Feel so bad for my buddy

[Mych]

I have a buddy who took up golf a few years ago and has really been working to improve. He's gone from a 110+ player to a mid 90's player. He's good enough to play in the 80's but can't avoid the occasional blow-up holes. So far, he had never broken 90 so that has been his biggest goal.

 

Yesterday he was having a great round (for him), +12 through 16 with 2 par 4's left, so he was on track to crush his previous best (91). On 17 he triple chips from about 30 yards off the green, then 2 putts for a 7. On 18 he finds water twice and cards a snowman. +7 on the last 2 holes to finish with a +19, 91. I think me and our other golf buddies wanted it for him as much as he did, at the turn we started treating it like he was pitching a no-hitter... nobody mentions the score, act normal, help him with course strategy and putting reads, etc. The only thing we couldn't do was hit the ball for him. I think he knew how good his score was and the pressure got to him on the last two holes. 

 

Hopefully that was the Golf Gods' way of humbling him before they show him how to live in the 80's for a while. 

Edited September 16, 2024 by Mych

[Nickb333]

I feel him. Way back in my teens when I just started and had yet to break 100. I shot a 40 on the front. No problem right? Wrong. Came home with an even 60 on the back. 
 

10 year later I’m playing with my dad in a club event. Best round to date was a 76. On 16 dad says “ did you know you’re even par” ?  I could barely swing the club for 2 holes. Finished +2. 
 

Golf is cruel. 

[jholz]

Your sympathy earns the Buddha prize for today. 

 

We are all on the road of shared suffering. Once we recognize that, enlightenment is attainable.

[PedronNiall]

Ouch. More proof that those of us who play this game are insane, masochists, or all of the above. When you find yourself in the worry of what's to come, I recommend reciting The Litany Against Fear. 

 

[jonsnow]

It cab be weird how breakthroughs occur. When I was trying to break 80 for the first time (think I was 15)  I was playing pretty much every day in the summer & shot 83, 81, 82 multiple times, then shot 74 out of the blue. Same thing happened the next summer when I was trying to break 70; I shot 73, 71, 72 multiple times & suddenly shot 67. Pretty much everything has been downhill since...

[bladehunter]

You’ll call BS on this. But. Suggestion is a powerful thing.  Tell him to stop trying to shoot 89.  Start trying to shoot 75.  He will shoot 89 or lower next time. Or soon.   You set yourself mental barriers up. 
 

 

Now of course everyone has real limitations.  I’m working off you saying that he can shoot in the 80s without growing more physical talent  etc.    just speaking mentally.  

[Qqq123xx]

The more he gets there, the more experience he gets in that position. The more trust in his game he gets. Won't be long before he's framing a scorecard. 

[tiderider]

no sympathy ... ain't no golf god ever given me sympathy ... 

 

tee it up again and let it rip!