Very Emberassing Moment

[krpainter]

Rushed from Church yesterday to play 9 holes before the afternoon Masters coverage got underway on CBS. Played at a course that I just became a member at in February. Started out pretty hot (for me) with a couple bogeys on the first 2 holes (2 long par 4's). I then got pars on the next 2 holes and was getting really excited. I then did the mental breakdown thing where you feel you are playing well above your level and I then started to just want to hold on to a great 9 so far. On the par 4 8th hole I pushed my driver right and got into trouble (I think my swing was pretty tentative and left the club way open). I managed to scramble somehow and hit a great 3rd shot wedge to 15 feet and 2 putted to bogey.

I was at the 9th hole which is a short par 4 with a 39 on the scorecard (on track for a all time low for 9 holes). I again had a tentative shot that went right and was in the trees. I could advance the ball through 2 trees and got up to about 100 yards. I then hit into a deep bunker on the left front side of the green.

HERE COMES THE EMBERASSING PART -- The pin was playing back so I knew I had to do a long bunker shot. I got set with the clubface square instead of open (for a longer bunker shot) and then I swang pretty hard. I watched in horror as the ball went way up in the air, sailed over the green, over the back of the fringe, over the cart path and towards a father and son loading up their cart by the entrance to the clubhouse -- I yelled fore!!! and look out!!!. Luckily the ball didn't hit anyone and just bounced of the top of the cart. I yelled sorry to them. The ball bounced back and was on the cart path. I dropped it by the cart path and chipped up and 2 putted for a triple.

I could not get out of their quick enough...and didn't even shake hands with my golf buddy. There was a outdoor terrace with people eating lunch that saw the whole spectacle. When I got there before teeing off the head pro knew me by name and said "You're all set Mr. Painter...go ahead to the first tee"...I was impressed that he knew me by sight and then I was pretty ashamed that he might have seen that shot!

Anyway, that left a pretty bad taste in my mouth after the round. It seems like I have allways had to go through psychological hurdles to move to the next level. Last year I had many many rounds around 101-105 before I finally broke 100 and then I broke 100 regurarly. Seems like you have to convince yourself you are good enough to meet your goals for awhile before you can make that leap.

Anyone else had similair experiences with the mental/psychological aspects of the game?

Keith

[Bagger Lance]

Well Keith, in the spirit of baring our souls I have gaffe that will make you feel better.

After moving into a golf community and deciding to take up the game, I joined the local club and was anxious to get out and hone my skills. Shortly after signing the check and becoming a full member, I bought new equipment and the right clothes to look the part. Stepping on to the first tee with a foresome I barely knew, I felt very proud that I was a full fledged member of a private club. I teed my ball for the first time on my course and was ready to play some real golf. I pulled my 3 wood, spotted my target at the end of the fairway on a short par four, took a couple of fluid practice swings and then let'er rip.

The ball rocketed off the open toe of my fairway wood and hit the clubhouse main dining window so hard that you could see the glass bend. To the best of my knowledge, I'm the only member that has hit the clubhouse off the first tee.

I just love this game.

Bagger

[stimpson]

Seems like you have to convince yourself you are good enough to meet your goals for awhile before you can make that leap.

Anyone else had similair experiences with the mental/psychological aspects of the game?

I go by this: Practice lets you know what game you have. Once on the course you must trust the game you have. You have it, so why not trust what you just said?

I'll share one bad experience too. Played Valderrama some 100 times on the PC before one day managing to actually get a teetime. It was just 2 days after Ryder Cup had finished and I could not beleive it, but the course was empty. I actually had it to myself.

I went to the range just in front of the clubhose. Felt the entire world was looking as I was the only guy there. Smoked a 3-iron & was so shaken up I left it bu that, putted some & went to the tee. Hit my teeshot.

THEN I understood I was standing on the 10th tee. Unbeleivable. After playing the course soo many times on the PC.

No one in sight to I sneaked over to the first tee & hit another one.

Came back after first 9 still with butterflies in my tummy. The most increadible course I played to that date I was actually nervous over every shot.

Out to start second 9. Hit my teeshot. Hit my second. As I came up the green I realized I was PLAYING THE FIRST HOLE AGAIN.

I was stunned & could not beleive it.

Again I sneaked between the trees & eventually ended up at the 10th tee.

From then all was ok. It was an increadible experience, but I still cannot absolutely believe how nervous I must have been to start on the wrong tee twice even though I knew every hole on the couse beforehand & still do.

[Theodan]

Tiger putted the ball off of the green into the creek this week in front of millions of viewers. Walter Hagen once putted a ball out of bounds at Merion.

I have done exactly what Bagger did a number of times. I'm a ham n' egg type of guy, but have gotten many invites to member-guest events at historic clubs. I get pressed out and spiff up the bag. I look like the Pro from Dover as I step onto the first tee, and then sometimes I play the first few holes like the Hack from Hackensack. Stuff happens.

Always bear in mind, that anybody that passes judgement on one of your errant shots, has that one and a dozen+++ more in their own history. If they deny it or it gives them some sense of superiority, they haven't played enough golf, or they are a fraud.

Golf is the great equalizer.

Laugh at your bad shot, then focus down on how you are going to get down from behind the Porta-Jonny in 2.

[Trig]

My first real round of golf was at Sawgrass about 15 years ago. I was in town on business and staying at the resort so I figured I'd make a tee time on a Tuesday and try it out. I figured no one would be out there mid week.

I arrived at the first tee as a single and there were about 4 groups gathering for a game. They told me to go ahead of them. Great. I'm about to hit my first tee shot on a golf course and it's at Sawgrass with about 20 guys watching me. I proceeded to hit a massive push slice that sailed off the course and into some houses. I heard some mumbling from the gallery...so I proceeded to get in my cart and drive straight to the second tee!

By the way...in the first round at the Masters Tiger hit a 100yd duck hook drive into the trees on #2!

[Trig]

Anyone else had similair experiences with the mental/psychological aspects of the game?

Keith

There is such a thing as not being able to handle success if you are not used to it. It has happened to me.

About a month after my first visit to the Swamp I went out for a round and started birdie/eagle! I was so excited I could barely stand it. I was worried about losing strokes and got really tennative. I was still -3 going into the 7th hole, but ended up shooting 75. I have never broken par for 18 holes. I had a great chance that day but just kept thinking about all the ways I could screw it up....which I then proceeded to do!

I think you have to expect to play well. And to keep it going you need to expect to keep it going! I hope I handle it better next time I have a chance to go low....

[Bagger Lance]

Handling success on the course...sounds like a good topic for our "Mental Game" area.

Let's discuss it there. I recently had my profile done by Dr. Mumford. Very interesting stuff.

Bagger

[krpainter]

Hey guys (Bagger, Charlie, Trig & others), thanks for posting back to me and sharing some of the stories. I definitely feel better knowing that stuff like that happens and I am not alone... I just heard back from my friend that I usually play with through email and he said that after I made that errant shot he talked to the guy with his son (that I almost hit) and my friend told him "he bladed it out of the bunker" and the guy replied "sounds like something I would do". Glad to hear he was understanding.

As far as the mental side goes, I agree we should discuss this further in the mental game area and would like to hear what people think about "becoming our own worst enemies" with trying to protect good rounds by playing not to lose instead of playing to win. That is exactly what happened to me yesterday on the last couple of holes.

Keith

[PChandler]

I was in Hawaii playing in a golf league on (Air Force) base. It was a better ball partner format 4-Ball match play and I was the "C" player. The other 3 on my team got held up for work reasons and I was forced to play their "A" and "B" player for a point. My team had already forfeited one match point. I bogey'd #1 and their team both scored a double. I par'd #2 and pushed another point. I teed off on #3 which is a shortish Par 3 but it was a usual windy afternoon. I hit the green on the left side and had a birdie putt. They both went right and drove around to their shots. I was feeling pretty good about myself at the time and I could sense they were feeling a bit tight about the current state of our match. Just as I driving up the cart path a large sprinkler came on. I got a nice shot in the face and was wearing glasses. I became separated from myself and I tried to stop and drive through the sprinkler at the same time. My left side and right brain tried to stop and my right side and left brain tried to get through to the other side. In a flash, I bounded over the curbside and the cart got stuck. The bounce knocked the cable off the battery and the cart did not have any power. The sprinkler was full on and blasting my cart getting a pretty good stream into on on my golf bag as well as me. In my frantic state, I could not figure out why the the cart would not move when I kept stepping on the accelerator. Mr "A" and Mr "B" came to the rescue helped me push the cart back off the curb. They did manage to get a little wet during the rescue but by the looks on their faces it was worth it.

I missed the putt. Lost the hole. And lost the match.

PChandler