***Official 2025 Golf Thread,, woz humblebrags he's secretly a plus hcp*** (9 Viewers)

[Zow]

had my best front 9 of the year......Swing felt GREAT. Was smoking drives right down the fairway and tempo felt awesome.

Wind kicked up on the back and we had to wait a little behind some slow groups, I collapsed. Couldn't get up and down from fairly easy spots and topped 2 drives into hazards for triples. 39-49.

I am just SO soft.

This is kind of where I'm at with my game. I'm playing some of my best golf ever on the front and worst on the back.

I don't know if it's because I start trying to do too much, need to eat something different and keep the energy up, or if I'm just letting my mind wander.

Do you guys gamble or just play some sort of game during your rounds? For me, I notice that my focus stays much stronger even if there is some nominal amount in play on the back - especially if I had a mediocre front where the chance for a notable round is very unlikely even with a good back.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

had my best front 9 of the year......Swing felt GREAT. Was smoking drives right down the fairway and tempo felt awesome.

Wind kicked up on the back and we had to wait a little behind some slow groups, I collapsed. Couldn't get up and down from fairly easy spots and topped 2 drives into hazards for triples. 39-49.

I am just SO soft.

This is kind of where I'm at with my game. I'm playing some of my best golf ever on the front and worst on the back.

I don't know if it's because I start trying to do too much, need to eat something different and keep the energy up, or if I'm just letting my mind wander.

Do you guys gamble or just play some sort of game during your rounds? For me, I notice that my focus stays much stronger even if there is some nominal amount in play on the back - especially if I had a mediocre front where the chance for a notable round is very unlikely even with a good back.

That might be worth trying.


The round this past weekend was sabotaged in part by being paired up with a random guy that had the personality of a no dressing added salad. Tromping around a course for 4.5 hours trying to keep up a one sided conversation is actually really distracting to me.

 

[Instinctive]

had my best front 9 of the year......Swing felt GREAT. Was smoking drives right down the fairway and tempo felt awesome.

Wind kicked up on the back and we had to wait a little behind some slow groups, I collapsed. Couldn't get up and down from fairly easy spots and topped 2 drives into hazards for triples. 39-49.

I am just SO soft.

This is kind of where I'm at with my game. I'm playing some of my best golf ever on the front and worst on the back.

I don't know if it's because I start trying to do too much, need to eat something different and keep the energy up, or if I'm just letting my mind wander.

Do you guys gamble or just play some sort of game during your rounds? For me, I notice that my focus stays much stronger even if there is some nominal amount in play on the back - especially if I had a mediocre front where the chance for a notable round is very unlikely even with a good back.

That might be worth trying.


The round this past weekend was sabotaged in part by being paired up with a random guy that had the personality of a no dressing added salad. Tromping around a course for 4.5 hours trying to keep up a one sided conversation is actually really distracting to me.

Bold. I would just ignore the guy lol. I would happily be paired with a mute if he played at a good pace.

 

[TLEF316]

I just don't enjoy gambling on my golf game (or really anything else...just not my thing).

It's certainly not a lack of caring or focus on my end. Considering how badly I've been struggling I had plenty of motivation to play well on the back (even bogey golf would have brought me in with an 84....tied for my best round of the year).

Could be some fatigue involved. I tend to walk and carry most of my rounds and usually don't eat anything. Maybe I need to incorporate some sort of snack.

I honestly just think it was the waiting and the wind....and my terrible mindset just expecting something bad to happen once those 2 things started

 

[Andy Dufresne]

had my best front 9 of the year......Swing felt GREAT. Was smoking drives right down the fairway and tempo felt awesome.

Wind kicked up on the back and we had to wait a little behind some slow groups, I collapsed. Couldn't get up and down from fairly easy spots and topped 2 drives into hazards for triples. 39-49.

I am just SO soft.

This is kind of where I'm at with my game. I'm playing some of my best golf ever on the front and worst on the back.

I don't know if it's because I start trying to do too much, need to eat something different and keep the energy up, or if I'm just letting my mind wander.

Do you guys gamble or just play some sort of game during your rounds? For me, I notice that my focus stays much stronger even if there is some nominal amount in play on the back - especially if I had a mediocre front where the chance for a notable round is very unlikely even with a good back.

That might be worth trying.


The round this past weekend was sabotaged in part by being paired up with a random guy that had the personality of a no dressing added salad. Tromping around a course for 4.5 hours trying to keep up a one sided conversation is actually really distracting to me.

Bold. I would just ignore the guy lol. I would happily be paired with a mute if he played at a good pace.

That was the other part. The two groups of jabronis ahead of us didn't help matters.

I have learned a truism about golf the last few years - cheap fees lead to a low rent experience. I think I'm going to start playing less but at nicer places

 

[Mookie]

had my best front 9 of the year......Swing felt GREAT. Was smoking drives right down the fairway and tempo felt awesome.

Wind kicked up on the back and we had to wait a little behind some slow groups, I collapsed. Couldn't get up and down from fairly easy spots and topped 2 drives into hazards for triples. 39-49.

I am just SO soft.

This is kind of where I'm at with my game. I'm playing some of my best golf ever on the front and worst on the back.

I don't know if it's because I start trying to do too much, need to eat something different and keep the energy up, or if I'm just letting my mind wander.

Eating something at the turn is so, so important. That said, I avoid a big gut bomb and usually bring a PB&J or something light with protein. The need for food is especially essential if you are walking (I'm usually in a cart). The other consideration is alcohol management as that can really affect performance - I start off with water for the first 8 holes, and then will open my first beer after my tee shot on #9 as it is especially scary with OB left and right. I have 2 beers total if I'm playing well and 3 beers maximum as the alcohol will start to affect my ability to focus.

Food and alcohol intake are pretty easy things to control, but you also have to control your breathing, the speed that you walk and play, and your focus to get a good round to the house. My primary focus is on gratitude (for the game, my friends, my health etc.) as it's just golf and nobody really cares what you shoot. Have a good time and be kind to yourself and your playing partners. Nothing worse than a hothead who lives and dies with every shot - you don't want to be that guy. I find that this mindset really relaxes me and lets me slow things down.

As for mechanics, I focus on making solid contact and a controlled swing on every shot, and especially putting. Good decision-making and playing conservatively also help me finish off a round. Don't go for that par five in two if it brings a 7 into play. Play for the middle of the green if there is a tucked pin behind a bunker or hazard. You're playing well - no need to erase it all by making bad decisions. Making a bogey or two on your way in isn't going to kill your round.

 

[Mookie]

And I'm a big believer in low stakes gambling (I won $6 for one buddy yesterday and had to pay $3 to another and was even with a third) as helping to maintain focus. We usually play COD, which consists of 3 6-hole matches with Carts as teammates, then Opposites, then Drivers. I really like it you get to partner with each player, which keeps you from getting overly snarky/competitive.

I do have that one friend who is a degenerate and always wants to up the stakes to unhealthy levels. On those days, we usually get him to back off or I just tell myself that the worst that can happen is I'll lose $50. I usually do fine, but I would prefer to be more relaxed.

 

[belljr]

I bogied the 2 easiest par 5 even when I was trying to play "smart" to still shoot 75.

4 bogies 1 birdie....... I hit 2 bad shots..... Could have been an all timer if I made a couple putts

 

[Mookie]

I bogied the 2 easiest par 5 even when I was trying to play "smart" to still shoot 75.

4 bogies 1 birdie....... I hit 2 bad shots..... Could have been an all timer if I made a couple putts

Still have to execute, but bogeys are still better than "others", which are round destroyers.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

1 over through 11 yesterday and then the wheels came off to shoot a 10 over 82. 2 things caused this, first we tee'd off at 622 and had the whole course to ourselves however at the 6th hole the marshal came out and let us know that we were 2 holes away from running into a tourney that was kicking off in a half hour. ****, well we cruised back to 1 and played some bonus golf so that we wouldn't hit the breaks until the end of our round (which was the case as we didn't run into the tourney until 18)

Second was that we do this stupid thing where we take a shot of fireball after a birdie, well one guy chips in for birdie on 3 another drains one on 6 the first time through and then someone birdies 4 the second time through and me and another birdie 9. 4 fire balls in an hour and half and then my dumbass has back to back birdies when I drain one on 10. They catch up to me on 12 and my great round falls apart but on the plus side the vibes with our foursome were high and the round itself was a blast.

time to implement a new birdie rule

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Upside is I got a new putter and grip that seems like an improvement.

Scotty Cameron Phantom 7.5 with a Golf Pride reverse taper medium pistol

 

[Mookie]

Upside is I got a new putter and grip that seems like an improvement.

Scotty Cameron Phantom 7.5 with a Golf Pride reverse taper medium pistol

Nice! I just got the 5.5, It is so much easier to keep the face square at impact than my old blade style Odyssey.

 

[belljr]

Upside is I got a new putter and grip that seems like an improvement.

Scotty Cameron Phantom 7.5 with a Golf Pride reverse taper medium pistol

God I hated this putter I just am not made to hit mallet putters. I had to trade it in for my current Scotty Cameron

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Upside is I got a new putter and grip that seems like an improvement.

Scotty Cameron Phantom 7.5 with a Golf Pride reverse taper medium pistol

God I hated this putter I just am not made to hit mallet putters. I had to trade it in for my current Scotty Cameron

Different strokes... literally

 

[BeTheMatch]

Playing some of the worst golf of my life since I got my new irons. Hard to even call it golf at this point. Just all around bad. Everything.

Not fun right now.

And our local Ryder Cup bonanza is less than three weeks away.

Hold me.

 

[Zow]

I just don't enjoy gambling on my golf game (or really anything else...just not my thing).

You could have said so...

 

[Zow]

1 over through 11 yesterday and then the wheels came off to shoot a 10 over 82. 2 things caused this, first we tee'd off at 622 and had the whole course to ourselves however at the 6th hole the marshal came out and let us know that we were 2 holes away from running into a tourney that was kicking off in a half hour. ****, well we cruised back to 1 and played some bonus golf so that we wouldn't hit the breaks until the end of our round (which was the case as we didn't run into the tourney until 18)

Second was that we do this stupid thing where we take a shot of fireball after a birdie, well one guy chips in for birdie on 3 another drains one on 6 the first time through and then someone birdies 4 the second time through and me and another birdie 9. 4 fire balls in an hour and half and then my dumbass has back to back birdies when I drain one on 10. They catch up to me on 12 and my great round falls apart but on the plus side the vibes with our foursome were high and the round itself was a blast.

time to implement a new birdie rule

Sigh

 

[MAC_32]

had my best front 9 of the year......Swing felt GREAT. Was smoking drives right down the fairway and tempo felt awesome.

Wind kicked up on the back and we had to wait a little behind some slow groups, I collapsed. Couldn't get up and down from fairly easy spots and topped 2 drives into hazards for triples. 39-49.

I am just SO soft.

This is kind of where I'm at with my game. I'm playing some of my best golf ever on the front and worst on the back.

I don't know if it's because I start trying to do too much, need to eat something different and keep the energy up, or if I'm just letting my mind wander.

Do you guys gamble or just play some sort of game during your rounds? For me, I notice that my focus stays much stronger even if there is some nominal amount in play on the back - especially if I had a mediocre front where the chance for a notable round is very unlikely even with a good back.

The next time I play golf without gambling will be the first time. Is it wrong that I also do things like bet post round ice cream or chores with the kids?

 

[The Gator]

Playing some of the worst golf of my life since I got my new irons

Not what I wanted to here, guy

 

[Zow]

had my best front 9 of the year......Swing felt GREAT. Was smoking drives right down the fairway and tempo felt awesome.

Wind kicked up on the back and we had to wait a little behind some slow groups, I collapsed. Couldn't get up and down from fairly easy spots and topped 2 drives into hazards for triples. 39-49.

I am just SO soft.

This is kind of where I'm at with my game. I'm playing some of my best golf ever on the front and worst on the back.

I don't know if it's because I start trying to do too much, need to eat something different and keep the energy up, or if I'm just letting my mind wander.

Do you guys gamble or just play some sort of game during your rounds? For me, I notice that my focus stays much stronger even if there is some nominal amount in play on the back - especially if I had a mediocre front where the chance for a notable round is very unlikely even with a good back.

The next time I play golf without gambling will be the first time. Is it wrong that I also do things like bet post round ice cream or chores with the kids?

Not at all.

 

[TLEF316]

I just don't enjoy gambling on my golf game (or really anything else...just not my thing).

You could have said so...

Haha, all good dude. A $20 6's game (I think that's what we played that day) or a $10 Nassau or something like that doesn't bother me. I generally just ignore the stakes and play my ball and if it gets to the last few holes with the match still on the line I'll start taking it seriously from a strategy perspective. And I think I made an eagle and 3 birdies that day (unfortunately too many big numbers as well)......So whether I won or lost money was irrelevant.

But when it gets to bigger money or some crazy format that you need to keep track of, that's where ya lose me. I get invited to play in the saturday morning money game at my club every once in a while and I just have no interest. Its friendly and they're mostly nice guys, but its just too distracting. They're calculating junk, giving out skins, playing a rotating set of games that I don't even know the rules to. No thanks.

Funny story.....I played Baltusrol for my first (and so far only....) time 2 years ago next week. My dad's former boss/partner has been there over FIFTY years (he's in his 80's) and doesn't even pay dues anymore. Only guest fees, food and caddies. I believe his official title is Senior Member Emeritus (he's also a member at an exclusive club down in GA and I believe the top private course in New Hampshire). I believe the guy has low 9 figures in the bank. His name is Jack.

The 4some is Jack, Me, my dad and my brother. Brother and I are super pumped (first time either of us had played at a course that nice) and I'm also coming off a ROUGH 10 day fight with COVID. I was down about 16 lbs and I had only played once since officially recovering. So I'm rusty, weak and just trying to enjoy the round. I had 2 goals....dont do anything stupid and try to break 90.

So we're working through the front 9. I have a couple of blow up holes (and putted one into the water on the signature par 3. Thanks for the read buddy) but I'm enjoying myself. We play the 9th and get to the halfway house. and Jack says something along the lines of...."well, looks like the boys(brother and I) are up 2 at the turn".

We had no idea we were even playing a match. They're playing up a couple sets of tees.....we didn't even tell him what our indexes were. Jack obviously knows the course like the back of his hand and we're totally reliant on the caddy. And even though we were PRETTY sure our dad wouldn't let us get into any trouble, we have NO idea what the stakes are. We're playing a guy who spends my annual salary on a new car for his wife on a yearly basis.

Thankfully, I have a better back 9 and my brother makes a couple of birdies and we win the match pretty handily. We shake hands on the 18th green and Jack reaches into his bag for his wallet and hands us each 60 bucks for the win.

So I won 60 bucks, made a nice par on the 18th hole from right next to the famous Nicklaus plaque, and got a gteat picture of the 3 of us on the stone bridge (unfortunately, I look like a cancer patient due to the recent illness and weight loss). It was a pretty good day.

 

[Instinctive]

Kiawah Island this week.

Leaving Wednesday, land around 2:30, hope to get to a driving range (really a short game area) late afternoon / early evening.

Thursday morning solo round at Oak Point to warm up. Plan to do short game / putting in the afternoon, maybe snag a massage if there's an opening.

Friday the "ryder cup" begins. Morning scramble at Oak Point, Afternoon best ball at Ocean Course.
Saturday morning modified alternate shot at Osprey Point, finishing with singles at Turtle Point.

Gonna be an awesome week. Also warming up with some buddies tomorrow at a course in Dallas I haven't played in a couple years, trying to make it feel at least sort of unfamiliar.

These courses seem really hard. I'm down to a 14.2, but my course index at Oak Point is 16 and at Ocean it's 20.


Anyone played any of these courses before? Any advice?

 

[Judge Smails]

Kiawah Island this week.

Leaving Wednesday, land around 2:30, hope to get to a driving range (really a short game area) late afternoon / early evening.

Thursday morning solo round at Oak Point to warm up. Plan to do short game / putting in the afternoon, maybe snag a massage if there's an opening.

Friday the "ryder cup" begins. Morning scramble at Oak Point, Afternoon best ball at Ocean Course.
Saturday morning modified alternate shot at Osprey Point, finishing with singles at Turtle Point.

Gonna be an awesome week. Also warming up with some buddies tomorrow at a course in Dallas I haven't played in a couple years, trying to make it feel at least sort of unfamiliar.

These courses seem really hard. I'm down to a 14.2, but my course index at Oak Point is 16 and at Ocean it's 20.


Anyone played any of these courses before? Any advice?

Never played them so no advice but have a great time! Sounds awesome

 

[blue42]

As the weather turns colder and rainy in many parts, what are people doing to keep their games sharp when playing isn't an option? I'm thinking about strength training / flexibility work but also considering some sort of indoor hitting bay in the garage. Curious to hear what others do when the weather su@ks.

 

[belljr]

As the weather turns colder and rainy in many parts, what are people doing to keep their games sharp when playing isn't an option? I'm thinking about strength training / flexibility work but also considering some sort of indoor hitting bay in the garage. Curious to hear what others do when the weather su@ks.

I play all winter long and I live in New Jersey

 

[Mookie]

As the weather turns colder and rainy in many parts, what are people doing to keep their games sharp when playing isn't an option? I'm thinking about strength training / flexibility work but also considering some sort of indoor hitting bay in the garage. Curious to hear what others do when the weather su@ks.

I put my clubs away for a few months and focus on flexibility and core strength.

 

[TLEF316]

Kiawah Island this week.

Leaving Wednesday, land around 2:30, hope to get to a driving range (really a short game area) late afternoon / early evening.

Thursday morning solo round at Oak Point to warm up. Plan to do short game / putting in the afternoon, maybe snag a massage if there's an opening.

Friday the "ryder cup" begins. Morning scramble at Oak Point, Afternoon best ball at Ocean Course.
Saturday morning modified alternate shot at Osprey Point, finishing with singles at Turtle Point.

Gonna be an awesome week. Also warming up with some buddies tomorrow at a course in Dallas I haven't played in a couple years, trying to make it feel at least sort of unfamiliar.

These courses seem really hard. I'm down to a 14.2, but my course index at Oak Point is 16 and at Ocean it's 20.


Anyone played any of these courses before? Any advice?

My brother and his buddies went down there in the Spring. Brother is a 5 or 6 handicap and absolutely got his teeth kicked in at the Ocean course. I THINK he broke 100, but it may not have been by much.

Apparently it was VERY windy and he was REALLY struggling with his game going into the trip (bought new irons and took them out of the bag for a couple of months after coming back) but he said it was just insanely hard. Didnt help that his boys are not nearly as good/serious and were focused more on drinking, but its a TOUGH day.

Good luck.

 

[Zow]

As the weather turns colder and rainy in many parts, what are people doing to keep their games sharp when playing isn't an option? I'm thinking about strength training / flexibility work but also considering some sort of indoor hitting bay in the garage. Curious to hear what others do when the weather su@ks.

1. Main thing I do, which does actually seem to help, is I have a putting mat set up in my living room so I can both putt and air chip while watching TV (usually Sunday football). The putting mat is self explanatory but the "air chipping" really seems to help. What I do is pick out a spot on the mat that I pretend is a thin lie and then focus on just lightly brushing that spot with my club and simulate hitting the three main styles of chips that I hit. Then, when my wife isn't around, I'll actually chip balls onto my couch. The mat is actually built in a way where I can see the club path on it and learn from that.
2. While I do live in an area of AZ where we have actual winter, the nice thing about AZ is that you can drive an hour and be in much warmer weather. So, I will still make sure I play a couple of times a month and make it a point to schedule out time to play if I travel for work or to see family to a warmer area. I also have a regular local group that will carpool the 45-60 minutes to Sedona to play a course there in the winter.
3. We have a local indoor range that I'll go to on weekends I don't play. I don't love hitting off mats so I don't really work on much there other than just swing to feel the ball strike the face.

While I don't have one, I do know several regular players that have an indoor hitting net. The strength/core training is something I should be doing as I am starting to lose a little bit of driver distance with age.

 

[Zow]

I'm somewhat of a weird spot with my golf game. I'm not at @belljr status where I'm considering quitting, but I've been frustrated the last couple of months. If not obvious, I'm a competitive guy. I don't hate losing ore than I like the really competitive people (e.g. Jordan, Kobe) but dammit I love to win and I love to play in team competitions. With that in mind, my goals this season have been to qualify for as many of our interclub matches as possible and win. However, despite best efforts, I have only qualified twice (out of five so far) and while I won my first match handedly I got stroked to death when I had to give 10 strokes in my second match and lost 0-3. Our pro has already hinted to me I'm unlikely to be picked for the final and I can't really blame him because I won't qualify as our scratch so I am almost certainly giving strokes in my match which at 100% handicap is probably disadvantageous in match play.

I'm currently between a four and a five handicap. In short, I'm at a point where for me to beat my handicap I have to play basically double or worse free for the round and even then I need to can several birdies (which is usually just whether a few of those 15 to 25 footers go in) to do so. For example, I recently played about as good as I can in a round but for one loose shot and shot a 74... which didn't qualify me for the last match. In that timeframe I shot a 75 with fifteen pars and three bogeys. I have no shot in net tournaments unless they are strictly flighted because I have to shoot basically a personal record just to match the variance of a 12 handicapper who has a day and shoots 77. In contrast, I can't really contend in the scratch games though either - I played well in my club's championship to shoot 80-78-80 from the tips in tough conditions but couldn't realistically sniff the top tier guys in the scratch fight (IIRC 5 over par for the week won) so I mainly just paid my entry fee to say I competed in the scratch flight. In cash games I generally still do okay, but even there I can play really well and get beat like last week where I went toe to toe with my scratch opponent but his partner, a 13, shot an 80 and had a day whereas my partner, a 10 handicap, shot a 104 and there I am handing several hundred dollars over even though I threw a bunch of uppercuts on the course and played well. In sum, I'm basically at a point where my round is ruined if I hit one or two loose shots or don't putt well and I'm finding it harder to win even though my ending score probably has a 7 in front of it.

To top the frustration off, as I haven't been shy about how I like to drink when I play. This isn't a significant problem or anything as I don't touch the stuff off the course and I don't ever let it affect work or anything, but it's still isn't the healthiest of choices and if I play earlier in the day I'm limited on what I can do with my afternoon so it often doesn't feel worth it. My offseason goal here is to become accustomed to playing sober and try to focus more on the physical fitness aspect of the game but, frankly, and especially if I'm not playing for money, I tend to lose a little interest on the course a my mind starts to wander about work and other things.

I read a study recently that says that, basically, since I have the adequate length and double bogey avoidance stats, the difference between me and a +5 is that I need to significantly improve from inside six feet (basically get to 95%) and significantly improve from inside 100 yards. While I agree with this study, this is all practice and I need to spend multiple more hours each week practicing in these areas. The reality though is that with work and family I just don't have the time and, frankly, if I am going to dedicate that time I probably should spend it on more rigorous activities more beneficial for my waistline and liver or spend more time with my kids.

Don't get me wrong, it's fun knowing that I can probably play with a pro and not look foolish at all. I also really enjoy the comraderies of playing with guys in my club and the post-round drinks on the patio after a good day on the course. But I'm just mired in this plateau where I likely cannot or will not get better and my odds of winning a net game are disadvantageous for me and my teammates. That said, I have a big tournament this weekend where three of my closest friends/playing partners and I are going to try to take down a big tournament (days of rotating partner best ball) so I need to kick this malaise that I feel.

Tl;dr - I'm frustrated with the game because I am good enough to play with anybody but not great enough to really win anything significant. Though I'm certainly going to try this weekend.

 

[blue42]

Difficult spot to be in. But first off - if you're trying to get to scratch; booze on the course? Really?

You're only going to get better on the course from the stuff you do off the course. No booze, sleep, diet, fitness, flexibility, all that jazz. If you're a 4 handicap, you have to choose between the 'fun' of the game and the game itself. Good luck.

 

[Judge Smails]

I’m in the same situation. Think a beer or two relaxes me. But maybe I should wait until post round

 

[Instinctive]

I played like absolute **** on the front. Carded a 10 on the 9th hole par 5. Couldn't hit a single tee shot. Actually scrambled for two pars and two bogeys off less than 80 yards tee shots.

Settled down, 7 over back. Played to my handicap which is pretty good feeling on the back. Overall differential posted of 18.9. Which the crazy part is if I look a year ago, that's a solid to average round, and maybe even still is in some ways, but I played so badly. So the scrambling ability, the short game, the irons all way better. A year ago if I didn't get off the tee it was a guaranteed double easy.

 

[Zow]

Difficult spot to be in. But first off - if you're trying to get to scratch; booze on the course? Really?

You're only going to get better on the course from the stuff you do off the course. No booze, sleep, diet, fitness, flexibility, all that jazz. If you're a 4 handicap, you have to choose between the 'fun' of the game and the game itself. Good luck.

Yes, really. I recognize how ridiculous this sounds, but I play better while drinking because of the mental relaxation factor and some of the irrational confidence I get (thought process goes from "careful of the ob to the right" to "smash this thing down the middle 310!"). It also seems to help me loosen up my back and makes me feel less tense during challenging chip shots due to its temporary sedative function. Call it the "beer pong" effect or whatever.

I've tried other non-alcoholic supplements like Magic Mind, Diald, Apha Brain, 5 hour energy, GolferAid, Swing Oil, etc. and they just don't currently cut it. Also, I used to get really nervous before and during playing. My golf game started out with quick improvement and then, bizarrely, I developed some swing flaw where I dropped from a 12 handicap to literally like a 22 because I was so in my head and, after three years or so of struggling, I eventually just succumbed to drinking while playing because it eliminated these nerves for me. Now, it's to the point where something feels "off" if I play competitively without it.* I even now have basically a formula that I strictly follow during the round for alcohol consumption.

Again, I am essentially agreeing with you that to get better (i.e. scratch) I need to not drink on the course and improve my physical fitness because that's obviously the better long term solution, but I am telling you that while it may be an anomaly I currently play better golf when I can't legally drive a car. Truly, if my kids' lives were on the line and to save them I have to break 80, at this current time I would play with alcohol. I recognize this is sub-ideal.

*I truly understand how potentially bad this sounds and as best as I can on a message board I avow that I don't have any actual personal struggles with alcohol in any other aspect of my life and until golf I was the type of guy who would not even touch the stuff during slow pitch softball or while bowling or whatever. I don't seek it out otherwise, and hardly if ever consume off the course but for maybe a glass or two of a good red wine with dinner. I don't even like whisky all that much off the course but on it, it's nectar of the golf gods for me.

 

[blue42]

Have you tried CBD oil? I've found that to be a pretty good substitute

 

[Zow]

I’m in the same situation. Think a beer or two relaxes me. But maybe I should wait until post round

NHTSA produced a study a few decades ago that suggests that people actually drive better after 1-2 drinks (like a .02%-.03% BAC). Its the mental relaxation factor without the reaction time impairment.

While driving is a pure divided attention activity and golf is more physical repetition, I could see the same positive effect assuming the study has merit.*

*I spoke with an expert recently who claims this study has been debunked/refuted but he couldn't provide me the literature upon request.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

it's punching time, just as I'm starting to play good too hopefully the greens all heal quick but it would be nice if these courses wouldn't all punch the same damn week

 

[Zow]

Have you tried CBD oil? I've found that to be a pretty good substitute

Not the oil, but I have tried CBD oral tincture I think. Agreed that CBD is good.

Note: My game is atrocious with THC so that isn't an option. Played on it a couple of times when it became legal as an alcohol substitute and while I recall having a great time, my game went to **** on it because I had no competitive focus and my mind would go elsewhere over a putt or a chip when I needed to focus.

 

[blue42]

*I truly understand how potentially bad this sounds and as best as I can on a message board I avow that I don't have any actual personal struggles with alcohol in any other aspect of my life and until golf I was the type of guy who would not even touch the stuff during slow pitch softball or while bowling or whatever. I don't seek it out otherwise, and hardly if ever consume off the course but for maybe a glass or two of a good red wine with dinner. I don't even like whisky all that much off the course but on it, it's nectar of the golf gods for me.

BTW - no judgements, I totally get it. I've been there as well. A couple cans of swing oil and I was right as rain. However I realised that was a temporary fix and once I went teetotal on the course, I found I got a lot better in the long run. But it definitely was a process. You have to completely change your outlook.

A good way to force yourself into the habit is to play 9 holes before work if you can.

 

[TLEF316]

I can confirm Woz was at least passable for sober when I played with him in scottsdale last year.

 

[Zow]

I can confirm Woz was at least passable for sober when I played with him in scottsdale last year.

That was my "normal" fwiw. Enough to feel it but not enough where I turn into a stumbling fool. So your experience is the appropriate barometer for what I am referencing.

I think I played okay that day IIRC, though nothing special. I remember you making a really nice eagle super early and then my buddy made a crazy birdie with like a 60 foot putt on 18 to take the cash.

 

[Zow]

*I truly understand how potentially bad this sounds and as best as I can on a message board I avow that I don't have any actual personal struggles with alcohol in any other aspect of my life and until golf I was the type of guy who would not even touch the stuff during slow pitch softball or while bowling or whatever. I don't seek it out otherwise, and hardly if ever consume off the course but for maybe a glass or two of a good red wine with dinner. I don't even like whisky all that much off the course but on it, it's nectar of the golf gods for me.

BTW - no judgements, I totally get it. I've been there as well. A couple cans of swing oil and I was right as rain. However I realised that was a temporary fix and once I went teetotal on the course, I found I got a lot better in the long run. But it definitely was a process. You have to completely change your outlook.

A good way to force yourself into the habit is to play 9 holes before work if you can.

Yep. I intend to work on this during my "offseason" - which is basically October through January as I have no significant tournaments during that timespan. I am going to Pebble in November with a big gambling group so we'll see where I am at by then.

 

[TLEF316]

I can confirm Woz was at least passable for sober when I played with him in scottsdale last year.

That was my "normal" fwiw. Enough to feel it but not enough where I turn into a stumbling fool. So your experience is the appropriate barometer for what I am referencing.

I think I played okay that day IIRC, though nothing special. I remember you making a really nice eagle super early and then my buddy made a crazy birdie with like a 60 foot putt on 18 to take the cash.

Yup. Hit a hybrid to inside 10 feet on the 2nd or 3rd hole. Made the eagle putt. Nice way to start the trip (made another one 2 days later at Troon)

I think i had 3 or 4 birdies on top of that but also a few pretty bit driver blow up holes (a sign of things to come for the next year and a half).....so I ended up shooting like an 86.

Yeah, I think your boy made a bomb on the last hole to win that last 6's match

 

[belljr]

I mean any true blooded serious golfer has quit once or twice in their career. Damn it

 

[BeTheMatch]

I mean any true blooded serious golfer has quit once or twice in their career. Damn it

I'm about to quit.

I'm a 13 handicap, play maybe once a week. Probably in 80s as often as in 90s. So I get it. I suck.

Constantly chasing 79.

Decided to change my approach midway thru this season to be more conservative, try to eliminate penalties at all costs and just play smarter. And it was really working. I had several sub-85 rounds in a row.

Then I got new irons and the wheels have come off. I knew it would be an adjustment, but this just isn't fun for me right now.

I even tried to go back to my old irons. That didn't work either. I'm broken. Just shanks and duffs galore.

I'm so pissed off, which I know is stupid, unjustified and all the other stuff. Because I suck. But my suck was at least OK and in my group of 12 regulars, put me near the top.

I have dominated our annual Ryder Cup weekend. Have lost only one match in eight years. Have knocked off guys better than me regularly because I care and compete, etc.

And now it's killing me. I've been over 100 like 4 of last 5 rounds. Have walked off the course twice. Have almost gotten into fights on the course with both strangers and friends because I'm so frustrated.

And now our annual trip is this week. I'm hoping for some sort of miracle, but there's nothing to suggest that's gonna happen.

And so I'll likely be the reason my team loses. And that's going to eat at me.

I'm going to do everything I can to not be a baby and just drink and have fun like everyone else even if I play crappy.

But it's going to be very hard.

 

[Zow]

I mean any true blooded serious golfer has quit once or twice in their career. Damn it

I'm about to quit.

I'm a 13 handicap, play maybe once a week. Probably in 80s as often as in 90s. So I get it. I suck.

Constantly chasing 79.

Decided to change my approach midway thru this season to be more conservative, try to eliminate penalties at all costs and just play smarter. And it was really working. I had several sub-85 rounds in a row.

Then I got new irons and the wheels have come off. I knew it would be an adjustment, but this just isn't fun for me right now.

I even tried to go back to my old irons. That didn't work either. I'm broken. Just shanks and duffs galore.

I'm so pissed off, which I know is stupid, unjustified and all the other stuff. Because I suck. But my suck was at least OK and in my group of 12 regulars, put me near the top.

I have dominated our annual Ryder Cup weekend. Have lost only one match in eight years. Have knocked off guys better than me regularly because I care and compete, etc.

And now it's killing me. I've been over 100 like 4 of last 5 rounds. Have walked off the course twice. Have almost gotten into fights on the course with both strangers and friends because I'm so frustrated.

And now our annual trip is this week. I'm hoping for some sort of miracle, but there's nothing to suggest that's gonna happen.

And so I'll likely be the reason my team loses. And that's going to eat at me.

I'm going to do everything I can to not be a baby and just drink and have fun like everyone else even if I play crappy.

But it's going to be very hard.

Winners win. Put your big boy pants on and go get it done.

 

[BeTheMatch]

I mean any true blooded serious golfer has quit once or twice in their career. Damn it

I'm about to quit.

I'm a 13 handicap, play maybe once a week. Probably in 80s as often as in 90s. So I get it. I suck.

Constantly chasing 79.

Decided to change my approach midway thru this season to be more conservative, try to eliminate penalties at all costs and just play smarter. And it was really working. I had several sub-85 rounds in a row.

Then I got new irons and the wheels have come off. I knew it would be an adjustment, but this just isn't fun for me right now.

I even tried to go back to my old irons. That didn't work either. I'm broken. Just shanks and duffs galore.

I'm so pissed off, which I know is stupid, unjustified and all the other stuff. Because I suck. But my suck was at least OK and in my group of 12 regulars, put me near the top.

I have dominated our annual Ryder Cup weekend. Have lost only one match in eight years. Have knocked off guys better than me regularly because I care and compete, etc.

And now it's killing me. I've been over 100 like 4 of last 5 rounds. Have walked off the course twice. Have almost gotten into fights on the course with both strangers and friends because I'm so frustrated.

And now our annual trip is this week. I'm hoping for some sort of miracle, but there's nothing to suggest that's gonna happen.

And so I'll likely be the reason my team loses. And that's going to eat at me.

I'm going to do everything I can to not be a baby and just drink and have fun like everyone else even if I play crappy.

But it's going to be very hard.

Winners win. Put your big boy pants on and go get it done.

Cue the Rocky montage!!

 

[Mookie]

I'm somewhat of a weird spot with my golf game. I'm not at @belljr status where I'm considering quitting, but I've been frustrated the last couple of months. If not obvious, I'm a competitive guy. I don't hate losing ore than I like the really competitive people (e.g. Jordan, Kobe) but dammit I love to win and I love to play in team competitions. With that in mind, my goals this season have been to qualify for as many of our interclub matches as possible and win. However, despite best efforts, I have only qualified twice (out of five so far) and while I won my first match handedly I got stroked to death when I had to give 10 strokes in my second match and lost 0-3. Our pro has already hinted to me I'm unlikely to be picked for the final and I can't really blame him because I won't qualify as our scratch so I am almost certainly giving strokes in my match which at 100% handicap is probably disadvantageous in match play.

I'm currently between a four and a five handicap. In short, I'm at a point where for me to beat my handicap I have to play basically double or worse free for the round and even then I need to can several birdies (which is usually just whether a few of those 15 to 25 footers go in) to do so. For example, I recently played about as good as I can in a round but for one loose shot and shot a 74... which didn't qualify me for the last match. In that timeframe I shot a 75 with fifteen pars and three bogeys. I have no shot in net tournaments unless they are strictly flighted because I have to shoot basically a personal record just to match the variance of a 12 handicapper who has a day and shoots 77. In contrast, I can't really contend in the scratch games though either - I played well in my club's championship to shoot 80-78-80 from the tips in tough conditions but couldn't realistically sniff the top tier guys in the scratch fight (IIRC 5 over par for the week won) so I mainly just paid my entry fee to say I competed in the scratch flight. In cash games I generally still do okay, but even there I can play really well and get beat like last week where I went toe to toe with my scratch opponent but his partner, a 13, shot an 80 and had a day whereas my partner, a 10 handicap, shot a 104 and there I am handing several hundred dollars over even though I threw a bunch of uppercuts on the course and played well. In sum, I'm basically at a point where my round is ruined if I hit one or two loose shots or don't putt well and I'm finding it harder to win even though my ending score probably has a 7 in front of it.

To top the frustration off, as I haven't been shy about how I like to drink when I play. This isn't a significant problem or anything as I don't touch the stuff off the course and I don't ever let it affect work or anything, but it's still isn't the healthiest of choices and if I play earlier in the day I'm limited on what I can do with my afternoon so it often doesn't feel worth it. My offseason goal here is to become accustomed to playing sober and try to focus more on the physical fitness aspect of the game but, frankly, and especially if I'm not playing for money, I tend to lose a little interest on the course a my mind starts to wander about work and other things.

I read a study recently that says that, basically, since I have the adequate length and double bogey avoidance stats, the difference between me and a +5 is that I need to significantly improve from inside six feet (basically get to 95%) and significantly improve from inside 100 yards. While I agree with this study, this is all practice and I need to spend multiple more hours each week practicing in these areas. The reality though is that with work and family I just don't have the time and, frankly, if I am going to dedicate that time I probably should spend it on more rigorous activities more beneficial for my waistline and liver or spend more time with my kids.

Don't get me wrong, it's fun knowing that I can probably play with a pro and not look foolish at all. I also really enjoy the comraderies of playing with guys in my club and the post-round drinks on the patio after a good day on the course. But I'm just mired in this plateau where I likely cannot or will not get better and my odds of winning a net game are disadvantageous for me and my teammates. That said, I have a big tournament this weekend where three of my closest friends/playing partners and I are going to try to take down a big tournament (days of rotating partner best ball) so I need to kick this malaise that I feel.

Tl;dr - I'm frustrated with the game because I am good enough to play with anybody but not great enough to really win anything significant. Though I'm certainly going to try this weekend.

It's no fun losing 5 and 4 to a slew of "net" birdies.

The way I see it, you can go two ways: The first is to give up alcohol and practice more to get down to scratch, but won't that further exacerbate your problem as you will give up MORE strokes to sandbagging duffers? Sure, you can tell everyone that you're a flatbelly scratch, but they're even LESS likely to pick you for the team.

The second is to embrace your alcoholism and play for the fun of it, hit driver on every hole, never lay up, fire at every pin, try to hole every chip, hit the back of the hole on every putt. By playing recklessly, you'll make more birdies - and more doubles - but your handicap will go up and you'll give less strokes come tournament time. You'll be a dangerous man that no one wants to play.

 

[Zow]

I'm somewhat of a weird spot with my golf game. I'm not at @belljr status where I'm considering quitting, but I've been frustrated the last couple of months. If not obvious, I'm a competitive guy. I don't hate losing ore than I like the really competitive people (e.g. Jordan, Kobe) but dammit I love to win and I love to play in team competitions. With that in mind, my goals this season have been to qualify for as many of our interclub matches as possible and win. However, despite best efforts, I have only qualified twice (out of five so far) and while I won my first match handedly I got stroked to death when I had to give 10 strokes in my second match and lost 0-3. Our pro has already hinted to me I'm unlikely to be picked for the final and I can't really blame him because I won't qualify as our scratch so I am almost certainly giving strokes in my match which at 100% handicap is probably disadvantageous in match play.

I'm currently between a four and a five handicap. In short, I'm at a point where for me to beat my handicap I have to play basically double or worse free for the round and even then I need to can several birdies (which is usually just whether a few of those 15 to 25 footers go in) to do so. For example, I recently played about as good as I can in a round but for one loose shot and shot a 74... which didn't qualify me for the last match. In that timeframe I shot a 75 with fifteen pars and three bogeys. I have no shot in net tournaments unless they are strictly flighted because I have to shoot basically a personal record just to match the variance of a 12 handicapper who has a day and shoots 77. In contrast, I can't really contend in the scratch games though either - I played well in my club's championship to shoot 80-78-80 from the tips in tough conditions but couldn't realistically sniff the top tier guys in the scratch fight (IIRC 5 over par for the week won) so I mainly just paid my entry fee to say I competed in the scratch flight. In cash games I generally still do okay, but even there I can play really well and get beat like last week where I went toe to toe with my scratch opponent but his partner, a 13, shot an 80 and had a day whereas my partner, a 10 handicap, shot a 104 and there I am handing several hundred dollars over even though I threw a bunch of uppercuts on the course and played well. In sum, I'm basically at a point where my round is ruined if I hit one or two loose shots or don't putt well and I'm finding it harder to win even though my ending score probably has a 7 in front of it.

To top the frustration off, as I haven't been shy about how I like to drink when I play. This isn't a significant problem or anything as I don't touch the stuff off the course and I don't ever let it affect work or anything, but it's still isn't the healthiest of choices and if I play earlier in the day I'm limited on what I can do with my afternoon so it often doesn't feel worth it. My offseason goal here is to become accustomed to playing sober and try to focus more on the physical fitness aspect of the game but, frankly, and especially if I'm not playing for money, I tend to lose a little interest on the course a my mind starts to wander about work and other things.

I read a study recently that says that, basically, since I have the adequate length and double bogey avoidance stats, the difference between me and a +5 is that I need to significantly improve from inside six feet (basically get to 95%) and significantly improve from inside 100 yards. While I agree with this study, this is all practice and I need to spend multiple more hours each week practicing in these areas. The reality though is that with work and family I just don't have the time and, frankly, if I am going to dedicate that time I probably should spend it on more rigorous activities more beneficial for my waistline and liver or spend more time with my kids.

Don't get me wrong, it's fun knowing that I can probably play with a pro and not look foolish at all. I also really enjoy the comraderies of playing with guys in my club and the post-round drinks on the patio after a good day on the course. But I'm just mired in this plateau where I likely cannot or will not get better and my odds of winning a net game are disadvantageous for me and my teammates. That said, I have a big tournament this weekend where three of my closest friends/playing partners and I are going to try to take down a big tournament (days of rotating partner best ball) so I need to kick this malaise that I feel.

Tl;dr - I'm frustrated with the game because I am good enough to play with anybody but not great enough to really win anything significant. Though I'm certainly going to try this weekend.

It's no fun losing 5 and 4 to a slew of "net" birdies.

The way I see it, you can go two ways: The first is to give up alcohol and practice more to get down to scratch, but won't that further exacerbate your problem as you will give up MORE strokes to sandbagging duffers? Sure, you can tell everyone that you're a flatbelly scratch, but they're even LESS likely to pick you for the team.

The second is to embrace your alcoholism and play for the fun of it, hit driver on every hole, never lay up, fire at every pin, try to hole every chip, hit the back of the hole on every putt. By playing recklessly, you'll make more birdies - and more doubles - but your handicap will go up and you'll give less strokes come tournament time. You'll be a dangerous man that no one wants to play.

Well, this is a couple of options haha.

The second option is basically how I played when I started and my brother in law (he's a scratch and my primary partner in tournaments) aways likes to joke that the old me (lots of birdies and doubles) was a much better best ball partner than me now (where I make a lot of pars, but my matching gross pars to his means nothing).

Not sure my ego can take from drop from a 4ish handicap back to a 9 or 10, though.

 

[Zow]

Also, the thread title is super erroneous. I have never even broken par!

 

[Zow]

I mean any true blooded serious golfer has quit once or twice in their career. Damn it

I'm about to quit.

I'm a 13 handicap, play maybe once a week. Probably in 80s as often as in 90s. So I get it. I suck.

Constantly chasing 79.

Decided to change my approach midway thru this season to be more conservative, try to eliminate penalties at all costs and just play smarter. And it was really working. I had several sub-85 rounds in a row.

Then I got new irons and the wheels have come off. I knew it would be an adjustment, but this just isn't fun for me right now.

I even tried to go back to my old irons. That didn't work either. I'm broken. Just shanks and duffs galore.

I'm so pissed off, which I know is stupid, unjustified and all the other stuff. Because I suck. But my suck was at least OK and in my group of 12 regulars, put me near the top.

I have dominated our annual Ryder Cup weekend. Have lost only one match in eight years. Have knocked off guys better than me regularly because I care and compete, etc.

And now it's killing me. I've been over 100 like 4 of last 5 rounds. Have walked off the course twice. Have almost gotten into fights on the course with both strangers and friends because I'm so frustrated.

And now our annual trip is this week. I'm hoping for some sort of miracle, but there's nothing to suggest that's gonna happen.

And so I'll likely be the reason my team loses. And that's going to eat at me.

I'm going to do everything I can to not be a baby and just drink and have fun like everyone else even if I play crappy.

But it's going to be very hard.

Winners win. Put your big boy pants on and go get it done.

Cue the Rocky montage!!

**** the Rocky montage. Go all Kenny Powers or Ernie MacCracken. You think they whined about trying hard and going through swing challenges? No! They went out and won and then slept with the prom queen.