Flew Too Close To The Sun
Went low on the front and very much did not go low on the back
I have been trying to be transparent about my scores and posting videos about my rounds on Instagram. Since I have come back, I have posted some rounds in the 100s but had an 89 the other day. I seem to be stabilizing around the low 90s, with a 95 being a “bad round.” This is progress, and I am feeling more comfortable with my swing changes and just playing golf again. The rust is coming off.
While I have a lot of room to go to reach my goal, I feel like I will be within striking distance by the end of the season.
The other day I shot a 41 on the front of the Reserve South course, including missing two five-foot par putts which would have tied my best nine ever at 39. I played loose, athletic, and in a twosome with nobody ahead of us, so I just got into a rhythm and played. To say I am happy about that nine would be an understatement. With breaking 80 potentially in play, I was pumped when hitting the back nine.
The problem was that we had to wait. I began to think about my score, and after a bogey on the 10th hole, I imploded on the next three holes, basically going ten over the first four holes on the back nine. Shoving shots out of bounds with three hook drives that looked like I had never swung a club. I had lost confidence, playing super tight, and battling myself and my swing. I did course correct and played bogey golf the rest of the way without any blowup holes, but the damage was very much done. Not only was the dream of the 70s out of play, but even being reasonably in the 80s fell out of reach.
While I could hang my head and beat myself up about the back nine, I played 15 solid holes of golf with three bad holes. What happened on those three holes that I can learn from? Knowing that I can’t control the pace of play. What could I have controlled in that situation?
What happened: I shoved a tee shot on the par 3 OB, immediately reloaded, and did it again.
What I should have done: I know what I did swing-wise to send the ball left OB. Instead of rehearsing the feel I wanted with a couple of practice swings, I just dove back in. Taking a beat and rehearsing the feel probably stopped me from hitting that bad second shot.
What happened: After finishing the hole where I put the back-to-back tee shots out of bounds, I went to the next tee, didn’t take a practice swing, and immediately hooked it left, but luckily it hit a tree and came back in bounds. Then proceeded to walk up to the ball and take a swing, hitting it left of the target and bouncing out of bounds.
What I should have done: See the previous “what I should have done” section.
I’m not saying that taking a beat, rehearsing the feel by taking a practice swing, and then hitting the ball would have prevented what happened from happening 100%, but I would bet money that I don’t shove four consecutive shots left. Also, maybe it puts the brakes on gutting my confidence over a four-hole run and contains it to maybe one or two.
I have been playing poorly for about 18 months with the injury, so resetting and taking a beat really haven’t come into my mind because physically everything was such a challenge. I need to shake that mentality now that I am healthy.
What do you do when you have a bad hole or shot?