Observations

[ricar1610]

I have had a week to reflect on my last competitive tournament - the AZ Stroke Play - held at the TPC Scottsdale Champions Course. For those outside of AZ (most of you), it is the sister course of the Stadium (WM PHX Open). This is a very tough track - especially when they had the greens at 12+ for the four days of the tournament. The course was closed to the public all week, and we had free practice range time and free practice rounds Tuesday and Wednesday. They shut the water off Tuesday. This is one of the four AZ major amateur tournaments. The field is tough - especially with the high school and college kids. There is a lot of talent here.

 

Anyway, I did not play well the first day. I was not nervous, as I have been playing in these events for 10 years almost. I have played in all the USGA qualifiers except the Open - I am not there yet. My score was terrible for me, but I shook it off. The second day I shot 81. Honestly, I missed 8 putts inside 4-6 feet for par or bogey. But hey - no excuses. I had the speed down, but there are really subtle breaks in those greens when you do not hit it perfectly on line. But I felt good about the round as I managed my way around well - just made nothing. The winning score - for 4 days - was +2. The course was tough.

 

This past week I have not touched a club. I am a HS teacher and golf coach in the fall, but I get to practice about 3-4 times a week with the way my schedule is in the afternoon (get off early and kids are not out of school until 4:00) - so taking a week off has been good for me.

 

In that time I have been reading the posts on WRX profusely. I am addicted to everything golf. I have perused hundreds of topics on everything. I love it here.

 

What my reflections led me to was a few simple, yet not always talked about, conclusions. Here are some ideas I had this week. Thank you for reading - if you still are :)

 

As we get better in this game, it seems to somehow level itself out and get more difficult. For example: I have fought for a few years to get below a 1 HC - .9 :) In doing this I have entered higher level tournaments. The past few years I have entered them, I have been competitive only on a few occasions - but I was not out of my league - just not in contention. Then, this past March, I played in the PHX City Amateur. It is played on 3 courses - Maryvale(easiest of the 3), Aguila - a fairly tough track at times, and Papago - a great old Phoenix course that can play very difficult. The conditions were perfect and greens were average - no that fast. I finished 9th in the Open division. I was happy because I was competitive.

 

So, I was feeling great - finally a breakthrough. It feels good not just to play well, but to compete.

 

Fast forward to last week. I was striking it fine and putting great in practice. My first round was terrible. I made lots of mistakes and left myself impossible up and downs. When I looked back on the round, I did nothing terrible as far as swings - no chunks, slices, etc. One skull but that happens. It was simply being out of position on tough holes, with tough pins, with fast greens. After a tee shot sometimes, I knew it would be tough to make par - even bogey. It was just difficult (for me at least).

 

My reflection/conclusion is this: no matter how much we improve, if we test ourselves at the next level, this game ALWAYS has a new challenge.

 

I learned a lot about myself and my game. I walked away missing the cut and playing very below average to poor - overall - but I also realized that my game is good. It just wasn't good enough for this set up. I have a long ways to go when they set up a course this tough for amateurs. The thing is, I loved it. I like the fact that it was a challenge, and I can't wait to play again next year.

 

I guess my point is that we should analyze our games for where we are, then challenge ourselves at the next level. I know now that I need to work on disciplining myself in course management and working on my pre-shot routine even more. I had it going well in the first tourney I mentioned, but I got flustered in the last one and lost focus. We always throw that "it's all mental" tag out there all the time but it is true at all levels of golf, but it is imperative at the highest levels.

 

Finally, I learned not to get so down on myself because of score. I had two high rounds, but the course conditions played a lot into that. I am just not ready to contend in these higher events, but I am getting there. The handicap comparison threads always intrigue me, because we sometimes believe we are better than we are. I am a legitimate 1 HC, as most of my low scores are from tournament play. However, I am light years away from contending in these high AM events - much less a PGA tour or major championship set up. I am not sure I could break 100 if you plopped me down on Friday at the Masters and said - here you are playing with Ernie Els and Luke Donald. There are millions of people watching you - don't screw up. I can't imagine how difficult that would. Would I want to do it? In a heartbeat, but it would be ugly. But I also know that if the talent is there, experience is then the thing that will allow a golfer to move to the next level. What I have observed is that some may think, because a golfer is at scratch or even +, that he can possibly turn pro, or make the cut at the Masters. I am not bashing those ideas, but my experience is that my .9 HC is about 15-20 shots away from a PGA touring pro. Because when I shoot 71 they are shooting 61. When they shoot 72 - I might be at 92. It does not mean I am all of a sudden a 20 HC - it is just that the level of play and courses played on are A LOT tougher than when we play on the weekend or a local tournament. And they all started somewhere too. I am improving slowly because it is getting more familiar.

 

I think what I really learned is that golf is more complex than I thought - even now after playing it for 30 years. I think most of us love it for the challenge, because every once in awhile we get some glory out of it - and glories are what we live for. I like that everyday I get up I want to play golf - I hope I never lose that passion.

 

I am not sure if I made sense here or if any of it matters. I am a golf junkie who has not swung a club in 10 days and needed to vent.

 

Thanks for reading...