Asking scratch or low hdcp golfers!

[TLUBulldogGolf]

I will add some comments after playing in an amateur event with a lot of solid players over the weekend:

• Reiterate the importance of avoiding trouble off the tee, it really puts a cap on how low you can shoot. The guys I played with that shot good scores rarely left the fairway and strategy adjusted to trouble where needed.
• Great lag putting, I did not see many three putts even with big greens
• Distance and trajectory control with irons, shots from the fairway were very consistently near pin high. 
• I saw all manner of games, I played with college players and a guy in his 50s (who was not a long hitter and was E par through 2 rounds on a 7000+ yard course). It helps to be a bomber but play your game. 
• Smart play when out of position, even if there were no penalties. Don't press the issue if the shot is too risky. 

 

[bladehunter]

On 8/2/2023 at 12:01 AM, naval2006 said:

Double bogeys and three putts

This is the true answer.  Double bogeys and 3 putts. If you eliminate those two completely you can’t help but break 80.  Then you polish the rest to get to par. 

[kobe123]

Just now, bladehunter said:

This is the true answer.  Double bogeys and 3 putts. If you eliminate those two completely you can’t help but break 80.  Then you polish the rest to get to par. 

 

I'm a 0 and been as low as +2.5, handicap has went up a lot because of the course I play. The difference I noticed between myself and the guys I play with who are +2 to +6 is they hit way more fairways. At my course, you can not miss the fairway, if you do, good luck. Rough maybe longer and thicker than a PGA tour event.

 

Now when I go play another course with guys who are a higher handicap than myself, I notice my wedges are much better. Additionally, I try to eliminate double bogeys, simply not enough holes to make birdies on to recoup from a DB.

[slytown]

7 minutes ago, kobe123 said:

 

I'm a 0 and been as low as +2.5, handicap has went up a lot because of the course I play. The difference I noticed between myself and the guys I play with who are +2 to +6 is they hit way more fairways. At my course, you can not miss the fairway, if you do, good luck. Rough maybe longer and thicker than a PGA tour event.

 

Now when I go play another course with guys who are a higher handicap than myself, I notice my wedges are much better. Additionally, I try to eliminate double bogeys, simply not enough holes to make birdies on to recoup from a DB.

 

Most pros say that as well. Get better from 100 yards in with your wedges. That probably saves the 5 strokes between a typical 5 handicap and 10 handicap.

[kobe123]

9 minutes ago, slytown said:

 

Most pros say that as well. Get better from 100 yards in with your wedges. That probably saves the 5 strokes between a typical 5 handicap and 10 handicap.

My issue is I don't hit enough fairways. The course I play you can barely advance it out of the rough.

[Boricua Golf]

I have to agree with almost if not all the comments here, I think, in my case, not being out of position off the tee, hitting as many greens as possible, trying to eliminate the three puts and doubles have really help me shoot low 70s high 60s...consistency with short game is key, 100 yards and in, if I miss the fairway but still in play, then I try to hit the ball somewhere on the green, I only go flag hunting when I am on the fairway...may or may not be too important for some, but custom fitting does help shave a few strokes as well, knowing that your miss shouldn't be too bad after fitting gives confidence...I am passionate about the game and always try to improve, but remember that it is just that "a game" and it should be treated as such, most of us here pay to play, we don't get paid to play, so enjoy the time out onthe course.

[bladehunter]

2 hours ago, kobe123 said:

 

I'm a 0 and been as low as +2.5, handicap has went up a lot because of the course I play. The difference I noticed between myself and the guys I play with who are +2 to +6 is they hit way more fairways. At my course, you can not miss the fairway, if you do, good luck. Rough maybe longer and thicker than a PGA tour event.

 

Now when I go play another course with guys who are a higher handicap than myself, I notice my wedges are much better. Additionally, I try to eliminate double bogeys, simply not enough holes to make birdies on to recoup from a DB.

Yep. My home course is similar. Except think harbor town.  It’s not the rough. It’s that missing a fairway or the wrong spot means yoire either standing on your head. Or you have a tree blocking you out.  I had two par 5 fairways last round that I was in the fairway and yet I was blocked from going at the green. And it wasn’t on a dogleg.  I had to aim at OB and try to turn it 40-50 yards. So a forced layup.  The fairways don’t play nearly their cut width.  
 

 

im similar to you. I’m slumping at the moment. But +2 is my traveling low.  And I started as a mid 30s adult. I found that double bogeys and 3 putts are what keeps a guy shooting 78 from shooting around par.  And then if he eliminates those.  It’s like you said. It’s then Tee game , and wedge play.  My wedge game is put against anybody. I keep a positive strokes gained stat with decade in all categories of shortgame . I’d much rather miss a green and have a pitch than a 50 foot putt. Lol.   So i work on 3 putt avoidance and driver most often.  That’s how you go into plus territory.  …. Now how you go to +4-6 ??? I’m guessing you make a lot more putts. But I don’t know.  Yet.  

[kobe123]

3 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Yep. My home course is similar. Except think harbor town.  It’s not the rough. It’s that missing a fairway or the wrong spot means yoire either standing on your head. Or you have a tree blocking you out.  I had two par 5 fairways last round that I was in the fairway and yet I was blocked from going at the green. And it wasn’t on a dogleg.  I had to aim at OB and try to turn it 40-50 yards. So a forced layup.  The fairways don’t play nearly their cut width.  
 

 

im similar to you. I’m slumping at the moment. But +2 is my traveling low.  And I started as a mid 30s adult. I found that double bogeys and 3 putts are what keeps a guy shooting 78 from shooting around par.  And then if he eliminates those.  It’s like you said. It’s then Tee game , and wedge play.  My wedge game is put against anybody. I keep a positive strokes gained stat with decade in all categories of shortgame . I’d much rather miss a green and have a pitch than a 50 foot putt. Lol.   So i work on 3 putt avoidance and driver most often.  That’s how you go into plus territory.  …. Now how you go to +4-6 ??? I’m guessing you make a lot more putts. But I don’t know.  Yet.  

 

My course has extremely thick Kentucky Blue Grass and the course set up is very hard. It's probably the hardest course I've ever played (76.7./148), it's right up there with Victoria National.

The only way I know to get better out there is to hit more fairways, which is extremely tough. You can't lay back either with it stretching to ~7,400 yards. I need to continually work on driver, which I don't because it's frustrating to pound driver on the range and spray it.

[PracticeSwinger]

46 minutes ago, kobe123 said:

 

My course has extremely thick Kentucky Blue Grass and the course set up is very hard. It's probably the hardest course I've ever played (76.7./148), it's right up there with Victoria National.

The only way I know to get better out there is to hit more fairways, which is extremely tough. You can't lay back either with it stretching to ~7,400 yards. I need to continually work on driver, which I don't because it's frustrating to pound driver on the range and spray it.

My comment is coming from left field, so ignore at will, but maybe try and play it for a few rounds from a one-up tees, that would be less penal and allow you to figure out where you need to be, to get to (fairways, angles, green complexes) in order to score on your course - rather than always be in constant ‘saving hole’ mode

[kobe123]

1 hour ago, Varry_Hardon said:

My comment is coming from left field, so ignore at will, but maybe try and play it for a few rounds from a one-up tees, that would be less penal and allow you to figure out where you need to be, to get to (fairways, angles, green complexes) in order to score on your course - rather than always be in constant ‘saving hole’ mode

Trust me, it’s doesn’t matter. I’ve played up 2 tees, course is just demanding.