First individual match in over 30 years

Had my first individual match play match in over 30 years last week. My club does this tournament every year, qualifying by flight followed by individual match play. Top 8 out of 32 in each flight qualify. Last year I didn't qualify. Not even close, missed the cut by about 15. This year I've been playing better, wound up 2nd in my flight (3rd overall) with a net 73 in the qualifying round under tough conditions (course was VERY wet after heavy overnight rain).

I hadn't played an individual match play match since senior year playing on my high school golf team over 30 years ago. Plenty of team better ball match play (our league format), but no individual matches. After playing in high school and a lot immediately after, there was about a 15-year period while the kids were young where I only played in the occasional drunken charity scramble. It was about 3-4 years ago that I started playing regularly again.

My opponent and I are both the same cap, so there were no strokes being given. A lightning delay for everyone already on the course threw things a bit of a wrench in things. They sent everyone who was already on the course and everyone who should have teed off during the delay out for a shotgun start. We were the first group after, and had to start on the back instead of the front. Won the first two holes, halved 12 and 13 (13 being the hardest hole on the course), lost 14, halved 15, won 16 (a 165-yard par 3 that for some reason gives me fits), halved 17, and won 18 to finish the back 3-up.

Got to 1, and went on a tear, winning 1 through 5 with 2 birdies and 3 pars, closing out the match 8 and 6. Finished out the round, wound up with a 38 on the front and an 81 overall, my 2nd best 9 hole and best 18 hole score since coming back to the game. Next match up Sunday morning.

Congrats! Keep up the good playing. I’ve always wanted to do some match play but gotta get the handicap down.

Was there a question hidden in this post?

> @devinh821 said:

> Congrats! Keep up the good playing. I’ve always wanted to do some match play but gotta get the handicap down.

Best way to get cap down is to start playing competitively!

> @Swisstrader98 said:

> Was there a question hidden in this post?

Nope. Just a little bragging on myself :)

Follow-up: won my semifinal match 3-and-2 Sunday morning. On to the finals.

> @Swisstrader98 said:

> > @devinh821 said:

> > Congrats! Keep up the good playing. I’ve always wanted to do some match play but gotta get the handicap down.

>

> Best way to get cap down is to start playing competitively!

Absolutely 100% true. Playing competitively sharpens your focus, which has definitely carried over into casual rounds.

> @devinh821 said:

> Congrats! Keep up the good playing. I’ve always wanted to do some match play but gotta get the handicap down.

Jump into competitive tournaments as soon as you can. That's the whole point of the handicap system, to let people of different abilities compete on a reasonably level playing field. It may take some time to get into the swing of competitive tournament golf, but it will come with time, and it will make you a better golfer.