[IRYzouNv]

That works for you and me, and others who shoot above 85 on a regular basis. But if you only get a few holes over par a round, I would think it would be easy to know where you are at. Not knowing where I was exactly was good when I shot 83 (I didn't know until I added it up at the end). But hovering around the par mark, I think it's easier to keep track because you don't have as many strokes (over or under) to keep track of.

It's true.. I usually don't keep a total tally, just number above par in my head.. When it hovers like that, it's really hard to ignore.

[SerycegeBunny]

I'm glad you brought this thread back to life. Breaking par is one of my main goals this season. I know it is a tall task for a 6.9 HC but I am going to work my butt off this summer and I think it is possible. It will be fun following along with others and I will update my progress as well.

[DrBrightonone]

I'm right there with everyone. Although I think with my new irons it should happen this month.

My best 18 ever is a 73 and I started with two triples! I played the final 16 holes at 5 under. If only the first two holes were even bogies, I am golden.

I am coming off ACL surgery a year ago so it is a slow come back for me. I shot a +4 the other day and it was best my 18 this year for me. My biggest problem, my irons cost me 6-8 strokes as well. They don't fit my swing at all and if I don't adjust, I get a huge draw because the heel catches from being too upright. My new irons are set at 1* degree flat to help with my draw. Yes, draws can be a huge issue with the wrong clubs!

Good luck to all in this thread! I wish everyone the best.

You've been tapped!

[UBJ3kvP1]

i've had two or three rounds within 4 or 5 stokes of par, but i havn't been able to consistantly keep it under 80 yet :/

[IRYzouNv]

I'm looking forward to seeing you guys succeed here..

I finished at -1 tonight after 9.. Hopefully Sunday is the day I can find par. I feel like I'm due based on the way I've been playing.

[xesvideo]

You know, something I find helpful is this. I know I score watch. It doesnt help that I have an app for that that constantly reminds me of my position (golfshot...a must for anyone with an iPhone), but it doesn't really hurt me. I know when it's tanking. This happens and it's unnerving, but usually when it gets darkest, I snatch about 3-4 pars in a row and it's all good. What has really changed my scoring in the last 18 months (hard to believe it's been only bout that long since I broke 80...now it's almost every time) is one thing, make the game boring. I don't get excited for birdie unless its just goofy (like the 45 footer I drained on Tuesday). I don't get steamy over bogey (though i was pretty hot after the double on 14 to go from even to to two over). I just let it go, breath, and on the next tee, imagine the correct shot for the sitch and execute. Not try to execute, execute. Takes some getting used to, but it works. The more you worry about the down stuff, the more you stop playing golf and the more you start playing golf swing, and once your playing golf swing....well, ask Tiger. Perfect example, I played eighteen two weeks ago with a dude who was clearly a 12-14 capper. He was all over his swing stuff for nine holes and promptly droPped a 45 doing all kinds of wierd shiz. We lost our partner (who frankly wasnt helping dude out at all) and as we got to 10, he politely asked where I was. I told him I was at +3 and I was frankly lucky considering I wasn't flushing them. He took a second and, without trying to seem to inquisitive, asked me how I kept score and didn't get sacked about bad holes. I said "why would I? There is always the next hole". For the next 5 holes he played me even (which was ironically even). He was blowing right down the middle, hitting greens, putting without thought, and so on. Then, it all came apart on 15 (pulled his shot way left on 186 par 3...so far he was dry but had to hit over a pond). Couldn't let it go forthe next three holes. We come up on the tee at 18 (short par five, can't go driver, but to get he is 3w 3w, I eagle this thing about twice a month). He looks defected, he's all over his swing, he taking practice shot after practice shot, and I say "you know, you birdie this, you shoot 39...". He looks at me like I just jinxed him (it was his box, I doubled on 17 going wet with a two putt) and tells me that's too ambitious. I say "bull, you got the game, put a good swing on the driver, lay up, and then put it to nothing and shoot 39. All you need to think about". He does it. He has played with me twice since, and shot a personal best on top of my 76 last Thursday (81, he bought me beers). Serendipity, it works if you let it.

[cingularring]

I know there's a break 90, 85, 80, and I think there might even be a break 70 thread, but I don't want to do any of that.

I have been sitting at or around par countless times in the last couple weeks and I can't break par. There's always one hole that ruins my hole, and I cannot seem to avoid it..

Anyone else hunting for par? My last three rounds have been +1, +1, and +2 heading into 17 and I just flat out cannot close out my round strong.. Admittedly the last couple holes at my course are dirty hard, but I wish I could make it happen. It's been a long time since I played a round under par.

It'll come. As long as you're knocking on the door, it'll open eventually.

[Varbaiskkic]

You know, something I find helpful is this. I know I score watch. It doesnt help that I have an app for that that constantly reminds me of my position (golfshot...a must for anyone with an iPhone), but it doesn't really hurt me. I know when it's tanking. This happens and it's unnerving, but usually when it gets darkest, I snatch about 3-4 pars in a row and it's all good. What has really changed my scoring in the last 18 months (hard to believe it's been only bout that long since I broke 80...now it's almost every time) is one thing, make the game boring. I don't get excited for birdie unless its just goofy (like the 45 footer I drained on Tuesday). I don't get steamy over bogey (though i was pretty hot after the double on 14 to go from even to to two over). I just let it go, breath, and on the next tee, imagine the correct shot for the sitch and execute. Not try to execute, execute. Takes some getting used to, but it works. The more you worry about the down stuff, the more you stop playing golf and the more you start playing golf swing, and once your playing golf swing....well, ask Tiger. Perfect example, I played eighteen two weeks ago with a dude who was clearly a 12-14 capper. He was all over his swing stuff for nine holes and promptly droPped a 45 doing all kinds of wierd shiz. We lost our partner (who frankly wasnt helping dude out at all) and as we got to 10, he politely asked where I was. I told him I was at +3 and I was frankly lucky considering I wasn't flushing them. He took a second and, without trying to seem to inquisitive, asked me how I kept score and didn't get sacked about bad holes. I said "why would I? There is always the next hole". For the next 5 holes he played me even (which was ironically even). He was blowing right down the middle, hitting greens, putting without thought, and so on. Then, it all came apart on 15 (pulled his shot way left on 186 par 3...so far he was dry but had to hit over a pond). Couldn't let it go forthe next three holes. We come up on the tee at 18 (short par five, can't go driver, but to get he is 3w 3w, I eagle this thing about twice a month). He looks defected, he's all over his swing, he taking practice shot after practice shot, and I say "you know, you birdie this, you shoot 39...". He looks at me like I just jinxed him (it was his box, I doubled on 17 going wet with a two putt) and tells me that's too ambitious. I say "bull, you got the game, put a good swing on the driver, lay up, and then put it to nothing and shoot 39. All you need to think about". He does it. He has played with me twice since, and shot a personal best on top of my 76 last Thursday (81, he bought me beers). Serendipity, it works if you let it.

I think having a positive attitude when things go wrong is contagious, and it sounds like this guy had learned a lot from you and you have made a friend for life, haha. I started playing regularly this year after more or less walking away from the game for 12 years and when I was younger and playing competitive golf all the time, I would get so mad at myself for hitting a bad shot or having a bad hole that it would be all downhill from there and I essentially allowed a bad hole to ruin my round. Not being to shake off a bad hole took the fun out of the game. Now that I've come back to the game, hopefully having gained some perspective through other life experiences, I've found that it's not the end of the world when things go wrong on the golf course. When I hit a bad shot now, I use it as an opportunity to challenge myself to hit the next shot that much better and move on from there. When I make a bogey or worse, while it's disappointing, I relish the opportunity to make a bounce-back birdie on the next hole and find that I am actually excited and ready to make up for it on the next hole. Anyway, I guess all I'm trying to say is that I can relate to you and your buddy and that staying positive and letting things go when you're not playing as well as you would like makes the game so much more fun.

In relation to the thread title, I haven't broken par since getting back into the game even though I've had a two rounds of par (with a birdie and eagle on 18) and a decent number of 1,2,3 over par. I probably don't play or practice enough to have reasonable expectations of breaking par, but a boy has to dream. Anywho, I thought it was in the cards for me today. I could taste it. I was back in my hometown, on my home course, which is short and immaculate (ideal par breaking conditions ) and it was just my Dad and I. I played the front nine even, with six pars, two birdies, and a double on the easiest hole on the course. I made par on 10 and 11, which usually cause me problems and then my back, which had been bothering me all round, finally crapped out on me. I couldn't finish my swing and was having a hard time bending over to tee it up. I probably should have walked in, but it was such a great day to be outside and I hadn't played 18 in a couple of weeks, I just toughed it out. I ended up shooting three over, which for as much pain I was in, wasn't that bad. I'm not saying I would have broken par if my back hadn't seized up on me, but I can usually play 12-18 under par and I haven't been at even par or better that late in a round since coming back to the game. The times I've shot even or one over, I have finished strong. It would have been a fun and nerve-racking to have been even or under par going into the last few holes. I'm hoping I can get out and play tomorrow, but it's not looking good right now. I feel your pain, Canadan. We'll be breaking par soon enough. Sorry for the longest post ever.

[Oberjej]

This is a great read and I can see how much the mental aspect plays into it. However that being said, I will stay out of this thread as I am no where near this accomplishment ( even though it is one of mine someday)

[Varbaiskkic]

This is a great read and I can see how much the mental aspect plays into it. However that being said, I will stay out of this thread as I am no where near this accomplishment ( even though it is one of mine someday)

Trying to par is no different from trying to break 80 or 90 or whatever, so any input or experiences you have are welcome. And feel free to put me or anyone else in their place when we are complaining about not breaking par.