If you want to know just how important it is to not think about score:

Let's say you're a 12 handicap.

Put 12 pennies in your pants pocket. Every time you make a bogey, take a penny out of your pocket and throw it away. If you make a double, take out two pennies. A triple, three pennies. You get the idea.

Then, see how many pennies you have left in your pocket by the end of the round. 😉

You could try to mentally assume you've already played the first 4 holes. And your 4 or 5 over. It would be similar to when someone hits a bad drive and retees. The next drive is usually good.

We have a saying that the number 2 guy is pretty good. Because we learn from our mistakes. In your case assume you've already got the first few bad holes out of the way. It's a longshot. lol

If that doesn't work then you obviously need the first few holes to warm up.

pellmell

Well I am a 11-12, so not too far off. Typical shoot between 82-87 with my bad starts. So a 10 would shoot around 80ish depending on the course.

    Rickochet

    I usually hit 20-30 balls on the range before my round to get stretched out and see how the swing is behaving. I am typically ready to go on the 1st tee physically. Pretty sure it is a mental thing.

        Mattyv Pretty sure it is a mental thing.

        Nawww, it's golf. Can't be that.😄

        I stretch for about a minute before teeing up the 1st ball. Then I'm only thinking about my second shot, because I already know the tee ball is going left (80%), and hitting the GIR. 1 of the few I might have out of 18 holes. After that, I'm good to go with a score already in mind before hitting that 1st ball......break 80. Even if it's a course I've not played before, or in several years. If I have a bad hole or 2 or even 3, it does not mean I cannot hit my goal.

        Well, maybe it is a mental thing after all.🤔

            Mattyv I am usually 3-4 over after the 1st 4 holes

            Me too and I'm a 10 hcp. The courses I play typically have high course/slope ratings so a score of 83 to 85 will get you to a 10.

              I'm positive its a mental thing. My best round, I walked up to the 1st tee cold. No range time, warm up swing, no practice putts, and put one in the fairway. Heck I didn't even have any coffee beforehand. I'm thinking about trying the cold bore thing again on Sunday.

                Mattyv I was the same way but now that you mention it, I think it has gone away. I was being too tentative on the first couple of holes. Once I realized it, I decided to be more confident and reasonably aggressive right from the start.

                  A warmup can provide mental support as well.......unless you're hitting hosel rockets.....then it was a bad idea

                  azgreg I shot a 78 last year after starting by bogeying the short par five first hole and missing a three-foot putt for double on the second hole. So I was four over after two.

                      rsvman2
                      Mine was in a tournament in Prescott at Prescott Country Club, a course I've never played before. After 5 holes at 5 over I thought I was out of it so I just started playing and having fun.

                        If I start out with a double or a couple of bogeys, I tell myself that I'd rather do them FIRST and get them out of the way, rather than ruin a good round with a couple of bad holes at the end of the round....!!

                        When I'm on the range before a round I'll mentally play the first hole. I'll picture the first hole then hit my drive. Then, depending on how I think my ball would have ended up, I'll make the appropriate club selection and play my second shot. I'll do this a few times until I feel like I'm in a bit of a groove. When I get to the first tee, I feel like I'm ready to go.