Finally broke par!

[Racerx63]

Finally!!!

 

After shooting 2 over par 4 times in the past couple of years. I finally broke through and shot -1 70. Twice I have been two under par through 14 holes only to let it get to me and choke. Today when ever I felt the nerves coming on in between shots, I just kept telling myself embrace the nerves, this is why I play and stay aggressive. All of the reading of the mental game in the instruction forum sure helped. Thanks to everyone in there that contributes, especially Richard and Obee! You guys are awesome and a great help!

 

The course is not a difficult course per the rating but always seems to play tougher. It is a par 71 - 67.3 114. I played from the white tees as I was a single joining a 3 some.

 

I had 6 birdies, 8 pars, 3 bogeys and a double bogey.

 

I had a really up and down start to the round.

 

Went birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie. Finally on the 6th hole I got my first par with an up and down from the sand.

 

The 7th and 8th hole is where I really felt I let two shots get away from me and cost me the round in the 60's. I 3 putted both greens missing from 4 ft on the 7th for par and 2 ft for birdie on 8.Both putts were dead straight. On 8, I drove the green from 265 and had an eagle putt from 20 ft. I just missed on the eagle putt and missed the come back birdie putt from 2 ft. Parred the par 3 9th.

 

I shot even par 35 on the front and this is where the nerves started to get to me a bit as I started to think the what ifs and what a great round I was having.

 

I double bogeyed the par 4 10th with just a badly pulled tee shot and a horrible chip.

 

Here is where I am pretty proud of pulling the mental game back in, calmed down and came back with a birdie on the par 3 11th. This was my 4th birdie of the round breaking my best of 3 birdies in a round. The 12th is a par 5 and just missed a 5 footer for another birdie. It was a nice, no stress par.

 

I ended really strong making a 20 footer for birdie on the par 3 15, a great up and down for par on 16, nice wedge to 3 ft and made the putt for birdie on the par 4 17 and a no stress par on the par 5 18th.

 

i am just really proud of not trying to control the nerves but playing great with them.

 

Hopefully around in the 60's is not too far off.

[KarstenK]

Nice, round. Congrats

[Racerx63]

Thanks! I am trying to figure out if I am more excited or just relieved, as it feels like I have been knocking on the door for a while now. :D

[anth]

Well done! What's your handicap? Do you often shoot around 6 birdies a round? That's heaps!

[kevin2]

Congrats. Learning from mistakes made in the heat of the moment is the best, painful, but the best. I think a lot of golfers fail to acknowledge those mistakes made in the pressure packed times and they never are able to get past those barriers.

[360_CS]

Congrats. Nice recovery after that 10th hole.

 

I was like you. I had choked a few times. Then when I had the opportunity to break par I reminded myself to try and keep hitting good shots rather than not trying to hit bad ones. Keep your targets small.

 

Now go out and do it again.

[Racerx63]

Well done! What's your handicap? Do you often shoot around 6 birdies a round? That's heaps!

 

Thank you very much! I have been stuck between 6.6 and 7 for about the last year. Which is the lowest I have ever been but having the feeling I am stuck there. Hopefully this is the start to breaking through this plateau.

 

The 6 birdies is a person best for me. Hopefully it becomes a habit. LOL but prior to that, my best was 3 in a round.

[Racerx63]

Congrats. Learning from mistakes made in the heat of the moment is the best, painful, but the best. I think a lot of golfers fail to acknowledge those mistakes made in the pressure packed times and they never are able to get past those barriers.

 

Thank you! That is what I am the most proud of, being able to stay aggressive and make the good shots with the nerves. Not collapsing like before.

[Racerx63]

Congrats. Nice recovery after that 10th hole.

 

I was like you. I had choked a few times. Then when I had the opportunity to break par I reminded myself to try and keep hitting good shots rather than not trying to hit bad ones. Keep your targets small.

 

Now go out and do it again.

 

Thank you! I agree, staying aggressive and not trying to protect was key. After the 10th hole, I really had to remind myself to quit trying to be perfect and just be aggressive. Trying to be too perfect has been a thorn in my game for a while now.

 

That is the plan! Now that the pressure of the first time is done, hopefully I can break through and go low more often. :D

[Sean2]

Nicely done! :-)

[boxerjoe2011]

I have shot under par twice and I am more impressed with 6 birdies. I had 4 birdies in a round a couple times, but 6? Damn son.

[maverick]

Very nice, great job!.

[Forged4ever]

Super Job Bro!!

 

Yep, just file the swings and shots away in your mental movie ? file and recall as needed!!

 

Continued success My Friend,

Richard

[Obee]

So happy to hear this!!

 

And thank you for the kind words. I absolutely love when people make breakthroughs and play good golf. :-)

[coreyl]

Congratz! To many more to come!

[Racerx63]

I have shot under par twice and I am more impressed with 6 birdies. I had 4 birdies in a round a couple times, but 6? Damn son.

 

Thank you! It was one of those putting lights out days. with 3 of them, I had great irons shots inside of 10 ft. 2 were from about 20ft and had one chip in from just off the green.

[Racerx63]

Super Job Bro!!

 

Yep, just file the swings and shots away in your mental movie file and recall as needed!!

 

Continued success My Friend,

Richard

 

So happy to hear this!!

 

And thank you for the kind words. I absolutely love when people make breakthroughs and play good golf. :-)

 

Thank you again to both of you. You guys are what helps make sites like this great. Passing on the experiences to help others get better. I very much appreciate it!

[Forged4ever]

Thanks so much for the kind words!!!

 

I didn't even see that as I just read your first sentence where ya mentioned your score and then I jumped to the third paragraph where you capped your round and then down the post to your birdie at 11!

 

I never even read the last two sentences in the first paragraph, lol

 

Obes is the friggin Best!!

 

Me??

 

I'm just along for the ride, haha

 

You kicked the door in and now your whole mindset will be different because you've DONE IT, so there is no hesitation, there is no doubt, there is no apprehension-

 

Ya just visualize your swing and shot, then put the pedal to the metal and hit the shot!!

 

Thanks again Bro, I couldn't be happier for you :)

 

My Best,

Richard

[mjriva45]

Congrats man! That's awesome

[Caddykev]

Congrats. Hell of an achievement in the game.

[Tcann32]

Wow, that's a heck of a round OP! I hope to be able to say that some day as well.

[OverdoseofSatisfaction]

Nice round sir. Your story sounds familiar to me. I believe the first time I shot 70 I had 6 birdies and a 3 putt or two. When you say "and a no stress par on the par 5 18th," from personal experience, I find that hard to believe. I know when I was stuck at 74 for almost two seasons, I'd start to feel the pressure on 17 and became super aware on 18 while the anxiety would mount as I got closer to the hole. I wouldn't say that I was having a mental breakdown through every shot, but I was aware of my situation where I would be taking that extra breath before pulling the trigger. Anyways, I finally was able to embrace the moment and shot 72 and shortly after found 70. I bet we find the 60's by the end of the year!

[BrianMcG]

Great job.

[cardoustie]

Awesome news, great job ... and congrats

[Racerx63]

Nice round sir. Your story sounds familiar to me. I believe the first time I shot 70 I had 6 birdies and a 3 putt or two. When you say "and a no stress par on the par 5 18th," from personal experience, I find that hard to believe. I know when I was stuck at 74 for almost two seasons, I'd start to feel the pressure on 17 and became super aware on 18 while the anxiety would mount as I got closer to the hole. I wouldn't say that I was having a mental breakdown through every shot, but I was aware of my situation where I would be taking that extra breath before pulling the trigger. Anyways, I finally was able to embrace the moment and shot 72 and shortly after found 70. I bet we find the 60's by the end of the year!

 

Thank you and congrats on your round! Actually, it really was a stress free par as I did not know where I stood. LOL I just played the hole out as a normal 3 shot par 5 to the middle of the green and 2 putted. Then added everything up afterwards. It dog legs left around water and OB surrounds the green right, left and back. So the risk/reward is high and not worth it unless I am in a match down by 1.

 

I knew I was close but was so frustrated before of choking a few times, I just kept telling myself to stay aggressive and where the score falls, it falls.

 

Here's hoping we get that round in the 60's this year!!

[playa]

Super impressive stuff racer. As a long suffering golfer who flirted with sub par for years then finally breaking through, I know your joy. Breaking par is such a huge monkey off your back, as Richard said it will change your whole outlook. I admit I haven't really gone close since, but that round can never be taken away from me.

[mizuno player]

You never forget your first!!! Congrats.

[mjriva45]

Congrats man!!

[StratoKing]

Congratulations. I hope I can do what you did one day.

[Racerx63]

Thank you everyone!

 

Got to play again yesterday and shot even par 71. Had +2 on the front and -2 under on the back. Birdied 18 to get there. Had 3 birdies, 3 bogeys and 12 pars. Nice to start feeling a little more comfortable being around par and able to just play. Hopefully in the 60's are not too far away.

 

I was really hoping to back it up quickly, so I did not feel like it was a fluke. :golfer: