If you are a regular reader of this newsletter, you will have built up a picture of my personality and my golf game. I’m always honest and happy to laugh at myself. Well, the weekend before last I entered the Stableford competition, my first comp of the season. Almost immediately, I felt that card-in-hand syndrome.
I blobbed the first hole, a relatively straightforward par-4, and a missed short putt on the 2nd, which I felt very twitchy over, meant just one point. Of course, there was a long way to go and I did play some good golf, but did I enjoy the round? No! I find it difficult not to chase a score. I’m too hung up on wanting to play to my handicap or better, and we all know what happens when you try too hard.
Now, I’m not making excuses, but Saturday isn't the best day for me to play a competition. The course is often very busy, so it's a slow round, and for the other women, it’s a social game. Nobody else plays their comps on a Saturday, so there’s a lot of chat going on! I’ve always accepted that, but it’s not the most ideal scenario for a focused scorecard.
Above all else, what’s crucial here is enjoyment. I generally get to play once a week, so why do I want to put pressure on myself every Saturday by putting a card in? I suppose it’s because I’ve been conditioned to do this. That’s just what you do.
This reminded me of this article by Carly Cummins where she discusses how we are socially cultured to conform to certain norms on the course. We are conditioned to play off the same forward tees every week or carry exactly 14 clubs. Let’s be honest, there are probably a couple in your bag right now that you only carry around for the fun of it!
Carly argues that we miss out on the best vantage points or the most interesting challenges by sticking to the forward tees out of habit. She suggests that playing a hybrid course in a non-competition round can spark creativity and actually make the game more rewarding.
By this, she means selecting to hit from various different tees to suit each hole. Perhaps moving to a back tee to take in a spectacular view or moving forward to create a new birdie opportunity, rather than setting off from one set and sticking to them for the entire round. Breaking these expectations of how a round should look, or even playing with a half-set of clubs, can do wonders for your enjoyment.
Back to me... last weekend, I decided not to do a competition. And what a difference. I was more relaxed, thoroughly enjoyed my golf, and the wine tasted better after the round! That’s not to say I’m never entering a comp again, but I’m going to make sure there’s a balance and make it my golf!
Alison Root
Women's Editor Golf Monthly
