[steansathtpos]

For most of my golfing life, I could say that is largely how I feel. But goals can be shifting targets as a round progresses. If I get off to a rough start and quickly get well over par and realize that a few cylinders are skipping, I shift that goal to something realistic that usually involves parring in. Most rounds for me have always been finding a way to get thru 4 or 5 holes unscathed, and by then I have found something I can work with to score at par back to the house.

SAM - That's an interesting point - about goals shifting. Is it a conscious thought or just part of the game for you now?

Does anyone else do this as well?

[agrismhig]

When I stand on any first tee of any course, in my mind it's always me against par.

+1. But replace "par" with "bogey"!

[Katrinsitter]

I "compete" with myself and don't/can't compare myself to others.

I have the ability to go "low", which for me is in the high 70s. But I also have the ability to go north of that!

I did a comparison this year. On par three/executive courses my HI is 5.8 and on regulation courses it's 16.2. My inability to drive the golf ball gauls me to no end!

[Uzezqelj]

For most of my golfing life, I could say that is largely how I feel. But goals can be shifting targets as a round progresses. If I get off to a rough start and quickly get well over par and realize that a few cylinders are skipping, I shift that goal to something realistic that usually involves parring in. Most rounds for me have always been finding a way to get thru 4 or 5 holes unscathed, and by then I have found something I can work with to score at par back to the house.

I absolutely agree with you.

Let's face it, starting off a round shooting for par or better is always a good way to start, but the reality is that most likely there will be some blowups along the way. If they're small enough to overcome and get back on a par track, that's fine. But sometimes there are rounds that just slip away for whatever reason and it's time to think about "Door Number Two" (or sometimes even Three) and then I adjust my sights accordingly.

That's the great thing about golf; the ability to be able to take something positive away from what may (in terms of overall score) appear to be a bad day and to be able to build upon even small successes and move on. Golf is one of those games - like chess - where the journey and the events that happen along the way can be just as compelling - sometimes more so - as the outcome.

Whether your goal is to shoot a 69 or to break 100 for the first time, isn't important. What IS important is that you have a reason to be there, otherwise what's the point in playing at all?



-JP

[DariushPetresku]

my goal is to have as much fun as possible while attempting to avoid looking like a hack...
i also strive to replicate the shots i know i can hit and have done so in the past

[Joesred]

Well, for my fifth full year of golf (after a long hiatus) I believe my game is to a point where I can play double bogey golf 100% of the time. (102 or lower) (110 was my highest score this season.) This year out of 50 rounds I did it 46% of the time, my course is a par 66. Dbl bog is a 102 Bogey is an 84. I am pretty happy with my progress considering that my whole game is from my waist up. I can't wait for 2010.

[Drugsonl]

SAM - That's an interesting point - about goals shifting. Is it a conscious thought or just part of the game for you now?

Does anyone else do this as well?

It has always been part of the game. If I go out and start bogey-double-bogey-bogey, I am 5 over thru 4 and ain't much goin' right. The key then is to latch onto a par somehow, and then another - once I get back under 'bogey' I can refocus on new goals. While par is the object, it seems that 76 is the number that always felt like the high end of respectability, even today as my handicap has slid from scratch to 4.

[pBiRXp8u]

It has always been part of the game. If I go out and start bogey-double-bogey-bogey, I am 5 over thru 4 and ain't much goin' right. The key then is to latch onto a par somehow, and then another - once I get back under 'bogey' I can refocus on new goals. While par is the object, it seems that 76 is the number that always felt like the high end of respectability, even today as my handicap has slid from scratch to 4.

Never say die is the key. One round in 2008 I started bogey - par - quad (2 tee shots lost in the native rough, finally lying 5 in the fairway ). That snowman made me 5 over through 3 and things were looking grim. After that I was just 3 over for the next 15 holes to finish with an 8 over par 80. Did I regret the opportunity missed for a round in the 70's... sure. But at the same time I was thrilled with being able to pull it back together after the disastrous start to shoot a round that was still 3 below my course handicap.

Golf is a funny game.... good things can always happen as long as you just don't give up on yourself.

[koebforfrn]

We all have different goals in golf. We also have different standards that we find acceptable in our own game. Some people here are thrilled if they break 90 while others are upset if they shoot a 76. My friends and I will compliment each other on a putt that ends up inches from the hole, but won't say anything to a single digit handicapper who does the same because we know that person is berating himself/herself for missing the putt. So when someone here posts a score that I'd be in heaven to have made, but I know he's kicking himself over, I refrain from saying anything. Are your goals set only for yourself or in terms of others?

Only against myself...you know I don't play with anyone anyway...


Right now I'm focused on GIR stats...I will say for alot of the single or better guys that they need to lighten up a little and look at a shot through the eyes of the higher handicappers in the group, a shot that they know that they "missed" that the others in the group can only dream to have hit so well, and keep the grumbles to themselves and accept the pats on the back for the heartfelt praise that the congragulatory spirit came from...in addition, I try to gauge what would constitute a good shot for whatever person that I am paired with when I do play with others...if I'm with a pro and he puts a 9 iron 35 ft from the flag I'm looking at the trees and talking about what a nice day it is...if a higher handicapper hits the same shot for only their 2nd Gir out of 9 holes, they're getting a thumbs up from me...

[koebforfrn]

For most of my golfing life, I could say that is largely how I feel. But goals can be shifting targets as a round progresses. If I get off to a rough start and quickly get well over par and realize that a few cylinders are skipping, I shift that goal to something realistic that usually involves parring in. Most rounds for me have always been finding a way to get thru 4 or 5 holes unscathed, and by then I have found something I can work with to score at par back to the house.

I agree with this as well...


Some days everything is working and you can go after your PB...other days (today in my case), you find yourself behind the 8 ball for some reason or another, then it's fundamental focus time, find and latch on to something that works and ride it for all it's worth...

That bit about stopping the bleeding is key...a round can slip away so easily once the trust is spoiled and you start questioning feels...personally I have a couple of go-to swingthoughts and swing alterations that seem to always work...I'm not going to birdie with them, but they are solid enough to play when the wheels are in the process of coming off...Like SS said, get a couple of pars under your belt, reverse the trend and more likely than not something will raise its head that you can hobble the rest of the way home with...