing I want to think about is putting a fade swing on a shot. I can't control it and it becomes a slice. But then if I decide to commit to my normal swing I start to think about not going too far left, and then going too far left

 

Will definitely try to visualise and tell myself what I do want to do more often.

[The Bear]

I have the ShotScope V3 too. Great bit of kit. Better than Arccos IMO just for the auto-putt function. 

[Clever Fox]

10 hours ago, Nod.E said:

Thanks!

 

I actually have a shotscope watch so have a pretty decent understanding of where I'm dropping shots. My touch around the greens is probably a strength of mine, I'm probably unusual in that I'd prefer a delicate little 20/30 yard clip onto the green than a 70 yard half swing. Definitely looks as though I'm not putting it close enough on those, and to compound that issue my long putting isn't good enough to compensate. I'm probably something like average from within 5 foot, no major issue but not amazing either.

 

There may be something in your dehydration point. Mrs Nod.E is always giving me stick for not drinking enough, and maybe the capitulation is more about getting tired and losing concentration. I felt it last night in a doubles match play. Pressure off as nothing to do with handicap, but I still fell off for a good few holes. Thankfully my partner carried us and we won 3&2.

 

Thanks also @Izzy - I've heard the same thing about the brain not computing the word 'don't'! I love a hole requiring a right to left shot shape because I can just tell myself to aim it down the right and try to draw the tits off it. Hate, however, a hole with little room left which requires a fade (if there's also trouble right - I play at quite a tight course!) The last thing I want to think about is putting a fade swing on a shot. I can't control it and it becomes a slice. But then if I decide to commit to my normal swing I start to think about not going too far left, and then going too far left

 

Will definitely try to visualise and tell myself what I do want to do more often.

So already your beginning to identify some of your weaknesses.

Dehydration definitely is a factor. I used to suffer from severe leg Cramps sometimes after playing.

You should read up on it.

I don't like water so I never drink it unless I add cordial to it. Now if I'm playing golf 2 or 3 Days before I'll make sure to drink 2 pints of water with a splash of Cordial and I'll add a Beroca tab into it and sometimes I'll add a magnesium tab (get them from Lidl ) in also for the muscles which also helps prevents cramps.

And I bring a bottle made up on the day I'm playing.

Second thing you mentioned was putting. Count  your putts for each round. You need to scoring 26 as an average.

I once had a lesson off Phil S putting coach. The thing I took from him the most was.

1. The Putter itself,  you've got to be happy with it,  size,type,weight.

2. Stroke, you've got to Hone a repetive stroke. Not a hit.

Smooth back and through and let the putter head follow the Ball to the hole.

3, Line and Pace. Most Ameatures under read breaks. It's usually a bigger break thank you think.

Pace, So important as we know.

I don't putt to the hole, I pick a point where I think the Ball will start slowing down and imagine it rolling out the rest of the way . If that makes sense. I then hit it on the line I've picked and let the Ball do the rest.

Similar with downhill putts. Pick a spot where you feel the Ball will roll the rest of the way from and only putt to that point not the hole.

Long putts is more about line and pace. Reading of the green being paramount. Then as above hit to that point not the Hole.

Don't be afraid to use a Utility club for long putts either to keep your same smooth stroke. Instead of trying to smash the putter harder.

 

The other great shot to have around the greens the flop shot.

Where you slide the wedge under the Ball and watch it land softly on the green close to the Hole.

 

If you work on these I'll guarantee your scores will drop.

Dehydration will bring the quickest improvement as you'll feel so alive, awake and alert.

Enjoy your game.

 

[Izzy]

Tough conditions in R3 at the US Open and par is a good score today.

 

Rory off to a poor start unfortunately.

 

Morikawa's iron play is majestic. Wouldn't be surprised if he's leading by a couple going into the final round.

[goody2028]

Something about Scheffler I can’t warm to

[Izzy]

14 minutes ago, goody2028 said:

Something about Scheffler I can’t warm to

He's got as much charisma as my left nut

[tom27111]

The world number 1 has just duffed a chip and I all of a sudden feel fantastic about my short game 

[kingfox]

This is going to end up in a Keegan Bradley victory isn’t it 😟

[FoxesTez]

Really hope Fitzpatrick can bring this home. 

[tom27111]

3 minutes ago, FoxesTez said:

Really hope Fitzpatrick can bring this home. 

Me too.

 

Ladbrokes gave me a free £5 bet to use in the US Open, I stuck it on Fitzpatrick at 25/1 

 

A long way to go yet.

[Izzy]

18 minutes ago, kingfox said:

This is going to end up in a Keegan Bradley victory isn’t it 😟

Anyone but Bradley.

 

Please 

[trabuch]

This is a very interesting US open. Good course.

[kingfox]

Fitzpatrick & Zalatoris deserve a big one with the way they’ve played recently.

 

I’m really fearing Bradley though 😟

 

Rory not out of it, fought well on the back nine with some clutch putting.