rsvman Thanks, man. I know it'll come. Just feels like it's taking forever.

In hindsight, I might've scored better yesterday if I hadn't been using a club that I'd never hit in my life. Just put together a "new" Alpha RX 2i hybrid with an Apollo Hump R flex and used it a few times. It resulted in one of my lost balls and probably a couple shots that I could have hit better with my Dynacraft 3i hybrid that I took out of the bag for it.

Other than that and the fact that my putting hasn't been too great lately, I think I had 32 yesterday, I've been playing alright.

    Good to hear! The positive attitude is invaluable and will keep you steadily chipping away the rust.

    Played again yesterday and though I know my scores ain't gonna come down every round, I left with a bad taste in my mouth.

    +7 on the front and +20 on the back for a 97

    The front started off normal... double, bogey, but then I threw in a birdie on that short par3 that I double last time after dumping a ball in the water. Missed about a 3 footer for birdie on 4, but I've told myself to never be upset with a par so I was fine.

    The back was autrocious. I lost two balls and even had a FIVE PUTT. I'm not sure when I did that last (if ever).

    Regardless of the level one plays to, there will be countless rounds that remind us that the game is still much more difficult most days than it is easy. As frustrating as those days are, they still help build character.

    Some days it's just a victory to finish without losing our ever-loving minds.

    Yeah, I felt good after a few holes. I never start out strong. Not sure what it is, but it probably has to do with the fact that I'm almost always pressed for time and go straight from the parking lot to the first tee without so much as hitting a few chips and putts to warm up.

    Anyway, after a 43 on the front, I figured I was on pace to break 90 like I'd been hoping. The back is only par 34 as compared to par 36 on the front with two or three very, very short par 4's... like in the 290-320 range. Even without a single par 5 on the back, I can normally score decently well back there. However, the wheels came off and I left a lot on the course.

    I can feel it coming back, I just gotta keep in together for a whole round to make it count.

      puttnfool "I can feel it coming back, I just gotta keep in together for a whole round to make it count."

      Aah... so you want to keep it together for the entire 18 holes.

      When you figure out how to do that, write a book. I'll buy the first copy, providing you've autographed the inside cover.

          PA-PLAYA Yeah, yeah, yeah. When I say "keep it together" (at least for now), I mean no 3 putts, no lost balls (OB, water, or just plain lost), nothing worse than a double, and it'd be nice to make fairly solid contact on every shot (nothing so fat that it goes 1/2 as far as intended).

          I don't think that's too much to ask.

            professor Not too much to ask on a good day. But, on the bad days, you're asking way too much.

            Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't expect it every time out, but I'd love to have it "all come together" just once.

            I do, however, think it's not too much to ask to not have all those catastrophes happen on the same round very often at all. I could deal with a 3 putt or a couple lost balls, or a triple bogey, or a few fat shots every round. I'd just like to not have all the flaws rise up together.

                puttnfool I think in some sense it's not about having it "all come together." It's at least partly about learning how to score reasonably well even when it doesn't all come together.

                Out of curiosity, have you ever read the book "Golf is not a game of perfect?" It's a good read.

                    rsvman Out of curiosity, have you ever read the book "Golf is not a game of perfect?" It's a good read.

                    I can't remember. Sounds familiar, but I've been out of the scene for so long I don't recall.

                    FWIW, I know what you mean about scoring well when it doesn't all come together. I wish I could find my scorecard from my 77 that I shot in 2010. I honestly doubt I hit more than 4-6 fairways and maybe 5 or 6 GIR. Point being, I've learned to score fairly well even when I'm not hitting the ball perfectly.

                    "All coming together" for me doesn't mean 12+ GIR and 10-12 fairways. That'd be more of a divine intervention. I've had rounds where I had no 3 putts, no lost balls (OB, water, or just plain lost), and nothing worse than a double with fairly good contact on every shot. I just want it again... and I want it now!

                        Learning how to turn a double-bogey into a bogey is a huge part of the scoring equation. Part of that relies on knowing what you can/can't do, and the rest of it comes down to short game. If you give yourself a par-putt on the bad holes, you're beginning the process of figuring it out.

                        You can do it.

                        puttnfool got it. Totally doable, but it takes a little patience.

                        I read another book one time that talked about concentrating only on things you can control, and not thinking about things that are out of your control. For example, you can control your tempo, your balance, your aim, which clubs you choose and what type of shoot you try to hit, but you can't control the temperature, the wind, bad bounces, bumps on the green, etc. On the list of things you can't control was your score.

                        The idea is that a good score comes from careful planning and thoughtful execution of each shot, rather than from trying to score well, if that makes sense.

                        The book advocated a planning box and a playing box. Standing behind an approach shot you are in the planning box. You are gauging the distance, the wind, the elevation change, the location of hazards and the pin, etc, and planning your shot. It encourages the golfer to plan very specifically, thinking, for example, "for this shot I'm going to take a six iron, aim at that tall pine in the distance, and allow the wind to move it slightly left, landing it 20 feet right off the pin position." Then, when you step into the playing box, no further planning takes place. You just play. You just swing the club and hit the ball. No second-guessing the plan is allowed.

                        Lather, rinse, repeat, regardless of the outcome of said shot. I think it's pretty sound advice.

                          14 days later

                          Got out again yesterday for a round. More of the roller coaster that I've become accustomed to.

                          Started out +8 over the first 4. Went par, birdie, bogey, bogey, birdie (with a kick-in from <1' on a 200+ yard par 3) to round out the front at +8. Originally, had planned on playing 9 before deciding if I wanted to play a full 18. Figured I should keep on going since I finally "found it".

                          Well, to make a long story short, I completely screwed the back. I had four 3-putts in the first 5 holes. Came in at +18 for the back and +27 overall for a 97 total.

                          The good side: I can't recall how long it's been since I've had 2 birdies in a round much less 2 in 4 holes, I hit the TaylorMade Burner TP driver fairly well for the first time out. Only hit one really bad shot with it, a quick hook on the last hole.

                          The bad side: I hate 3 putts. Hit a handful of really fat shots that cost me several strokes.

                          Going back out this evening to try to figure it out again. I love these long summer nights (and having a job that I can get up and leave whenever I want).

                          So, I played the past 3 nights. It's starting to come together. The 97 three days ago was so-so. Two days ago, I followed that up with a 100.

                          Went to the other course here on base yesterday. I shot a 77 on this course in 2010 right after I arrived here in Jersey, so I know what I'm capable of, but I haven't come close to that since.

                          I took a routine par, something that is far from routine for me, on the first hole. I had 3 doubles and 2 triples, but nothing worse. That, in and of itself, is an accomplishment for me. Only 1 penalty stroke all day for me. I hit a hybrid into the wind, into the sun, from 183ish out and never saw it. Looked straight up into the sun and though it felt like a good strike, I have no clue where it went an after about 5 minutes of searching, I decided to let it go and hit another. That was one of my triples... ugh...

                          With 9 one-putts and 29 putts overall, I feel like the putter is serving me much better. I had two 3-putts on the day. One was from 60'+ away and the other, though it was only about 5' away, was just a stupid side-hill putt that had about 1' of break and I blew it by the first time. Stupid rookie mistake!

                          Anyway, I can feel it coming. I'm gonna break into the 80's soon. Simple fact is, I've gotta shoot an 87 on one course or 88 on the other to break the "bogey-golf" threshold.

                            puttnfool With 9 one-putts and 29 putts overall, I feel like the putter is serving me much better.

                            Are you sure it was the putter? Or was it your short game finally materializing again? Length of putts will determine. If these 2 phases are coming around, it won't be long before the rest comes easier also.

                                Par4QC Probably a little of both. I am hitting some better shots into the greens, but I hit a 30'+ and a couple in the 10'-15' range yesterday.

                                  Puttnfool, You seem so consumed with the results. That just puts on more pressure in a game that nobody beats! And, the game's tough enough. Maybe focus more on just the process - the process of the next shot - nothing more. There's always time to add 'em up after the round is over.