Where's the weak spot (or spots)

[macduffer]

Hi guys –

Apologies for what will be a long post. I seem to be stuck at my current level, so I’m looking to find out where the weaknesses in my game are, so I can work on them and hopefully take my game to the next stage.

FYI, I’m UK based, and a 9 hcap (average score in medal play 79-83 (par 72)). I play at a links course, so a 15-20mph wind is the norm. The course isn't over long, and hard fairways mean length isn’t an issue (I’m typically 260 off the tee on a calm day), but the rough is pretty severe and the greens are small, well protected and unreceptive in summer.

Here’s a breakdown of my last round (which I think was fairly typical):

1. 169yds, par 3: 6i to 15ft. First putt to a foot, but never really threatens hole. Par. Level.
2. 498yds, par 5 (downwind). Big drive just off fairway (right). Good lie. 6 iron to 15ft. Hole putt. Eagle. –2
3. 138yds, par 3: 9i hits edge of green but bounces off. Horrible bare lie. Chip to 10ft, 2 putt. Bogey. –1
4. 412yds, par 4 (into wind). Drive into left side of fw. 4i pulled into rough 10 yards short and left. Pitch to 8ft. Miss putt. Bogey. Level.
5. 354 yards, par 4: split fairway with 2 hybrid. 50deg wedge to 10ft. Putt lips out. Par. Level.
6. 347 yards, par 4: (straight into the wind). Hook 3w into horrible rough left. Hack out to 30 yards short. Pitch to 10ft. Hole putt. Par. Level.
7. 389 yards, par 4: (into the wind). Push slice driver OB. Second drive finds left semi.6iron into greenside bunker. Splash to 15ft. 2 putt. Treble. +3.
8. 377 yards, par 4. Hook 3w into rough. Slash out to 40 yards short. Pitch to 20ft. 2 putt. Bogey. +4.
9. 419 yards, par 4 (straight downwind). Split fairway with driver. 8i turned over just left of green. Chip in. Birdie. +3
10. 523 yds, par 5 (wind l to r). Slice drive into rough, but find good lie. 5i, 8 iron to 25ft. Leave first putt 5ft short. Miss next. Bogey. +4
11. 155yds, par 3 (straight into the wind). Try to hit knockdown 5i but hit it fat, finish in light rough 10yds short. Pitch to 6ft. Putt lips out. Bogey. +5
12. 535 yds, par 5: (straight downwind). Split fairway with big drive. Toy with idea of going for it in 2 but OB 5 yds right of green puts me off. Lay up with 5i. Sw to 15ft. 2 putt. Par.+5
13. 392yds, par 4 (wind l to r). Split fairway with 3w. 8i straight at it but ¾ of a club light. 3 putt from 30ft. Bogey. +6.
14. 195yds, par 3 (straight into the wind). Knockdown 3w to 25ft. 2 putt. Par. +6.
15. 338 yds, par 4 (downwind). 4i down middle. Pw to 12ft. 2 putt. Par. +6
16. 525 yds, par 5. (downwind) 2hybrid into right semi. 5i layup. Sw to 20ft. 2 putt. Par.+6
17. 381 yards, par 4 (into wind). Driver only just off fairway (right) but find awful lie. Hack out to about 60yds short. Pitch almost goes in, finishes stone dead. Par. +6
18. 379yds, par 4. (into wind). Push slice driver into thick rough. Hack out. 7i into greenside trap. Splash to 15ft. 2 putt. Double. +8.

If anyone thinks they can spot any obvious weaknesses here, I’d be grateful. Thanks for your time.

 

[Tball88]

Mcduffer, i'm in a similar spot to you, currently an 8 handicap and just shot 78,79, and 36(9holes) last week.

I think once you get to single digit handicaps, that's the tougest place to break through to the next level (around scratch).


When I started 11 years ago it was break a 100, that was tough, but did it in a year, then break 90, that only took six months. Breaking 80 took a couple of years, very tough to get into the 70's.

But getting to scratch where you can shoot 70-75 on any current day, that has been a battle.

 

[curtisj76]

Looks like you need to eliminate 1 side of the fairway (easier said than done). I know from experience, it's hard to play good golf when you hook it on the first and you push fade it next. Try to eliminate 1 side and hopefully you will cut down on missed fairways which puts you in "pretty severe" rough.

 

[fronesis]

2 thoughts

1. Your long misses are hard hooks and push slices, so I wonder if you swing too far right?

2. Looks like you didn't get up and down very much and had a few too many three putts. Work on the short game?

Take away the ob ball and do more with the short game and you are in the mid 70s.

 

[ZAP]

I was going to say something about 2 way misses and short game.
Turning three into two really helps with scores.