WRXers Scratch Amateur Tournaments Thread: Commitments, Results, etc....

[Ray Jackson]

> @Cpm881 said:

> Serious question, if I sign up for US Mid-AM qualifier this year and turn in something like 85, are they going to send me the letter and ban me from playing in future qualifiers?? Trying to play as many tournaments as I can but don't want to get black balled. I haven't posted worse than ~85 in a tournament last couple years but I'm def capable of worse.... lol

 

They will ask you to give reasons as to why you shot 10 over or higher. If everyone else shot high then you have a reason. If you can't point to other competitive rounds that were fine then you also probably have a 'this was a one time thing' reason. Don't think they would automatically ban you.

[gioguy21]

got in my practice round prep for next weeks NJSGA state mid-am championship; never saw the course before. donald ross course where the greens are the highlight; ridges and quick breaking putts. fairways were relatively open and some shorter par 5's. i shot 71 (-1) with 4 birds and 3 bogeys; and the bogeys were b/c i just didn't know where or what part of the green i was supposed to be hitting to on approach (blind shots).

 

going to be a ton of driver or 2i's off tee boxes and right now the long game and putter are the hottest part of my game right now. short game is good, short irons and mid irons are on point too. going to be a fun week next week!

 

for those interested - here's the course:

http://www.crestmontcountryclub.com/

[ddetts]

> @ddetts said:

> I've got my state mid-am on Saturday morning. Played a round for practice today. The theme of my year is that I can't eliminate blow up holes. I'll have 14 good holes, a sloppy couple bogeys, maybe a double but then I post a quad or in today's case a +5 on a par that wrecked my round. It's really frustrating to say the least. I felt like I was cruising to a 77 or 78 when that hole hit.

>

> Good news is my irons were mostly sharp and the putter was doing well.

 

Well, today was a mess. It was windy, and whatever good feels I had going with my swing change were gone. Putter also abandoned me big time, likely 36-38 putts, still need to go through my round in detail.

 

Shot 87/+17; +10 front and +7 back. With the swing not on I really struggled into any wind. Very disappointed, was above my handicap by hole 6...

[gioguy21]

i'm riding a serious high into the mid am tomorrow -- last 4 rounds i've played i've been under par and comfortable... i shot 71 in my practice round (-1), 67 (-5) on saturday, and played 36 yesterday (71/70: -3). i'm making a ton of birdies and basically playing boring golf otherwise. i had just 9 bogeys in the last 3 rounds played.

[allparz]

Won the RI SR 4Ball last week (70-70) by 2 _ (-2) in really windy conditions --- WooHoo! 7th State Title.... 2nd time winning this in last 3 years....

[gioguy21]

> @allparz said:

> Won the RI SR 4Ball last week (70-70) by 2 _ (-2) in really windy conditions --- WooHoo! 7th State Title.... 2nd time winning this in last 3 years....

 

congrats!!!!

[gioguy21]

i'm thru boys; on to the matchplay!!!

 

i teed off on 10, had a boring front 9 and then got to the back. i got some serious mojo on the 10th (1st) by making a 12' er for eagle...only to get in trouble on 11 and 12. rode it out, was grinding hard but got through to the sweet 16. i was thinking about the score on 18 so much i yipped a 3' er for par...so, my 75 is really a 74 lol. whew. greens were rollin pretty darn fast - if it's a story playing out; tomorrow's afternoon rounds will be fun, fast and firm.

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/1873828

[vietnameeh]

> @gioguy21 said:

> i'm thru boys; on to the matchplay!!!

>

> i teed off on 10, had a boring front 9 and then got to the back. i got some serious mojo on the 10th (1st) by making a 12' er for eagle...only to get in trouble on 11 and 12. rode it out, was grinding hard but got through to the sweet 16. i was thinking about the score on 18 so much i yipped a 3' er for par...so, my 75 is really a 74 lol. whew. greens were rollin pretty darn fast - if it's a story playing out; tomorrow's afternoon rounds will be fun, fast and firm.

> https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/1873828

 

sweet keep it up!

[two_wood13]

Sounds a lot like me, although still some work before plateauing at a 1. Anyways, would be interested to hear what you did with the driver and putter to dial them in?

 

 

> @bladehunter said:

> Well.....

>

> Backstory on me is in a 39 year old who started playing in 2014. Quickly single digit cap , then plateaued around a 1 handicap with a extremely yippy driver ( used 3 wood a lot) and a putter that was streaky at best. You may say “ how can that be “. I just hit irons and wedges that well. Odd but true. This past winter I decided ( yes decided) that I’d fix driver or else. And I did. I can honestly say that it’s now a weapon. Ill hit it when I don’t need to. Confidence is a beautiful thing! Because of that and getting my putting to a more consistent level that plateau is no longer flat. I’m headed up again. ( or down lol) ....

>

 

 

[bladehunter]

> @two_wood13 said:

> Sounds a lot like me, although still some work before plateauing at a 1. Anyways, would be interested to hear what you did with the driver and putter to dial them in?

>

>

> > @bladehunter said:

> > Well.....

> >

> > Backstory on me is in a 39 year old who started playing in 2014. Quickly single digit cap , then plateaued around a 1 handicap with a extremely yippy driver ( used 3 wood a lot) and a putter that was streaky at best. You may say “ how can that be “. I just hit irons and wedges that well. Odd but true. This past winter I decided ( yes decided) that I’d fix driver or else. And I did. I can honestly say that it’s now a weapon. Ill hit it when I don’t need to. Confidence is a beautiful thing! Because of that and getting my putting to a more consistent level that plateau is no longer flat. I’m headed up again. ( or down lol) ....

> >

>

>

 

Honest answer. Reps.

 

I started hovering driver and then I just hit it. A lot. I decided to figure it out. I’m one of those who can self correct pretty easy. But driver has always been a deal where I missed with a push cut. In other words squaring the face.

 

I just started hovering the driver which let me get the sensation of getting through the ball. Then adjusted left hand a bit stronger and adjusted path a touch to the outside. No longer fear the high right miss. Gained a ton of yardage and therefore confidence. Wish I had a more technical answer for you. But my brain doesn’t work that way. I get mad , determined and then I just fix it. In other words diagnose why it’s crooked. Then adjust till it’s not.

 

Same with putter. I believe you’ve got to get fed up before real change comes. I was fed up hitting 13- 14 greens shooting 75-76.

[gioguy21]

well guys -- made it to the elite 8...and had the match WON...however, with a 4 foot putt on 17 (i was 1 UP) that i knew would break...i told myself to keep it inside the hole. it broke and lipped out. couldn't believe it -- stayed 1UP to 18.

 

both of us hit the fairway on the par 5. my opponent hit his second left of the green. i had 200y playing 30' uphill - hit 6i and hit a sprinkler head...threw it 30+ yards behind a tree that was behind the green. my opponent his this third to 3'. i end up having no shot, hit my third onto the green and concede. take it to the playoff hole 480y par 5, second shot is uphill and into the wind, bunkers right and deep. -- he hits his drive left and has to chip out...i hit down the middle and have the same shot i've had for the last 2 rounds. hit the same 6i to chip it into the wind and hold the green -- but it catches the wind and goes right.

 

i still think i'm ok at this point.

 

my opponent hits his third to 12' with likely a 2 putt and no real look at birdie. upon walking up to my ball...it is on a hanging lie on the opposite side of the bunker, and about chest high. my only shot is to dump it into the bunker, hit a shot and get out. well, the chip into the bunker fried egg. now i have to hit a high ball that goes roughly 10' forward and 5' up. hit the shot, runs across the green and into the fall off bunker on the other side. hit my wedge and it's over --- took the loss like a gentleman and conceded.

 

all and all, i wouldn't change a thing -- not even the putt at 17. sometimes it's just the breaks. nothing you can do but just, suck it up and keep going. it happens.

[Oh Hi Carl]

Hoping to play some minor tournaments here in VA this year to get back into competitive golf (which I haven't played much at all) and get my HC low enough (currently around an 8) to play in some state events as I just hit 50 and qualify for senior status. Really excited about getting better and playing competitively.

[Obee]

> @allparz said:

> Won the RI SR 4Ball last week (70-70) by 2 _ (-2) in really windy conditions --- WooHoo! 7th State Title.... 2nd time winning this in last 3 years....

 

7 state titles??? That's fantastic!!

[Barfolomew]

Just saw this thread, its awesome Obee!! but I always thought there should be a scratch golfers forum section for us cause I got questions for you guys only... I post questions about shots and I couldnt care less how a chop responds or plays a shot lol....

[mneumann]

Playing in the Sacramento city championship this weekend. 36 hole stroke play. Will be my first individual tourney rounds above club level in about 15 years. Played in some 4 ball stuff but not having a partner there for you is a while different ballgame.

 

Goal going in is 150 or better which last year would be just above halfway down the pack. Played 2 practice rounds and shot 74-79 with some poor breaks late in the 79 so I feel it's an attainable goal.

 

Pairing for round one has me with 2 current college players who both are +2 so will see how that changes the atmosphere. Really looking forward to the test.

[OffTheDole]

On Friday, I played in the Jacksonville Area Golf Association's Match Play event at TPC Sawgrass' Valley Course. It's a single-elimination event and I didn't advance after going down 4&3.

 

Going in, my swing was feeling great and I had 3 birdies during my practice round on Wednesday. I was also putting much better after Saturday's [lesson with pro and former US Amateur champion Bubba Dickerson](https://drgolfschool.com/ "a lesson with pro and former US Amateur champion Bubba Dickerson").

 

**The Good**

I feel good about how I handled the competitive pressure. On the first hole, I made a weird swing and had a Hideki Matsuyama one-handed finish that ended up long and in the middle of the fairway. I hit a sand wedge to 20 feet and my first putt snapped hard at the hole, leaving me a real character builder to halve the hole. I made a solid stroke and put it right in the center of the cup; and since I was so solid on those all day, I got a good number of "that's good" -- more than I would have given myself in the past.

 

**The Bad**

The loose swings that cost me holes, like a 5W layup on a par five that I just blocked way right into bushes that were marked as a penalty area, were just odd and unfortunate. I also misjudged the speed of the greens early and put myself in a two hole deficit that turned out to be too difficult to erase.

 

**The Ugly**

I was 1 for 3 out of the sand, but the holes where I didn't convert were both very costly.

 

On our 10th hole, (#1) a par five that plays 558 yards, I hit a drive that left me 260 to the flag. Knowing I needed some magic, I hit a 3W that was headed directly at the flag and just as it rolls up near the green it falls down the slope into the bunker. So instead of being an eagle putt, I had a pretty straightforward bunker shot that I don't put enough speed on and fail to get onto the green, hit a bad chip to 10 feet, and then miss the putt for par to push the hole.

 

Next hole is a par 3 and I make the same mistake out of the bunker.

 

That's what I love about competitive golf is that it shows you where your game is weak. My bunker play has regressed with my improved ballstriking (I'll go couple of rounds without being in the sand), so I guess it's time to channel my inner Hasselhoff and spend some time on the beach!

[MattyO1984]

Played my first proper strokeplay competition of the year and I stunk!! It was so so bad and I ended up shooting an 82 off a handicap of 3 and it was at my home course!! I was honestly shocked at how bad it was.

 

The positive and it is a positive singular is that my driving was really solid. I usually get it out there a decent distance and finding fairways is my issue. Not today, I missed two fairways and one of those was with a hybrid by which point, if I am honest, I was past caring, Crazily from driving it as well as I was, I somehow managed to hit on 5 greens in regulation the entire day. The longer irons I was hitting were weak cuts missing right and the shorter irons were straight pulls. Thankfully, after I played, I had time to have a few swings and get my phone set up to record it and I have a pretty good idea what I am doing. Our Club Championship starts Wednesday and it's four rounds of strokeplay...praying that the weather co-operates the next few days so I can hit some balls and work on it before it all tees off.

[mneumann]

First round of the sac city championship in the books.

 

Woke up to unexpected 20mph sustained winds with gusts to 30+. Not exactly normal around here.

 

Good warm up and striped my first drive down the middle. Walking up to my ball and I grab in my bag for my laser and...its not there. Frantically searching other pockets and nothing. So yeah you can do all you want to prep and then something dumb slips your mind, turns out I think I left it at my buddy's club on Tuesday when I went out for a late 9 with him, so I wont have it tomorrow either.

 

So I'm the putz out there with the pin sheet stepping off numbers all day in a windstorm. Manage to put it out of my head, birdied 1 which is an easy par 5, made a mess of 2 and made a 30 footer to save par, a few routine pars, bogey on 6, lip out a 12 footer for birdie on 7, and then the swing just got loose and the putter couldn't save me anymore. Made the turn at 1 over, doubled 10, bogeyed 11, doubled 13 and eventually limped in at 81, +9. I hit one green from 8 thru 18 so i cant really expect much else from a scoring perspective.

 

Good news i guess if there is any is that everyone struggled. Only 3 scores under par of 84 and im one stroke out of middle of the pack which was my realistic goal going in as far as finishing position. Need to hit the ball better tomorrow and try to make up some ground.

[Obee]

Played in "The Derby" at Santa Ana CC (their member-guest). Partner and I won the gross section of the tournament with a 2-day total of -18. Format:

1. Better Ball: 69. We got some brutally bad breaks on this day. Comically bad a couple times. Shooting 69 better-ball was a joke for us. Should have been 65 or 66, minimum. My partner shot 70 on his own ball. I was a bit "chemically imbalanced" from the previous night's cocktail party. The ground and the ball were moving all over the place as I stood over them. Perhaps it was the 8 Maker's Marks, but I think there were mini-earthquakes every time I stood over the ball....

2. Alternate Shot: 70. We both played decently, but nothing special.

3. Shamble Aggregate: Partner 65, Me 66. This could have been one for the ages. We both had 62 or 63 in us. My partner was driving the ball like a tour pro - 290 - 320 pretty much every hole. It was something to watch. Then I get to drop my ball next to his and play in from there. Easy-peasy! LOL! We did have to use six of my drives, but luckily there are 5 par-3's, so we used up three of them there. Had a blast and was reminded how well I can play when I get to play from a "real" player's tee shot (60 yards past mine). Course is a blast to play, with fun greens running at almost 13. We played the "up" tees at only 6300ish, so all the par-5's were reachable for me when we took his drive. Even made a nice eagle on the 11th with a 3-wood from 255 to 25 feet.

 

 

[mneumann]

Tourney in the books. Grinded to a 79 today with only 1 double at least on one of the same holes as yesterday. Just didnt have the swing to put a number up and didnt putt as well today. Hit 9 greens with no birdies and misses were not in great spots to save par. Looks like I'm coming in around 59 out of 84 so missed my score goal by 10 and my top half of the field goal by 4-5. 72-74 was out there today with solid ballstriking.

 

Great learning experience and will be ready for the next one. Next big event is mid-am qualifying in august.

[Ray Jackson]

Finally some good playing in my 2019 schedule: NCGA Strokeplay qualifier this morning. Par 71 course.

Played with two college kids and I am 46 so guess who was always hitting second shot first.

After a good two putt par to settle the nerves on #1 I push/cut a drive right on #2 into long grass (could have hit 2 iron) and end up making a bogey. #3 is 180 uphill 5 yards into a left to right headwind. I hit 5 iron to 5 feet, make the putt and feel great. #4 par 5 I wedge it to 2 feet from 35 yards for birdie and we are settling down now. Par on #5. #6 is par 3, 190 yds (back left pin) with 8 uphill with a three tier green! I knew to carry the top tier it was 180. Slightly downwind to the left. I flush a 6 iron starting 5 yards right of flag and the wind carries it just ontop the top level. Drop the putt from 15 feet and we're laughing. #7 short par 4, clanky iron off the tee, leaves me 130 into the wind to a tight left pin. Flush a 9 iron to one foot, birdie. #8, par 5 downwind, tweak the tee shot and clip a tree and i'm left a long way out. Layup 5 iron to 75yds, wedge it to 8 feet, make the putt, another birdie. One of the kids went driver iron to 3 feet for eagle. Steady par on #9 and we're suddenly -4 (32).

 

Trying to tell myself one shot at a time now, repeat, repeat it.

 

Par on #10, short par 3 into a 1.5 club wind. #11 is a 435yd par 4 with ob left and hazard right, fairway is maybe 60yds wide and there is a fairway bunker at 250. 2 iron short of the bunker leaves me 200yds front edge of green. Flush a 4 iron and it hangs up on the top of a bunker, another yard would have kicked down off the back of the bunker to 25ft. Not agrressive enough with the chip on soft poa greens and end up with a bogey. I had that as the goal on the tee so no problem. Par 12 and 13. By now the wind is howling and its 2-3 clubs. #14 par 5 into the wind, 3rd shot is 105yds and i think a three quarter PW should be enough, at the apex the ball is coming back towards me and im on the frindge at the front edge of the green and have to go up over a ridge. I pitch it over the ridge and miss the 6 footer, stupid bogey.

 

Par #15. #16 is 150yd par 3 with 2.5 club left to right cross wind, water left, bunker just past the flag. I flush the iron and the wind doesnt touch it, straight into the bunker as it flies right over the flag. Bunker shot below level of green downhill facing the water. It clips the hole but rolls to 5feet. Putt back lips out, bogey. #17 miscalculation, par 4 with left pin two steps from edge of green with hazard at edge of green, downwind 2.5 clubs. 128yds out, i chip a PW, tug it a touch and it hits just left of edge of green and back into hazard. I get up there and there is 40ft right of the pin, I'm an idiot. Walking offical says its red penalty area and i drop in the rough and have an uphill chip to a pin thats 3 yards from me. CHIP IT IN PAR HA HA.

 

**#18 okay drive, 6 iron in to back pin to 20ft and two putt par. 3 bogeys and 38 on the back nine in a horrible wind and tight nerves.

32:38 = 70. End up second on the day to a 69 and we're qualified so down to Monterey and Poppy Hills in mid July.

Still need to play with confidence on the way in and not hold on, but getting better at handling the nerves. **

[vietnameeh]

Good stuff Ray!!!

[Obee]

Fantastic!!

[vietnameeh]

I have the NCGA public links qualifier Thursday at metropolitan golf course

But my mental game is garbage right now, so I hope to play with no expectations lol

 

Game has been suffering

[ThinkingPlus]

I have the Texas Womens Stroke Play coming up this next week. There are ~75 ladies entered with caps from about 6 to +5.7. Mostly college kids and older juniors. They will also award low mid-am medalist. Gives us few oldsters a chance. We will be playing Briggs Ranch just outside San Antonio. It hosted a Web.com event this spring. Tees are supposed to be around 6000 - 6100 yards. Thursday is the practice round with the tournament being Friday - Sunday (54 holes - weather permitting). I tied 20th last year with a poor final round (T2 for mid-am). Hoping to improve a bit, but looks like a tough field. Will be tuning up my game the next 3 days so I don't get waxed too badly by the kids. LOL! Will try and post updates as I can.

[Ty_Webb]

I played the strangest round of my life today. I shot level 4s (72), but I had no 4s on my scorecard at all. I had 2 6s, 6 5s and 10 3s. Seven of those 3s were on par 4s and I was holing putts from all over the place.

This was the opening round of the Long Island Amateur. Top 31 go into matchplay along with last year's winner. Right now I'm sitting at +2, in a tie for 12th. Hope it doesn't go to a playoff, or if it does not at +2.

[Ty_Webb]

> @Ty_Webb said:

> I played the strangest round of my life today. I shot level 4s (72), but I had no 4s on my scorecard at all. I had 2 6s, 6 5s and 10 3s. Seven of those 3s were on par 4s and I was holing putts from all over the place.

> This was the opening round of the Long Island Amateur. Top 31 go into matchplay along with last year's winner. Right now I'm sitting at +2, in a tie for 12th. Hope it doesn't go to a playoff, or if it does not at +2.

 

Made it. Matchplay starts tomorrow morning. For anyone interested, my hole by hole scores today:

635353333 535553336

Double, birdie, double, birdie, bogey, birdie, par, birdie, birdie, bogey, par, bogey, bogey, par, birdie, par, birdie, bogey. A wild ride.

[ThinkingPlus]

> @Ty_Webb said:

> > @Ty_Webb said:

> > I played the strangest round of my life today. I shot level 4s (72), but I had no 4s on my scorecard at all. I had 2 6s, 6 5s and 10 3s. Seven of those 3s were on par 4s and I was holing putts from all over the place.

> > This was the opening round of the Long Island Amateur. Top 31 go into matchplay along with last year's winner. Right now I'm sitting at +2, in a tie for 12th. Hope it doesn't go to a playoff, or if it does not at +2.

>

> Made it. Matchplay starts tomorrow morning. For anyone interested, my hole by hole scores today:

> 635353333 535553336

> Double, birdie, double, birdie, bogey, birdie, par, birdie, birdie, bogey, par, bogey, bogey, par, birdie, par, birdie, bogey. A wild ride.

 

Good luck and play well!

[Insidious2]

Seems like a good place to ask...I'm under a 1 hdcp at the moment but am a relatively new player and have never done legit stroke play sanctioned events. However I know that in matches I tend to get juiced up and fall apart - not nervous at all, just jacked up/adrenaline and it throws me off big time. Aside from just reps under those conditions - any tips for me? It's a death sentence off the tee.

 

Edit: for reference I'd probably shoot 85 in a stroke play event

[Ray Jackson]

> @Spongeb0b said:

> Seems like a good place to ask...I'm under a 1 hdcp at the moment but am a relatively new player and have never done legit stroke play sanctioned events. However I know that in matches I tend to get juiced up and fall apart - not nervous at all, just jacked up/adrenaline and it throws me off big time. Aside from just reps under those conditions - any tips for me? It's a death sentence off the tee.

>

> Edit: for reference I'd probably shoot 85 in a stroke play event

Yes its reps and really understanding what your tendencies are under pressure and how to compensate for them whether that be breathing, walking slower between shots, playing for misses when faced with a shot/hole shape you typically don't like etc. For example i have found i am better hitting 2 iron and leaving myself a 4 iron into a green in a tournament when i face a hole that mentally i am struggling with, than hitting driver. My miss with the 4 iron into the green is better than my miss with the driver under stress. For you it sounds like you need to work on calming yourself and getting to a level state. Yes it comes down to reps.