My first competition of 2018

Golf On Camera
May 10, 2018
6 min read

The Masters has been and gone, signalling the start of the golf season for most. I have been very selective of my club competitions over the past few years, sometimes to protect my handicap on a gusty wet day, but mainly to maximise my enjoyment of the game. I aim to play in more qualifying rounds in 2018, as I look to regain my competitive side I use to find so natural.

Due to the first Major competition at Lamberhurst G.C. being played over the weekend of the 12th - 13th May, I felt the monthly medal on the May 5th gave me the chance to get a competitive round under my belt to shake off the cobwebs. I was not overly concerned about my end result, I hadn't played in a qualifying competition since December 2017, largely due to weather and other commitments. Since February, I have worked on a number of areas in my game, most recently this has been my putting. I am not where I would like to be at this time of year with my game and would have liked a couple more weeks to imbed new putting technique.

So how did the opening 9 holes go?

The first 4 holes were played by that of someone out of practise with a competition card in their hand. I made some mental and uncharacteristic errors, dropping 3 shots. I struggled to settle into my round and was constantly overthinking and second guessing myself. Par's on the 5th and 6th settled my round down briefly. The 7th hole I now feel sums up my whole round. Playing 147yds with a swirling wind in our face. I worked out the shot was playing around 152yds with conditions taken into consideration. I knocked down the flight of an 8 iron to gain more control of the ball in the wind and take a few yards off the shot. Watching my tee shot pitch in line with the flag but on the back bank seemed to really frustrate me, more because I knew the chip was awkward. Walking up to the green I now realise I just seemed to blame everything from the wind to the yardage, anything but myself. Finding my ball had spun back onto the fringe was a relief, meaning I didn't have the awkward chip. I would now be facing an inviting 20ft putt up the hill and off my right. The uncharacteristic side of my game on this day then come to the surface. Having the second cut of rough close to my ball, made the putt a little awkward. I had to slightly pick the putter up on the back stroke, nothing that I wasn't easily capable of adapting to. Over thinking and over Concentrating on my stroke, I then proceeded to miss the hole by two feet left and eight feet long. Seething at this point, I never seemed to mentally get over that putt and walked off with a bogey. It was this kind of negative and mental instability that was costing me shot after shot through the front 9. I pride myself of my mental toughness, although on the surface I was exactly the same as I always conduct myself, calm, chatty, focused, it was inside I was a circus of emotions.

The curse of the half way hut..

After a perfect tee shot on the 9th, I again second guessed myself and pulled my approach from 127yds. After thinning my chip shot, I regained focus to splash my bunker shot to 6 inches. Following a Frustrating and disappointing +5 on the front 9 holes, the last thing I wanted to do was sit at the half way hut. Joining the two groups in front of us, I ended up sitting at the half way point for 25 minutes. A double bogey on 10, understandably didn't improve my modd. Although I tried to laugh it off, I was beginning to boil over. Due to the backlog at the half way hut, the long par 3 twelfth is a well known pit stop in our round. Joining another 2 groups on the tee, it would be 20 minutes before I struck my 3 iron into the 218yrd hole. Bailing out right, this was not worst swing I could of put on this particular shot. To cut a long story short, I again bladed my tricky chip shot into the trees left of the green. Here came the dilemma - I found my ball in an unplayable position, my only option being to replay the tricky chip shot again. I was six over my handicap, looking like this would rise to eight or nine with six holes to play. Knowing there was two or three groups on the tee waiting at this point, I decided to NR my round and play the last six holes. I also made this decision in order to find some positives to take into my next competition round. Continuing the battle in my head for another 6 holes, could only have a negative affect on my future expectations.

What happened during the last 6 holes?

During the final six holes I finally relaxed, recording 3 pars, 2 birdies and a lost drive on the 18th. The most noticeable difference for me was how all the groups finally spaced out after the back to back par 5's 13 & 14. I was able to find my rhythm and spend less time second guessing myself, this may have been helped by me returning to my casual round mindset. I found it a lot easier to visualise & hit the shots required.

Are all NR's a negative action?

All golfers have their opinions on competitors not returning their cards in competitions. There are cases for this being defeatist, showing unsportsmanlike behaviour, even a lack of respect for the competition.

Two cases where I do not support an NR?

I would never support a player that 'No Returns' their card because they don't want to play anymore and walks off the course.

I also find it hard to support a player that regularly 'No Returns' their rounds, even if some are reasons I can support.

Two cases where I support an NR

You begin affecting competitors rounds - A good example of this is my NR. Barring a 6 straight birdie finish, I was never going buffer my handicap. Did this warrant taking another 3 - 5 minutes to finish the twelfth whilst 3 groups were waiting to tee off?

You lose a ball that should be found - I can understand a player NR'ing if they lose a drive that should be found near the end of the round. Again this goes back to affecting competitors rounds. If you cannot contend, is it sportsmanlike behaviour to make your playing partners wait 10 minutes whilst you walk back to the tee?

Next Competition - 2018 Spring Meeting (12th - 13th May 2018)

I face 36 holes of Medal play, over 1 weekend. I am cautiously looking forward to competing, testing myself against the course and my head. I would be lying if I said I wasn't apprehensive to what scores I could post, its natural after the front 9 I had on the 5th May. The last 6 holes where I played freely, has given me the positive thoughts I was hoping from all 18 holes. My main aim in Spring Meeting is to be able to play with no fear, I make birdies when I play on the edge of my ability. I am experienced enough to know when I am cagey and trying to make pars, I make my simple mistakes. Although I am a 2 handicap golfer, I am also a realist. I will set myself the target of getting around 36 holes in 152 (+8) or less. Although My goal doesn't sound ambitious, I feel its a respectable and achievable goal. In 2017 I recorded rounds of 72 & 77 for a 149 total during Spring Meeting. I was much more settled in my technique and feel the course was a lot more scorable than I expect it to play during this years competition.