I remember the time I played with a ~4 handicap in a competitive event. He shot about 85 and was so mad about it. I just shrugged and told him welcome to competitive golf. Having a blow up round is part of the experience. Learning (1) that it doesn’t matter to anyone but you and (2) how to fight back when you start poorly is part of all this.
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I signed up for two “association” events here in Las Vegas this season.
- the Las Vegas City Am (Women’s)
- the Nevada State Womens Am
Both have a scratch/championship flight, but also a Net division, which is what I signed up for. First one is weekend of May 31st - 2 day tournament at Las Vegas Golf Club (aka the Muni) and the 2nd is a 3 day one at the private Spanish Trails courses.
I sign up for them because I love competing and know I will only get better at these types of events by doing it more often.
Also finally joined a club and signed up for the womens golf association there. A different competition every Thursday, and there are like 20-30 women who play each week. Can’t wait!
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he beat two guys I know and have played against a lot. They are both a lot better than I am so this guy must be a billion times better than I am. Humbling.
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like who are these absolute killers
Marc was the first round leader during last years gasparilla and then went on to MC after a boozy round 2. he also won the FL Mid am 2-3 years ago drinking ilke 10 beers a day
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If we’re telling stories, I 5 putted the 18th hole of the only qualifier I’ve played in for a nice 87. Looking to get the game back to a spot where I can do it again!
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Deacs Only
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Have a buddy up here who did some super small mini-tour stuff in AZ etc. Asked him one time what he thought it took to make a run for “real” professional golf and he said
“If you arn’t chasing the course record at every course you play 10 beers deep, you probably arn’t good enough” lol that stuck with me
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objectively sick
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No further advice, just felt compelled to add that I’m living proof that steady improvement does eventually pay off.
Took 8 years off from competitive golf after never playing college golf and yolo’ing 2 years on mini tours post grad (I was in the Philanthropist category out there). Entered a tournament in 2018 with a goal of shooting 75 or better two days in a row. I barely did it.
Fast forward to now and I’m 42 and playing my best golf of my life. Made the TN Challenge Cup last year and am exempt into all state events this year. Won a tournament a month ago (same event where my goal was 75 or better 7 years ago, shot 67-68 this time).
Persistent, intentional effort (combined with some good coaching) eventually wins out.
(welp, i may be back in on this thread)
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But do you do it while hammering beers
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He had a plug in for a bit. Guess it didn’t last!
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hopefully it’s back in for a bit!
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Post in this thread, or play competitive golf?
(the answer is rarely for both but maybe i should)
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Those are all the same person no?
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TLDR: Missed qualifying by 5 shots. Took some early punches but got it together. Proud of how patient I stayed. I’m looking forward to the rest of the qualis I’ve got set up this summer.
Going into this qualifier I was only able to play 1 round almost 2 weeks before and it was easily my worst round in a year. Part of me wanted to bag the whole thing
Went bogey, bogey, double on 2,3,4 after parring 1. The double was comical in that I pull hooked an 8 iron that then rolled 60 yards down a giant hill and had to punch uphill through some trees just to get near the green. That’s ok though. 5th is a reachable par 5 and I hit a good drive.
Well, I somehow nuke a 7 wood uphill over the green from 255 (knuckler). But, I still think I’m in good shape to make par at worse. Lo and behold my ball ends up on a muddy spot under a tree. Chunked pitch, nuked chip and 2 putts later and I’m 5 over through 5 and kinda freaking out. I’ve pull-hooked or chunked nearly all my approach shots and might have the chipping yips. I pull another drive but manage to punch a wedge onto 6 and 2 putt for a par to stop the bleeding. I finally exhaled on the par 3 7th tee and made my first low tension and smooth swing of the day to get to 25 feet and a tap in par.
From there I stopped death-gripping the club and smoothed/slowed down the top of my swing, hit 9 of the next 12 greens and 2 putted all of them to shoot a +8, 78. I actually putted well just didn’t get any to drop (left 3 25 footers short by like an inch each, hit a couple lips, yada yada).
Very glad I decided to bring a caddy from my course. Just having someone to talk through stuff helped a lot. I’ve realized that when I talk through stuff I tend to think better and panic a lot less. I also tend to just be a lot nicer to myself when I can talk to someone else.
Looking back, after the 5th hole I thought I had no chance, but throw in some lucky bounces and a putt or two and I could have threatened. Need to fix my chipping and remember to focus more on controlling my tempo and tension.
Oddly enough the next day at my home course match I had another ugly +5 through 5 start before remembering the tempo and tension stuff, staying patient, and going 2 under on the last 13.
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sounds like @hworth14
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