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.

                    Supp 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 SHANK ONE INTO THE STARTER SHACK.

                    Modified to pertain to me.......