Golf is such a maddening (but intoxicating) sport...

[LeftDaddy]

I've posted a bunch on my quest to break 80. I've gotten very close several times, but they've all been "back door" 81s (ie I'm say 7 over through 9 and then get hot and end up 9 over for an 81 or something like that). My handicap has gone down from 14 to 10 in the past two months, mostly because I have finally (after 20 years) figured out how to hit a driver somewhat reliably, and because I am slowly getting back to being a decent ballstriker (completely lost my irons and wedges about two years ago post knee-surgery and have only just begun to hit them flush again). And recently, a low hcp friend noticed something with my putter grip, fixed it, and I have mostly been a lights out putter for about a month now.

 

Anyway, here comes the maddening / frustrating part. I haven't played much in the past 3 weeks...haven't even been able to hit the range (combo of work travel and vacation, etc etc). So I picked it back up again this week. In that time off, I had a brainstorm about my ballstriking, and I spent a little while at the range working it out prior to playing again this week, and it was like magic...all of a sudden I am hitting the ball flush again with irons (and let me tell you, that is the best feeling in the world when you haven't hit many flush in over a year).

 

So, first hole back...3 wood perfectly struck in middle of fairway. 7 iron hit flush to green...ball hops and stops inside 15 feet. Burn the edge on the birdie putt but tap in for par. All is right with the world, right? And before I dive in to the rest of it, let me just say that hole was no kidding the 1st one in 18 months where I hit both a perfectly struck tee shot and an iron that was dead straight, flush and landed basically where I planned for it to land. You may or may not believe this, but I have been shooting 81-89 without hitting many GIRs at all...the handful of GIRs I've had in the last 18 months have been with par 5s and with shorter par 4s where I've just had a flip wedge into them. I'm not sure I have a single GIR in these 18 months with an iron above a 9 iron. That is how bad my ballstriking has been.

 

Anyway, long story short, my irons through the course of the last two rounds have finally been somewhat predictable (a few reversions to my old misses but mostly flush and straight). And my wedges have been spot-on. I even holed out for an eagle on a par 4 from 100 yards...one hop into the cup). But my driver is now erratic...some good and some really bad. And perhaps worst of all, my short game has started to suck (the greens are playing really slow at my course for some reason).

 

I finally feel like I can hit a driver well, hit irons well, hit wedges well, have always had a good short game, and also feel great about my putting...yet I shot 87 Monday and 89 yesterday. How I got there was as maddening as you can imagine. I know the common refrain is "one day I will put it all together in one round", but anyway...what a maddening (and intoxicating) game.

[Cajunmike]

I feel your pain. Try going from a +1 in college to can hardly break 90 because I just hardly get to play anymore but I am still obsessed with the game. I can hit 1 good shot in a round and that'll keep me upbeat for weeks

[HTXBear2012]

I hear you LeftDaddy.

 

I recently got into golf somewhat seriously for the first time in my life (played a little in HS / college but hadn't played in 4+ years until April of this year). For the first time ever I am going to the range with a purpose, working on chipping / putting and playing more than once or twice a year. I have played more in the last month than I did in the last 5 years. It has been amazing. July 4th weekend I got my first ever Birdie (finished the last four holes of an otherwise awful round +2, was the best I had ever felt leaving a golf course). Last Friday I had a chip to within a bout 4 feet for eagle, never had I ever come that close to an eagle before.

 

I still have yet to break 100 (102 last Saturday), but I am playing from the fairway more than I ever did before (I got through an entire round without a power slice off my driver!!!!) Loving this game. Good luck with your quest to break 80! Hope I am under 90 at least once before the year ends, myself!

[clos8]

I sometimes feel I wish I had a punching bag in my cart. That might be the next big PGA show product of the year.

[aliikane]

I think everyone no matter their level has similar frustration/elation level.

[wmblake2000]

Repeat after me: "Intermittent positive reinforcement"

[SixtySomePing]

"I know the common refrain is "one day I will put it all together in one round"... This is probably true for you, what are the chances you will get to play more in 2018?

[Jack Pearsall]

It’s more game than sport.

[msg]

Oh I hear yah. I love this game but when it is not working well for me, I hate it. I really really hate it. But funny enough, my kinks get sorted out lol.

 

Let me recall why I almost quit this year lol

 

1. We built a house and had the basement raised so I can build a simple simulator.

2. When everything was done, everything was purchased, I could not swing properly for three months using my set up. Imagine everyday my wife berating me for spending this much and I can't make it work lol

3. When I was able to fix it, I have developed two elbow injuries and a shoulder injury. Another threat for me to be able to play golf in the short summer here in Canada.

4. Add to the injury I suddenly could not hit my driver and everything hooks. I played the last four games this week, using a hybrid off the tee and enduring the insults from my buddies for not being a man enough to use the driver. lol When I did use the driver I wanted to snap it in two even if it was not the driver's fault.

 

I just figured out the hook issue and I am eager to play this week to see if it does really work on the course.

 

Don't you just love golf?

[Sean2]

I have played about 15 rounds so far this season. The scores vary from a 71 to 89. Good rounds lie fallow due to a couple of bad holes...yeah, it's a maddening game, but a well struck shot, or a good round make it intoxicating too.