My game

[revkev]

There is a great variance in my golf game depending upon how much time I have to practice and play as well as how muc stress I'm under.

 

Generally speaking I play a lot of golf from June through Thanksgiving. Once I get to late August, early September I will get my handicap index down below 2 very frequently and keep it there for a month or so. I get upset if I fail to break 75.

 

Then there's the rest of the year. I can play reasonable golf through December and January but once Lent hits it's over. I get to where I'm fortunate to break 80 in part because I'm so worn out that I have trouble focusing for a full round. While I'm hitting lots of good shots right now I'm in that mode for sure. Honestly the few good rounds that I've had the last month to six weeks have come on easy courses where I could get away with some loose shots.

 

BTW the lack of focus issue has really gotten worse the last few years.

 

I can play golf year round but I'm a different golfer late summer/fall than the guy who swings my clubs the rest of the year. How about you guys? Do you have similar issues?

[BIG STU]

I usually play better in warmer weather and when the greens are in good shape. Putting is such an intregal part of my game. I think also with age we are not as flexable as we once were and the cooler weather plays a big part in it for me. Here in November I start to back off some and do not play many rounds but will try to hit a few balls either at the range or into my net to stay at least halfway flexable. December like you I have a lot of church duties with all the services on the sound board and the Christmas live Nativity scene. In the past few years it has been rainy and cold in January and Feburary. I think what affects me mostly in cooler weather as I have aged I have lost my feel and I am strictly a feel and instinct player. When I loose my feel I loose it all

[Baseballfrk8998]

My best golf comes during the summer.. I'm hoping to get down to maybe an 8 this summer. It'll creep back up over the course of the winter and hopefully it'll begin to drop next spring. As I lose the ability to practice as often, the handicap trends upwards.

[Kor.A.Door]

In short, yes. I have the same issue. Hcp late May to Nov is around 5 Hcp rest of the year it's 7-8

[Kenny B]

I usually play poorly the week after I play pretty well... Any time of the year. Seriously, though my game is up and down all year long. The summers are hot >100 most days, so that can take its toll over 18 holes. The winters can be bitterly cold, but normally 20-40* and I play most days. It's a different game in the cold and maybe I play well then because I don't have big expectations. Since we don't post scores then, it's not high pressure to do a good job. So, spring and fall are the best times weather wise to really post good numbers. I came off my week long golf trip and did pretty well. This week I am playing like a bogey golfer (sorry Bogey) But I know that when I go to north Idaho on Friday, I will probably play pretty well again on a course that I have never played before. I tend to focus better when I play an unknown course than a familiar course. That's one of the reasons I like to travel for golf rather than play at a CC all the time.

 

So, the sum up my game... I am consistently inconsistent.

[sp0rtsfan86]

I have taken a few long breaks from golf. 1 year freshman year of college, then junior year I didn't play for months. From September- January I played all of 3-4 times. Now that I've settled into work, I play twice a week. My best performances come during the summer when it's warm, sticky and I could play till nearly 9 PM. Now that I've moved, I played a few times in winter but the prices here were outrageous because the weather is so great. 

 

Usually by mid July I'm nearing a 12 handicap, where I usually start around a 15ish in March. Winter kills my scores as I am much shorter with the drives and don't putt well at all. I'm hoping to get it down this summer but so far it's not looked too great. Right about now is where I'd start playing more consistently and it really hasn't clicked yet.

[mizuno_lover]

Early this year I got my index down to 4.5 and I was shooting mid 70's rounds twice a week and my other rounds were 80 or 82 max.  I thought bewdy I have achieved my goal of regular rounds in the 70's and getting down to scratch seemed like an achievable goal.  Then I seemed to hit a wall and the old index started heading north inexorably higher every week, albeit at a somewhat glacial pace. 

 

All I've ever wanted was to regularly shoot in the 70's to me that is good golf.  I don't care if it is 79 or 70 if it's in that range I am happy.  I've crept out to 7.9 and with a home course slope rating of 123 that puts me off 9 for my daily handicap - mygawd that's nearly 10.  Talk about depressing.  I have a tendency to tinker with my swing which doesn't help and now I figured while I'm in this funk I'm going to sort out some issues that have plagued me for some time.  That includes forearm rotation in the back swing.  I have picked up a bad habit limiting the amount of forearm rotation in my backswing trying to keep everything square - I imagine it's like the square to square method that I see advertised on the net.  Any way that's the ongoing mission.

 

In short Revkev, I do have similar issues lol.  Sorry about the waffle.

[revkev]

Sadly winter is starting for you too, but the good news is my son will be heading your way shortly.  The sad news is he'll be trolling the Indian Ocean in a sub. 

 

I figured I wasn't alone in this - for me it takes lots of work to play good golf and when I don't have the time my game suffers.

[fozcycle]

I am with you Rev,    my game fluctuates seasonally and i am playing year 'round.   Summer Handicap is 13-15 then about it climbs to 19-20 during the winter.  Then gradually back down the next year.  This has been the cycle of life for mr for the past 4 years.

[wbealsd]

The more I'm able to play, the better I generally play, but round to round scoring will still fluctuate and there's always the possibility of a "blow up" hole wrecking an overall good round.

 

I suspect, that's always going to be the case.

 

But that won't stop me from trying - lol

[Kor.A.Door]

Early this year I got my index down to 4.5 and I was shooting mid 70's rounds twice a week and my other rounds were 80 or 82 max. I thought bewdy I have achieved my goal of regular rounds in the 70's and getting down to scratch seemed like an achievable goal. Then I seemed to hit a wall and the old index started heading north inexorably higher every week, albeit at a somewhat glacial pace.

 

All I've ever wanted was to regularly shoot in the 70's to me that is good golf. I don't care if it is 79 or 70 if it's in that range I am happy. I've crept out to 7.9 and with a home course slope rating of 123 that puts me off 9 for my daily handicap - mygawd that's nearly 10. Talk about depressing. I have a tendency to tinker with my swing which doesn't help and now I figured while I'm in this funk I'm going to sort out some issues that have plagued me for some time. That includes forearm rotation in the back swing. I have picked up a bad habit limiting the amount of forearm rotation in my backswing trying to keep everything square - I imagine it's like the square to square method that I see advertised on the net. Any way that's the ongoing mission.

 

In short Revkev, I do have similar issues lol. Sorry about the waffle.

7.9 slope 123 you play off of 8, but I feel your pain I was at 5.7 now I'm up at 7, hopefully no higher and then as the year goes on try to get it to come back, I feel like the game is close a couple shots here or there

[revkev]

Do any of you get concerned that it won't come back? So far I've always been able to get it back but the day has to come. All this lifting of my daughter with my wife down is wearing me out.

[wbealsd]

Do any of you get concerned that it won't come back? So far I've always been able to get it back but the day has to come. All this lifting of my daughter with my wife down is wearing me out.

Every day - lol

 

Seriously, I have to work harder every year to play reasonably well.  I started playing after 50, so my goal when I started taking lessons a few years ago was just to be able to play socially, without embarrasing myself.

 

Given our short playing season, every spring was like starting over.  In order to continue to play bogey golf, I setup an indoor practice area in my shop with free weights, a stationary bike, a "push/pull" exerciser and an "Explaner" swing trainer.

 

If nothing else, it keeps me in better shape than I would be, spending the winters on the couch watching Law & Order re-runs - lol 

[Mike Z]

The longer I play this game the more I learn that tension and stress are killers of this game.  It affects you physically (tightness, restricted movement) as well as mentally (lack of focus, difficulty concentrating). 

 

Its been really stressful at work for the last few months.  I didn't notice too much difference when I was practicing because its a different type of focus.  But playing, its really affecting me.  I can't get out of the high and mid 80's.  Hitting it square but the ball is going all over the place and can't seem to get it into the hole.  I found that I was doing a lot better on our cocktail nines after our morning games.  Then the blisters came on the hands.  And then it hit me - this was all coming back to stress and tension.  While I cannot remove the source of stress I can be mindful of it and do some things on the course to minimize effect.  Breathing, stretching etc.  Guess what I am trying to say here is that what's going on in your life is coming to the golf course with you whether you want it to or not.  So, Rev no surprise about when you are playing best.

 

 

As for time of year, fall is usually when I am playing best.  After playing a full season I am at my best.  And I love fall as well so that helps.

 

I never worry about whether its going to come back.  Its going to come back, its just a matter of when.  It always has.  And I have played enough not to panic.

 

What does concern me is that at some point, I am going to have to adapt my game to new physical reality (read: age).  At some point, I am not going to be able to do the things I can now.  If I am stubborn (and I tend to be stubborn)  about still trying to do them then my game is going to suffer.  If I am able to recognize it and adapt I will be fine.  Kind of like a pitcher getting older and learning how to pitch because he cannot just blow pitches past guys when he needs to. 

[revkev]

Mike your comments truly resonated with me. It was funny, I got home and my wife asked how My day went. I told here great, I played so poorly that I forgot all about the stress at work.

 

Sadly it's true, back to back rounds in the 80's for me. I was 1 over in the middle of the fairway @100 yards on number 8 when it all started to unravel. I made double without even hitting that bad an approach shot. Doubled the next hole and a 37 became a 41 which I followed up with a smooth little 42 on the back that included three balls in the water.

 

I'm in a funk where I can't seem to score.

[BRDGOLFING]

 I am able to play in any season. I am not trying to sound cool or anything. I just play the same. At least my scores are consistent in that aspect.

 

 I do struggle with practicing and it not show up on the course. I know some folks that will not pick a club up if it is cold. Cold as in south Georgia cold. LOL!

 

 I do always play one side better than the other at my home course. I have yet to figure that out.

 

 

[fozcycle]

Just got my Handicap notice.......it has started dropping.....from 20.5 to 17.9....WooHoo!