[affozyBoomi]

I was looking back over some of my round notes and comparing my recent rounds. I noticed quite a change from playing the three courses here in Naples that I rotate around every week and the "new" courses I've played recently. The shot difference was staggering, avg +10 on the "new" courses, in other words I floated the high 80's at my courses, over 100 on the other courses.

Is this typical or did I just completly blow up during those rounds. I know it drove me nuts playing so poorly on new courses with new people each time, so it kinda gave me a new appreciation of tour pro's who are on a different course every week (granted the course condidtions are kept to "standards") and are still able to be consistant.

How do you adapt to different conditions? For instance I play low bounce wedges, so getting into fluffy sand makes for a rough day when I'm not playing down here where our bunkers are a little more firm, I can try opening up the face but tends to create more problems.

When you all go to a course for the first time, do you expect to shoot a similar score to your home course or do you anticipate a higher (or lower) score.

[cenRealliat]

I always need a few chances to get totally comfortable at a course. Nothing unusual about that at all, imo. It helps to play a new course with somebody that is familiar with it. They can at least give an idea of how the course is laid out.

[DoctorQuquriramba]

Yeah same here. I add at least 10 strokes for a course ive never played before.

I always need a few chances to get totally comfortable at a course. Nothing unusual about that at all, imo. It helps to play a new course with somebody that is familiar with it. They can at least give an idea of how the course is laid out.

[cenRealliat]

It's not even that I will execute a plan correctly if I am familiar with the course. I just feel more confident if I know what I should do. That = better performance.

[affozyBoomi]

Yeah same here. I add at least 10 strokes for a course ive never played before.

That was the advice given to me...I should have listened closer

[ViagraFeller]

Yeah same here. I add at least 10 strokes for a course ive never played before.

Agreed!!

[DoctorQuquriramba]

Most of the time you just dont know where to hit it. I mean hitting fairways, greens and twoputting is fine, but leaving yourself in bad spots on greens, or in fairways add up pretty quickly. Especially if youre like me and dont have complete control of your golf ball all of the time.

[Liabmeasez]

Ya its near impossible to shoot one of your best rounds on any new course with at least a degree of difficulty. What is the yardage to clear the bunker? Avoid the water right? Over the tree on the dogleg? Grain on the greens? That is out of bounds? Unless you are playing with a life time member of that course, you are probably going to mess up on at least a few of those questions during your round so always expect a few extra strokes and think "I'll get that hole next time!!!"

[ViagraFeller]

I have a for instance from my last round this past Saturday....

Played a links style course for the first time and on hole #11, a par 5, I pull my drive into the left rough. I look at the scorecard for the layout of the hole and its a slight dogleg left. I am at least 280 to the green and can't see anything from my lie due to a small hill in front of me.
I take out my 4 hybrid to hit a nice easy shot out of the rough to hopefully about 100 yds or less into the green. I aim over and between 2 trees in my line and hit the shot I was hoping for from that lie.
Get over the hill to look for my ball and find nothing......except for a small stand of trees next to a sand trap about 80 yds from the green on the left side of the fairway. Had no idea it was there. If anything my ball should be in the sand trap......nada. Gone. Only thing we can figure after 5 minutes of looking is that it must have hit one of the small trees and shot off somewhere.
Worst part is that I was playing the Srixon day glo yellow balls.........still couldn't find it. Penalty for lost ball as well....
Next time at that course I know what's up there and won't even try to attempt that shot.

[ssiikmuz]

I think that a new course is worth 8-10 strokes for me. It is just difficult based on green speed, blind shots, where trouble is, etc.

I really struggled at PGA this year because they were all new courses with a type of grass I have never played on. By the end of the trip (my last round) I was actually playing pretty well... it was the first 3 that I really struggled with.

[soprofaxelbis]

PGA Tour pros rarely go into new tournment course without having played there before. If that is the case they have atleast 3 practice rounds to come up with an idea and knowledge about the course. I really think some courses you need more than that but these are tour players. They also have help of their caddy that maps the greens and figuring yardages as they practice.

They aren't going into this like a pop quiz in high school... they had a few days to study.

I think it depends on how tricked up the course is. It probably not a good idea to play a Dye course without some help....that can only be a nightmare. I think having someone that has played there before is a major help. I agree going in completely blind you can expect some errant shots not knowing how the course is setup. I don't think its that high maybe 4-7 depending on skill level.

[LasTins]

finally, i have an excuse as to why i put a 92 on the card at the Palmer course!

nah, i think it's difficult playing a course for the first time. how many times do you think back to your round and say, "you know, if i would've hit this, or hit that, it may have been different". chalk it up to the experience i guess. i go into any new course hoping to break 80, sometimes it happens, other times it doesn't.

[affozyBoomi]

PGA Tour pros rarely go into new tournment course without having played there before. If that is the case they have atleast 3 practice rounds to come up with an idea and knowledge about the course. I really think some courses you need more than that but these are tour players. They also have help of their caddy that maps the greens and figuring yardages as they practice.

They aren't going into this like a pop quiz in high school... they had a few days to study.

I think it depends on how tricked up the course is. It probably not a good idea to play a Dye course without some help....that can only be a nightmare. I think having someone that has played there before is a major help. I agree going in completely blind you can expect some errant shots not knowing how the course is setup. I don't think its that high maybe 4-7 depending on skill level.

I noticed that I varied quite a bit, for whatever reason if I was a wide open course, I really struggled, but on a tight course I was able to play pretty dang well. PLayed a course in Englewood awhile back and posted a mid 80's round and it was crazy tight. On the other hand I played an easy wide open course in Asheville and I was all over the dang place, carded a 97. I guess I am not a bang-away player

[ssiikmuz]

finally, i have an excuse as to why i put a 92 on the card at the Palmer course!

nah, i think it's difficult playing a course for the first time. how many times do you think back to your round and say, "you know, if i would've hit this, or hit that, it may have been different". chalk it up to the experience i guess. i go into any new course hoping to break 80, sometimes it happens, other times it doesn't.

Thats the difference between you and me. I go into ANY course hoping to break 80.... and always failing

[LasTins]

Thats the difference between you and me. I go into ANY course hoping to break 80.... and always failing

you'll be there soon dude, you've got all the tools in the tool box bro.