Random Golf Thoughts

When I walk onto a tee box I try to see the shot I want to hit , shape, flight, landing area , where the miss is etc. I’m sure this is pretty universal

As for the swing itself it depends what I’m trying to achieve. Ball position changes for low or high, draw or fade. Same goes for aim, and face angle at impact, are you hitting it normal or taking some off etc

Basically there’s loads you can think of and it’s easy to see where overthinking can happen. The practice, or for me more importantly , the memory of hitting those shots well does help execute them under pressure.

Honestly the only time someone mentioned they weren’t thinking over a shot have just hit a bad shot. That’s not a dig, more to highlight that most people could do with more thinking at the right time. I’m sure there’s good and great golfers out there who more closely follow how you play I just haven’t come across them

I'm not fighting anything or anyone.

I wasnt having a jab or trying to be condescending.

I think people overthink things and sometimes they should just play.

yes and I’m pretty sure is not an option in the CONGU area

Yes you are correct if it’s clear and obvious (spindling like VAR now🤣). But sometimes it might not be clear if your ball went into a hazard ( the purists will go mad at us now for calling them hazards 🤣)

Rule 18.3 prohibits playing a provisional ball If the only place your ball could be lost is in a penalty area. If you do, then it just becomes the ball in play.

However there is a model local rule B3 which clubs/courses can adopt which would speed up play. eg 18th in Castleknock is a par 3 over water with reeds on the far side which made it hard to see the bank. It happened quite a lot that you might not be sure if your ball cleared the water or not. Up till about 3 years ago (when the finally adopted the model local rule) you would often see people playing provisional balls illegally. Really they should have walked around, looked for their ball and either played it if it was there, of trudge back to the tee/drop zone if it wasn’t. It made no sense, but it was the rules. Thankfully there is an option now for clubs to implement …… but they must officially adopt the local rule and specify where on the course it is in play.

oh and if you do actually find your ball in the penalty area after playing a provisional under model rule b3, you are entitled to play it if you want, or play the provisional.

so let me flesh out the castlekbock example above again. Let’s say you hit provisional and hole it for a potential 3 but then Find your first ball in play …. It’s tough, got to play the first ball and abandon the provisional. Now let’s say your first ball in the hazard but playable if you want to try…. You can abandon it if you like and call a 3, but if you are feeling lucky, you could play your second and try to hole out for a 2…. Ie, you get a choice

I took one this year (only one for 2024). I found that I wasn't as bad with course management as I thought but could quickly improve that.

The pro gave me a few pointers on options for different situations. He also showed me that I was not accounting for yardages properly on approaches by choosing where to miss. Eg generally, the middle of the green is the rule but I wasn't picking short/long/left/right to leave easier up/downs or 2 putts when it was the best play.

He did a mini-lesson on short chips which had been kryptonite and this was the biggest takeaway. Also I was trying way to hard to draw the ball on drives and flipping hands. This meant a two way miss as the timing on the hands is difficult to manage. So he sent me almost completely the opposite way and to "feel" a fade while keeping the hands quiet. His point was that by sorting out chips/driver by keeping it a 1 style option removed headworms. Then you have the confidence to execute when needed and build your round steadily. As opposed to fearing a particular drive, dogleg, chip etc that's coming.

A short game lesson would have sorted chipping no doubt, likewise for one focusing on driver. However, the course management piece and covering chips/driver together probably had a bigger overall impact in a short space of time. Keep balls in play and safe while missing where you can get up/down easier - sounds simple right?

Tbf your mileage varies massively depending on what you're seeking and what applies to your game. I'll have separate short game, driver, irons lessons before the season is out. This is of obvious benefit to me right now. I wouldn't do another playing lesson until next year at least.

If you can afford one I think it's a no brainer tbh.

Appreciate the feedback. I definitely feel it's a sensible option as I am happy I can swing the club but at times I think it's my decision making over what shots to play or where to miss etc that holds me back as opposed to execution

Is this more of a sequence thing then as such. Because under 17.1d(1) you can take stroke and distance relief from where you played the previous shot. So by hitting a provisional, was he not just speeding things up?

How would you rate the scumminnes of the following:

Didn’t renew my golf membership this year and I’m playing in a classic soon (elsewhere)

Kinda tempted to say I’m a non-member and get given the default handicap for the classic for men then rather than telling them what my most recent handicap was

Is it just completely against the spirit of a classic?

How big is the difference?