Conference 7.286::golf

    My first round of the season was terrible - I played the South Course
    at La Costa and shot 98.  My last round the previous season at La Costa 
    was an 86 on the North Course.  It is hard to understand how different 
    the rounds could be - 86 Monday 12/31/90 and 98 on Tuesday 01/01/91 -
    could it have anything to do with the New Year's celebration the night
    before, or is it just that first round of the season.  Sorry, I didn't
    resist the urge to needle you non-12 month players.
    Big Mac
    

    You don't generally expect anything above average for the first couple
    of rounds in the year. So, you play carefully trying to discover your
    game again.
    In my case I was fairly relaxed , no scoring demands in my head, and in
    my third full round I had my best score ever.
    Problem now is, how do I top that !! I'll probably think I'm a good
    golfer now, and make a mess of the rest of the year.
    
    martin ( Golfing in Ireland )

    
    HI,
    
    	I think it's a tempo thing...  early in the season you tend to
    swing within yourself, hitting the ball far with good contact. Then!
    You think.... hell if I can hit my drive X yards with that baby
    swing... watch this one! Then by the end of the season you're
    generating enough swing speed to start a small tornado ;) .
    
    	Walta  

    RE. 2,.3

                   I for one think that the average golfer puts' too much
pressure on themselves,(I DO). My handicap went up 7 strokes last year
from a 7-16. I wasn't playing much an by the end of the season I was 
so frustrated that I stepped back a took a look at the season as a whole.
 I had realized that the amount of pressure that I was putting on myself
was putting a damper on my game. I wasn't playing as much an the fact that
I wasn't playing as much hurt me bad. I had a host of other problems but
as I started to relax when I played I noticed I played a lot better. This
has carried over to this year. I'm hitting the ball the way I use to when
I played in High School (4 handicap). I went out an shot a 86 last Saturday
an then shot 79 on Sun,an Mon shot 39 for 9 holes. Boy,this feels good to be
able to play an have a good round again. Hopefully,with luck I can drop
the handicap,but again as .2 says if you don't put goals ahead of you there
is a chance that the GOALS could hurt you. I just want to be able to go
out a shoot a round of golf the way I have been,this way I feel the years
of practice aren't a waste.


 marko

    Hey ladies haven't any of you been out golfing yet!!
    
    I started at the driving range 3-4 weeks ago hitting a
    large bucket once a week and have been out 4 times at Berlin
    Country Club.  I played 9 holes, with scores of 
    49
    51
    56
    51
    I broke 50 last year a couple of times and hope to stay in
    the 40's this year.
    
    Love the game
    
    Betty
    

    Hi Betty,
    
    I've played about 3 or 4 times so far.  I really didn't keep score, but
    it's been around mid 50's for 9.  Right now, I am pretty much disgusted
    with my game.  I am 30 weeks into my pregancy and must've lost the 
    flexibility.  I lost considerable amount of distance....   
    
    I will be playing as long as my stomach doesn't get in the way ;)
    
    Eunhwa
     

    Eunhwa (hope I've spelled your name correctly) and 
    bye the way you have a very pretty, unusual name.
    
    Should you really be still playing golf so far into
    your pegnancy?  I'm just the cautious type.
    
    I try not to get down the beginning of the season 
    as my husband keeps saying just make contact and keep
    your head down.
    
    Love that game
    
    Betty
    

    Eunhwa - sorry for the typo's on my previous mgs.
    

     Don't know if I mentioned this, but I played with a pal at Crumpin-Fox
    Sat. who is a pretty good player - 8 or so hcp. From the Blue tees he
    birdied 4,5,6,7 and 17. I don't think anyone has birdied those
    particular 4 holes in a row before.
     To show you how tough the course was playing, he hit it real well on
    every hole (Except #14 and #18) and shot 82 !! Death, where is thy
    sting ?
    
    --Jack

    
    Finally got a chance to get out, (I screwed up my back so I was delayed
    in geting out), and shot a 48 for my first 9 of the year.  That
    included a 9 on a par 4.
    
    4 pars, 2 bog., 2 dbls, and the above mentioned yuk.
    
    Now that's just about where I left off last year, I hope I can improve
    as much this year as I did last!
    
    Shane