Bad Golf Can Suck The Life Out Of You.

[Dorkers]

Bad Golf can suck the life out of you!

This is a golf forum, just chewing the fat. Don't mean to be too self indulgent, this is almost therapeutic for me to type this!

Just a golf story from me, I was playing in the City of Perth Matchplay Championship, at Royal Perth, Brett Rumford's home course in West Aust. Currently the venue over the last few years of the Australian Senior Open. Quality track.

I was a 3 handicap at the time, the event had all the top amateurs in the state. Big fish in a small pond sort of thing. Mind you, the most recent winner of the event is currently the 2nd ranked amateur in the world. The event was 36 holes in one day and then the top 16 would go into matchplay over the following days. Playing off 3 I was one of the higher handicappers in the event.

After the first 17 holes, I was even par... excellent, the last hole for me was the 8th. Of course I was thinking about my score but just for that first 18. I was happy with a good score against my handicap. Not really thinking about the day as a whole. A short par 4 about 300metres, OB left. (the 9's start on the 1st and the 9th at RP, The 9th green is no where near the clubhouse) A 4 iron and a wedge for me. Anyway I scunged my way to bogey, excellent, 1 over for the first 18, happy days. I didn't hit the ball super, but had a lot of good putts to save the round. 2nd 18 began again, I was all over the place, but scoring well. Over the entire 36 holes, I had 9 birdies! binning it from everywhere.However, there were some bogeys and doubles in there too. With 2 holes to go, for the second round I was excited, really nervous and trying to hold on, I was 1 under for my second round with 2 holes to go. I was really thinking about my score and how good it would look to be up there on the 'leaderboard', I wasn't trying to think about that, but it creeps in. I was concentrating the best I could whenever I was over the ball. 2nd last hole, open faced slice off the tee, flub, thin, thin, one good one onto the green and a big putt for bogey... Back to the little par 4, 8th hole was going to be my last hole. I was figuring if I hit my 4 iron again it could do anything. So I pulled out driver, I never hooked my driver - So it wasn't going ob left. I figured it was my biggest clubface, I had the biggest chance of hitting the ball somewhere in the middle of the club. Oh, and I couldn't shank it. Seriously, that was my thought process. I was praying for a good break. Instead I hit a opened faced fanned slice into the trees. scunge, flub, chip, two putt - double bogey. I finished 3 over after 36 holes. Beat my handicap overall, but had absolutely hacked it for two 6's on the last 2 holes.

I knew that the top 16 made the match play, finishing 16th would mean that you would play the number 1 from the stroke play section.

I was one of the first groups in, my score was very high before the big dogs came in. In the end, I missed the playoff for the 14 thru 16th with 4 other guys by one shot.

You know what - I was delighted! I was absolutely terrified of having to go out and play in a playoff against a bunch of golfers better than me with a hundred people or so watching. The last thing I wanted was to get into a play off and start scunging the ball everywhere - my nerves were overriding my golf, by a mile. The occasion chewed my golf swing up and spat it out. If no one was there and it was a social game I knew I could par any hole on that golf course.

I have played in team sports at a high level, and never felt any nervousness or pressure that results in such a loss of ability of being able to hit a good golf shot under pressure. That's the great/worst thing about golf - it is all up to you..

That was about 6 years ago. Now I don't know if I would be in that situation again, but I can't wait to try.Later this year I will have more opportunities to play amateur events in Aust, I miss it, despite the trauma. I know more about how to hit the golf ball now, I have had some lessons and learnt a lot about what I do wrong when I hit my bad shots. I will have to wait and see.

One of the things I do recognise is that some golfers do get nervous when others are watching, it can be embarrassing when you hit a poor shot. My context might be different to others, but I think most amateurs who really want to do their best on the course know the feeling. It can cut you deep!