How did you score in your last round? - 2023

Played the final round yesterday and had a complete mare in all honesty. I got bumped into the final group as two guys were unable to play so I started T2 and 2 off the lead. It was exciting to be in that situation for the first time and I was really up for it.

My drive on the first flew off the face and almost ran too long despite being slightly into a breeze. The ball was really traveling in the heat and ground was beginning to firm up a little. Landed in a divot in the middle of the fairway. Gouged a SW through it and it carried more than I expected again. Couldn't get my putts up/down and took a bogey of no real damage. On the long par 3 2nd I got greedy when facing fully into the breeze and came up short-sided in a bunker 6ft+ below the green. Got to hold on to the far side of the green and 2 putted for bogey.

A solid drive on 3 travelled along on the optimal line, leaving a PW approach that pitched 4ft short of the pin. However a slight downslope meant it spun back to the front of the green. Lagged up close and tapped in for par. Pushed my drive wide on 4, and punched back to the fairway. Chunked my approach well short and right but nearly jarred my 50yd pitch before tapping in for a great par. On the 5th pushed my tee shot long and right leaving a nasty downhill short sided recovery from the roguh. Standard chip either runs a mile past or gets stuck in the rough. Went high and caught it perfect but got an unlucky massive kick forward. Thankfully 2 putted for bogey. Hit a perfect 3i on 6 to leave 102 flag and a full SW in. One groove low meant it flew the green and then the fun starts. Flubbed my recovery from the rough, then thinned a standard chip through the green into the bunker. Same concrete bunker from last week but I got out first time and 2 putted for a triple. It left me scratching my head tbh. Pushed my drive wide on 7. Wedged back to the fairway but chunked a standard wedge shot short, chunked a chip and 2 putted for double. Tee shot on 8 was a big snap hook into trees when I was just trying to hit a smooth safe drive. Tripled 8 and it featured a chip that thinned through the green. 9 was a solid long drive but slightly pushed, duffed a wedge short into the bunker but couldn't make the up/down for par.

At this point it's worth noting that the leader had a 10 on par 3 5th and declared his round over on 8 as N/R (6 shots in a bunker). The other guy who I started T2 with wasn't exactly burning it up either and +2 for his hc. He'd kind of resigned himself to earlier groups going lower and need 3 or 4 shots clawed back to have a chance. It relieved the pressure for him and he just tried to enjoy his golf at that point. Likewise for myself even further back and we both felt quite bad for the other guy who was leading.

Super drive on 10 but could take advantage before doubling. Also Renata Disgusting Wildflower 11, before 3x bogeys on the trot to finally fist pump celebrate a par save from the sand on the last par 3. Renata Disgusting Wildflower 16 before making a great drive/approach count for a double. Put a snowman down for 18 having found a lot of foliage plus water and was glad the round was over. The guy in our group managed two birdies on the back 9 and pulled back to par for his hc. Much to his surprise later that evening, he ended up winning by 6 shots overall! There were two guys who had -1 rounds but they were miles back, he was the sole player on par. Everyone else really struggled in the conditions and looks like they threw in the towel.

While I was happy walking off the course that the round was over, I can't hide the fact that I was bitterly disappointed to be completely honest. My practice was good during the week, I was confident with my short game, putting and swing. 100% I threw in the towel after I had the triple-double-triple stretch on the front 9. Had I not, there probably still was a decent shout for 2nd or 3rd overall. I wouldn't have known that obviously but it's still an important lesson learned.

Nerves weren't really an issue here, felt a healthy amount of pressure and adrenaline. Probably the main thing I need to work on is re-setting fully after a setback (or collection of them😂). Last week I did a much better job of this. It won't be the last time I have a blow-up and I'm trying not to over analyse things. We all have bad days and thankfully there's next week with another round of golf to play.

Out in the second round of club matchplay. Actually played pretty well and somehow it was over by the 13th.

Was giving him 15 shots and he was the best 28 handicapper I have ever seen, every drive 200-220 straight down the middle. I only won one hole all day and that was a birdie on the 7th. I played the stretch from Hole 7 - Hole 13 in +1 Gross and went from 3down to 6down in that stretch of holes. Did everything I could but just wasn't to be, if it had have been Stableford I had 27 points after 13 holes and he would have had 35 points.

Great shooting Space!

First cut of the year for me on Sunday! Started very poorly with 2 scratches clocked up after 4 holes. Started playing a bit better from then on. Nearly drove our short par 4, 7th and really should have taken the putter out but made a balls of the chip. Was a very frustrated golfer walking off with a bogey. Somehow turned with 16 points, it felt like 8.

The back 9 was much better though and I was playing like I have been all winter, just solid golf. Disappointing finish to bogey the last two but finished with 22 points for the back 9, 38 in total.

I don't think I broke 36 points last year at all with the injury, so a recent 43 (non counting) and 38 have been welcome boosters.

I've also gotten a Pierce Purcell win under the belt, my first interclub match, in a competition that I'm no big fan of... But I have to say, it was a great feeling having that added pressure playing for the club.

I played for our club in the 3rd round of the Pierce Purcell yesterday evening and it was the most devastated I've ever been after a round of golf. We were playing a local club so already some additional pressure and playing after a days work with little no to chance of a warm up not great either. The other team had home advantage so we had 3 matches away but I was at home for us and a must win really.

Starting the round and there is a social golf evening just started which our team managers had not coordinated with so we had to set off in the middle of them, again not ideal. Thankfully they were very respectful and let us play through at all times but this really put both my partner and I off on the first few holes. A mix of us playing quite poorly and our opponents playing very well and we were 4 down after 9 but we both reset and started to play actual golf. The 10th my partner was teeing off and put me in a small bit of trouble but thankfully I had a clear shot and managed a great iron into the heart of the green and two putts for the win. The 11th is a par 3 and I put it just to the right of the green but not a bad position at all, our opponents put themselves in a bit of bother and another hole won, back to 2 down. The 12th and my partner hit a perfect drive and you could see the pressure getting to the other team, they put themselves in a bunch of trees with no shot at the green. I hit another nice iron to about 15 foot pin high and another par secured the win, back to 1 down.

The 13th is our index 1, a long par 4 and they had a shot here. We both hit safe drives to left with anything right out of bounds but left ourselves a long way in. My partner didn't have a great lie for his second so could only really go with a long iron but hit a good shot about 30 yards short of the green, no complaints. Unfortunately the others hit an fantastic wood to the centre of the green with about 10 foot for their birdie which they ultimately sank. Can't do much against loosing to a birdie and giving a shot away. Back to 2 down. The 14th we got a good drive away while they went just into the rough. I hit another great iron in to a tricky green, about 12 foot a bit high and right while they missed about 20 yards right of the green. Another par was enough to get the win and back to 1 down. On 15 I hit my best drive of the day but they did likewise, certainly not going down without a fight. My partners iron was a bit left of the green but a bogey here ended up being enough to win us the hole after they missed a short put for a half. Back to level for the first time since the match started and we had them under serious pressure.

The 16th is a long par 5 with the only trouble coming into play off the tee box but unfortunately my partner hooked his drive out of bounds essentially giving them the hole. Back to 1 down coming down the 17th. This is a tricky long par 3 playing longer into the wind. They hit a great iron shot straight at the but a bit short landing just on the front of the green leaving them with a nice uphill putt. I was unsure what club to hit but my partner advised me to just hit the longer one, it was 9pm at this stage, into a wind and the ball wasn't travelling as far. A wise decision and I hit the green below the hole but to the left leaving a slider across a ridge. They hit the perfect line with their put but it finished just short for a tap in par. We got a nice putt given the angle leaving a little slider 1 foot putt for par which they had us finish out. I'd have done the same in their position. We had heard that we had lost 2 of the matches away but still alive in the 2 other matches so a loss meant the tie was over. Fortunately my partner hit a great drive leaving me with an ideal position in. They went into the rough and were playing their second before us. They couldn't get enough to get it on the green and left themselves in an awkward position in a hollow below the green leaving a bit of a blind shot in. Anything on the green and a two putt would have a great chance of us winning the hole. I hit an perfect 8 iron in straight at the flag and knew it was good for distance and an applause from the crowd watching. Because of a false front you can't see the green until you are right up at it so I didn't realise how good it was but I had put it to 6 foot, maybe less. They chipped in leaving themselves with a 20 foot putt for par which they missed and we had our win, back to all square and down the 19th.

I was teeing off and certainly feeling the pressure not realising how many people were watching until now. Of course I hit the worst drive of the day leaving the ball heading towards an area of rough, not that long but dense. I still thought I had a good line on it but daylight was fading so it was difficult to know for sure. I still had my partner hit a provisional but if were using that it was game over. Unfortunately even with the crowd looking for it I couldn't find my ball and of course their manager had the timer on us. Completely fair but the manner in which he did it wasn't exactly in the best spirits essentially counting down the clock and a cheer when the time was up and we couldn't find it. The others apologised about him when the match was over. We saw the hole out but they obviously got the win and after the fight back it was such a disappointing way to loose, really feeling like you let the team down. But that's part of golf and competitive sport. It is only a game at the end of the day.

Thanks @coillcam I appreciate it.

Yeah bad form alright but speaking to a few people afterwards and apparently he is well known for that sort of behavior and has had a number of fallings out with people in his own club. Unfortunately you get these people in all sports. To be fair to the lads we were actually playing they were gentlemen throughout so there were no hard feelings.

Played our 2nd major/medal yesterday and turned in a net 71 off 12 which was good for 6th. The rough was trimmed a bit thankfully and the firm conditions made it a different prospect. Huge chase on fairways and greens were near their max speed.

My 3i on 1 ran out to over 250yds and just about left a line at the green to wedge on. Made a long 2 putt to open with a par. Poor tee shot on par 3 2nd meant I went through the green on my recovery from a bad lie . Went through again from another bad lie and in the bunker. Couldn't get up/down so I carded a 6 for triple.

After that I went on a bit of streak. Parring 3,4,8,9 and bogeys for 6,7. I was a whisker from a HIO on 5, a gust could have nudged it in. Got a little clap from the group ahead 😂.

Back 9 was mostly good golf too. Unfortunately a few loose strokes and tired bogey, double finished left a slightly sour taste. Still that is my best score at home off and off the back tees. My garmin app said I had 10 GIRs but I think one of those is misread from a putt on the fringe. Either way I've never had more than 7 iirc so it's huge progress. Had 3 birdie putts inside 7ft so I easily could have dropped one more.

Index drops to 10.5 and hopefully that puts me in good shape to slip below 10. A couple of sub 85 rounds should do the trick before the year is out. Nice week of sun and our scratch cups on Sunday to look forward to.

Every time this thread pops onto the first page of Boards, I think, "some things are better forgotten"!

Played our Scratch Cup last weekend. Glorious conditions for golf.

A good tee shot on one and ended up taking a steady par. After that, my day was generally battling with poor approach shots and then struggling with the short game to get up/down. Chipping deserted me and while I putted well, there was often too long of a par putt left to tidy up. I had 2 pars until 14 which isn't really going to cut it and I was struggling to keep a lid on the frustration. Hit a reasonable iron off the par 3 15th that took a big but lucky kick towards the hole. Drained the downhill 10 footer to claw back to +15. Hit a huge drive on 16 leaving about 195 downwind from the rough (flyer) into the par 5. My 6i caught a bit of the overhanging leaves that I was aiming to draw around but still ran to the green and dribbled off to the steep bank into the water. Flicked a LW off the slope and it sat nicely for a 3 ft birdie I was glad to take. 17 I hit another big drive followed with a solid 9i just to back edge. Tidied up for par and my card was at least looking like breaking 90. Tugged my drive but it landed safely and popped up on rough. Nothing to lose and wind gusting to help I elected to take it on with a 7w at the par 5. Came out low and had no spin so it careered into the wooden facade of the little water moat. Dropped close to the water and hit a great little wristy pitch that checked up before the short sided pin. Finally a good short game shot :D and a tap in par to head off with an 86 gross. While I was 5 back from the winner I think I still made the top 10. The differential means it entered my top 8 so I dropped 0.1 and now down to 10.4 index.

I'd say I left 3-4 shots behind purely on duffed/thin chips. I could have had better days for my approaches but I wasn't miles off of where I'm at tbf. Still consider this progress and the short game work continues. The hc is consistent with where I'm at and I'm happy to be dropping it every other round. Hard to fight that delusion of "I should be 5 shots better than this!" Have a club singles match coming up and it's looking like I may have to concede as I have a bunch of clashes (my fault for not pushing the opponent earlier).

3 Doubles in the first four holes... things weren't looking good, but turned it around to shoot 80 in our monthly stroke play.

33 points off 13 today. Was tipping along nicely and then made a balls of 13,14 & 15. 13 has a big net along the left of the tee box and if you want to go for the green you have to play close to it. Hit a cracker of a drive and just nicked the final post and spun OB. 14 is a tough hole and was in the trees off the tee so had to chip out then hit a poor approach. 15 I'm still annoyed about, dog leg right and what should have been a perfect drive around the corner, got up and no sign of the ball. Had to go back to the tee to hit again. Second drive was more right than the first and found that in the heavy fescue on the right hand side of the fairway so first 100% should have been in the middle of the fairway, no idea where it went.

Last 3x rounds have gone in the wrong direction, unfortunately. All stroke comps from back tees playing off 11. Turned in 90, 93 and 91.

Two weeks ago I had 6x lipouts and 2x chips that hit the flag so I could only walk away scratching my head. Last week I putted really well tbh despite one avoidable 3-stab. However, my chipping completely deserted me. I duffed the ball 4 or 5 times and moved it 3ft forward each time. It was infuriating as I'd put in serious short-game practice over the last month and was super happy with the progress I'd made. I was quite relaxed and confident until I duffed the first chip and wanted to snap my wedges 😂.

Positives have been putting, driving and mid-irons. Short irons and wedges haven't been great but chipping is the biggest disappointment. They are the bad rounds from my index range and I should be expecting them so it's not the end of the world. The craziest thing of all was a near albatross 3 weeks back. Probably one of my best drives ever on the par 5 16th in Mullingar in the really hot dry spell. The ball ran out 300yds well over the drain and left a 7i in from 179yds (165 is probably a normal 7i carry). Hit it up the left side over the bunker and it chased along the slope turning back towards the rear pin. Didn't realise until I got up there and the group on the 9th tee told me it was a whisker from holing out. Missed the uphill 6ft eagle putt of course 😭.

Very poor for most of this season but the last few weeks have been much better. All year I have been thinning and chunking irons and inconsistent with the driver. But slowed everything right down and I'm playing much better because of it. They aren't completely gone but I'm making good progress. 4 of last 5 rounds in the 30 points plus. 34 best, so still plenty of work to do.

I have got into a bad habit of starting well and hitting wobble around holes 6 to 12 on various courses and then finishing ok. Not sure what is causing it.

This morning I started with 4 straight pars. Equalled my best ever start to a round. It was superb. All four pars were from GIR, two really good looks at birdie, all tap in pars. Then the 5th... just blocked my approach a little. Putt from off the green. Left it maybe 12 to 15ft from flag. Got a bit aggressive with the par putt and missed a 3 footer on the way back. Double. Did a decent job of holding it together for rest of the front nine. Turned in 39 shots, first sub-40 in a long time.

Back nine was more of a battle. Some good stuff, some not so good. Bizarre situation for me on 15. Long difficult par 4. Ok drive left 225yards to flag. Wind assisted. Normally just outside my range, but hitting it well so went for it. Flushed it, straight over the back of the green into long grass. Hit a rescue as a provo into middle of green. Found the first but hacked it over the green and ended up with a double.

Great par on 17 left me on 31 points. Last hole is a par 5. Striped a driver. Then had about 230yds to hole. Decided to go for green and flushed it again. But was maybe 30 yards short. Massively elevated green. Hit what I thought was a perfect 52 degree but it just failed to reach the green and rolled down the hill, absolutely sickening. Overcooked the the chip up on to green. Aggressive putt for par and missed a short putt back for another double.

My putting from 2 to 8 feet is appalling and has been for a very long time. Probably at 36 handicap standard. Nervous over them, lifting head, pushing, pulling putts, stabbing at them. Just awful. Have to sort it out.

Long post. First in a long time on this page. Needed to get that off my chest!

A mate of mine was a member there for a year and left because it generally always plays tough. He's a solid golfer playing off 7, but consistently struggled to break 28 points on a normal day

@charlieIRL - it really is a mad game altogether. Sometimes the game just appears or disappears out of nowhere. Typically there is no obvious explanation and just a mystery, regardless of recent form. I've accepted that I'm hobbyist who's a bit obsessed with the game. More recently practice left me super confident and relaxed. Then I'll go out and all muscle memory evaporates inexplicably. Trying not to get too annoyed or upset and just shrug is easier said than. It's like you have to grind through a bunch of awful stuff (going backwards) before realising progress.

Played Rosses Point last week after a wedding. The wind absolutely destroyed me and the heavy spits of rain were no fun to deal with. Despite it being warm it was a constant cycle of brolly up, jacket on then brolly down, jacket off - rinse repeat.

I was playing good but bogey golf off whites on the front 9 albeit I had a comical 4 putt double on the first par 5. Once the weather kicked up I couldn't control the club, but my balance and swing were impaired by wind/layers. A few consecutive holes after the turn where I just lost it completely in the conditions. This meant a bunch of provos and lost balls. Mentally packed it in but I know in future what to do. Literally 3i/5i punch shots all the way home, I would have been better using the putter off some tee boxes. If the ball went more than 30ft in the air it was at the mercy of the elements. The following day in the midlands, the same temperature with a gentle breeze in shorts and a tee shirt. A world apart for a quick casual round.

Rosses Point was brilliant and I look forward to measuring myself here again. So many holes you just have to play 100% safe on, the punishment is so severe. Surprisingly I'll happily say I enjoyed the punishment all the same. Had some really good scrambles and plotted a few holes as well as I could.. Although the bloody seagull and crow had more fun stealing food from my bag twice as I took shots.

Keep saying it, mad mad game.

Chasing to get to <18 HCI this year (Aug last year had HCI of 22.8).

2 weeks ago, perfect weather, complete disaster…56 shots front 9 with 8 points (off 18.6 HCI, playing 20). Back 9 much better with 47 shots and 17 points with 4 pars. HCI back up to 19.3 (great score dropped off the last 20). Gutted.

Then go out this morning…windy and some drizzle. Left driver in the bag and stuck with 5 wood. Started with 2 double bogies and was thinking here we go again. Then bogie…and then burdie. Could do no wrong…par, bogie (index 2), par, bogie (hate the 8th so happy) and a par. 42 shots, 22 points. Luckily I entered the 9hole weekly comp :) with HCI back to 18.6.

Back 9 not so pretty with disasters on 11 (9 shots par 5) and 18 (8 shots par 5) but still 4 pars and 3 bogies giving 46 shots and 19 points.

Haven't done one of these in a while.

Played my best round of golf ever last week. Shot +1 gross playing off 8 at Powerscourt West course. Hit every fairway bar 1 and hit 70% of the greens. Didn't hole one putt over 4 feet but lag putting was very good bar one hole which cost me a bogey. Felt in absolute control of the ball all day long, was punished a full shot each time I had a bad one which was only 4 times, so I didn't scramble well at all. the last hole is a par 5 with a large oak tree and lake guarding the home in 2 scenario if you are centre or left of the fairway. I was centre, didn't have a shot at the green but I was able to work a really lovely 6 iron from right to left to a perfect position 60 yards out in the middle of the fairway. Up and down for even par... Feckin bladed my wedge, such a bad swing, the ball scooted 20 yards over the back. Got up and down from there but I cannot tell you how many times I have thought about that wedge shot... Anyways, handicap down to 5.9 which is an all time low

Haven't posted one of these in a while. Probably just out of pure frustration with my scores and HC going in the wrong direction so I didn't want to review it. Was down to 10.4 and consistently shooting in the 80s with an 80 on hols in March. Knocking on the door of 79 or so I thought. Haven't broken 90 in over 3 months now. Tbf my practice is nearly non-existent as I've been too busy. Lost my short game as a result and regularly throw in the towel too easily. Have an open today and comp on Sunday. Will post up something to show where I'm at. Despite the crap golf and frustration, it's still a great feeling to get out on Sunday. There are a lot worse problems out there.

As you say, golf.