Conference 7.286::golf

    One key thing that both good players from both the pro's and amateurs
    understand and we need to know and learn is once you hit a bad shot it's 
    over, nothing you can do to change it.  So what they do is think about the 
    next shot and redirect there energy on what shot to play next and stop the 
    bleeding. It does work!  I use it all the time and I'll tell you I have 
    either save par or made a better score then if I let schot continue to 
    bother me.  
    
     Good Luck
    
    Peter

    	Before I say anything, I'll tell you that I often go thur the
    same thing.  But I think you have to take the game for what it was
    originally inteded to be.  Fun.  Go out and have fun, but do take
    it just a little seriously.  You do have to think and concentrate
    to play well, but don't sacrifice the fun part.  Remember, a bad
    day on the golf course, is still better than a good day at work!!!
    If you hit a bad shot, then like -.1 said, try and forget about
    it.  There's nothing at all you can do about a shot already hit.
    Forget it, stay in a good frame of mind and hit your next shot without
    worrying what score you're going to get on the hole.  But always,
    have fun and enjoy your round.
    
    Beak

    
    I recently had an experience that relates to your note on composure.
    
    A group of golfers came down from Canada to play a small tour. with 
    our club and i was asked to play. Well needless to say I really wanted
    to play well and finish with a respectable score. I finished the front
    with a 39 and felt good. I proceeded to shoot 46 on the back hitting
    two drives ob and just played the worst 9 holes I can remember. My
    point is that I never got upset, disappointed yes and everyone knew in
    the foursome that I was disappointed and that was okay. They still
    enjoyed playing with me and I with them. I kept plugging and they
    respected that. Good golfers know that the wheels can come off at any
    time. It's happened to them. I played with a guy that has a great swing
    and could tell that he was a good golfer but it just was not his day.
    If you know your having one of those days just have it and get it
    behind you. the worst thing you can do is press. The best thing you can
    do after a bad shot or hole is laugh. It's releases all the tension and
    people will enjoy playing with you. You know it's going to happen again
    so when it does just let it happen. don't try to paddle your canoe up
    the stream just turn around and go down the stream and enjoy the view. 
    
    Pete

    Last night I choked on what was arguably the best start for a 9-hole
    round I ever had.  I parred the first three holes.  I was excited!
    I had a chance to surpass my best score for this nine (43) and maybe
    break 40 for nine for the first time ever!
    
    Right!  I played the next hole by hitting my tee shot 30 yards to
    shortstop, smashed a three wood into the fairway I just played,
    chili-dipped a 7-iron 20 yards, plugged a 9-iron two feet off the
    green, chipped to within 20 feet and two-putted for triple-bogey!
    I was disappointed.  I then bogeyed the next two holes by blowing
    makeable putts from 6 feet.  I was starting to get really frustrated.
    One of my opponents made a comment about how I looked like Curtis
    Strange, but wasn't concentrating like Curtis Strange.  Well, with
    that in mind, I parred the next two holes.  On the last hole, I
    got too excited all over again and double-bogeyed for a 43!  I tied
    my best score for 9 holes.  I was disppointed about that but I was
    actually quite thrilled that I played very well overall.  I really
    did enjoy myself out there.  Part of the enjoyment is the concentration
    necesary to play well.  Playing well also contributes to the enjoyment.
    I put pressure on myself to play well.  If I had continued relaxing
    and concentrating I might well have beaten my personal best.  But
    for now, I guess I'll have to do it next time out.
    
    
    						Mike

    peter,
    	word has gotten out that you are having those days everytime
    you tee it up. your gut must be sore from laughing it off so much

    
    re. -1
    
     Fran, I'm not laughing.
    
     Pete

    
    The other day I was 1 over par after six holes, we were kickin' butt
    in our match and my swing felt great ! Well, I teed it up on 7 and
    dubbed my drive about 20 yards to the left rough, hit a decent 5 wood
    across  the fairway and under a tree in the rough, punched a 3 iron 
    to the front of the green, chipped up and made the putt for bogey, 
    Whew !! The next hole a par 3, I dumped one into the pond, from the
    drop area I chili dipped one into the rough just over the water, a
    couple more chili dips and I had myself a 7 !! Now at 6 over I gritted
    my teeth and birdied the last hole, a par 5, for a 41. Good round for
    me but I just keep remembering that I was only 1 over for eight holes
    and just forget about # 8 !!
    
    ace
    

    Last Thursday it all started to come good ...or so I thought.
    I was playing in my regular Thursday foursome and I was doing 
    pretty well for me...two birdies, three pars, two bogeys and 
    one DB. So I was two over after 8 holes and had visions of 
    breaking 40 for the first time. Alas, I put the last drive into
    the lake a short distance away. With my second ball I made 6 and
    ended at 40.I sensed both achievement and disappointment, but it's
    time to look ahead and go for the thirties another time. 
    
    As already stated, enjoy it...it sure beats being desk bound!!!
    
    
    Phil.