Breaking 70

thatboygaule · October 28, 2014

My home course is par 71 and my goal is to break 70 over the winter. I've shot under par before (not there) but my PB at my track is +1. The front nine is much tougher with really only 4/5 realistic birdie opportunities whereas all but the 18th are birdie chances on the back. I often find myself with it 'to do' on the back nine and really need to overcome this.

What would be the best advice you guys WHO HAVE DONE IT would give me on how to get it done?

iteachgolf · October 28, 2014

Play one round a week from the ladies tee. Learn to score and get comfortable making birdies.

MonteScheinblum · October 28, 2014

Play par as your partner. Go out and try to birdie and eagle every hole. Try to chip in and hole every shot. All pars are gimmes, no penalties, period.
Only keep track of birdies and Eagles.

kekoa · October 28, 2014

I'm not going to come out and say I break par all the time because I don't. Last weekend was my first under par round in a long time (70 on a par 72). What worked for me was hitting putts a little firmer than normal. I literally did not miss any putt outside of 10 feet. Also like Monte mentioned, I tried to hole every chip shot I had.

Good luck.

crapula · October 28, 2014

[quote name='MonteScheinblum' timestamp='1414538055' post='10364891']
Play par as your partner. Go out and try to birdie and eagle every hole. Try to chip in and hole every shot. All pars are gimmes, no penalties, period.
Only keep track of birdies and Eagles.
[/quote]

I'm confused. Par as your partner? Only track birdies and eagles? All pars are gimmes?

donaldp83 · October 28, 2014

Never be content with your score. For instance, if you are -3 through 12 holes, don't try to par in the rest of the way. You shot -3 the first 12 holes trying to make birdies, so keep doing that. We all have made a mess of a hole or two staying aggressive, but suddenly playing for pars after playing well for 12 holes will hurt you more often (at least for me). When I was able to change my mindset after many years of underachieving in high school golf, I was able to score in the 60s much more frequently...

Maybe this isn't an issue for you and something else will help, but I hope you figure it out

MonteScheinblum · October 28, 2014

[quote name='crapula' timestamp='1414539264' post='10365013']
[quote name='MonteScheinblum' timestamp='1414538055' post='10364891']
Play par as your partner. Go out and try to birdie and eagle every hole. Try to chip in and hole every shot. All pars are gimmes, no penalties, period.
Only keep track of birdies and Eagles.
[/quote]

I'm confused. Par as your partner? Only track birdies and eagles? All pars are gimmes?
[/quote]

Simple, it teaches you to make birdies if par is in your pocket. Used to do it all the time. The members at pga west stopped asking me what I shot and just how many birdies I made.

crapula · October 28, 2014

[quote name='MonteScheinblum' timestamp='1414546720' post='10365667']
[quote name='crapula' timestamp='1414539264' post='10365013']
[quote name='MonteScheinblum' timestamp='1414538055' post='10364891']
Play par as your partner. Go out and try to birdie and eagle every hole. Try to chip in and hole every shot. All pars are gimmes, no penalties, period.
Only keep track of birdies and Eagles.
[/quote]

I'm confused. Par as your partner? Only track birdies and eagles? All pars are gimmes?
[/quote]

Simple, it teaches you to make birdies if par is in your pocket. Used to do it all the time. The members at pga west stopped asking me what I shot and just how many birdies I made.
[/quote]

Edit: So when your next shot would be par, put the ball in your pocket and move on to the next hole?

I like it. Think I'll try that, mixed with a 2 ball worst ball. You could call it, Birdie or Bust.