it's a fine line between......

[SiberianDVM]

being focused, not being focused enough, and being a jackass.

Scenario 1:
Saturday I played in one of my eGolf tourneys. 4 somes, 2 to a cart, nice guys that I have known for a couple of years. I played decent for me, with only 3 holes where I made worse than bogey, due to brain farts leading to poor chips or pitches.

The whole round we are chasing my playing competitors' lost balls, waiting, riding around in circles, etc, all the stuff that distracts you and alters your rythym. When it came my time to hit on those 3 holes, I probably didn't take the amount of time I needed to hit a good shot. Probably because we had lost sight of the group in front and were trying to catch up. Total time, riding: 4:30.

So I lost 3 strokes due to losing my concentration. I lost my flight by 2 shots: an 82 instead of the 79 or so I should have shot.

Scenario 2:
Sunday afternoon at 4pm I started a walking round by myself. The course (a different one) was practically deserted, so I never had to wait on anyone. Lollygagging along, I walked and played all 18 holes in 3:30. I never got distracted or annoyed, other than by the screaming little girl who let out a 116db screech as I was trying to make a par put on #14.

And I shot my career best on a par 72 course: a 76 (5 bogeys, 1 birdie).

My conclusions:
1- the game is made to be walked: walking keeps you warm and limber, you don't have to talk as you can pretend to be out of breath, and you can walk directly to your own ball.
2- cart golf, especially tournement cart golf, sucks. Unfortunately, all amateur golf that I am able to enter requires carts. Having to share a small space with someone I am forced to be nice to for 4-6 hours, destroys my concentration.
3- I need to figure out a way to ignore everyone and everything around me if I am going to play well. This is very difficult to do, especially in a cart golf tournement.

So the next time I see a PGA touring pro on TV looking stonefaced as he is walking up the 14th fairway on Sunday, I will have a little bit of sympathy. This game is so damnably demanding.

[mddubya]

I couldn't agree more Doc. I plan on playing on the eGolf Tour again next year. I've already talked to the director here and got the ok to walk if I want. My bag has to be on the cart I'm assigned to, but I'm not required to ride in it, check and see if you can do that there.

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

Having to share a small space with someone I am forced to be nice to for 4-6 hours, destroys my concentration.

I refuse to share a cart with strangers, I will walk & carry my bag before that happens. Also hate the screwing around & waiting, throws your tempo off & everything goes downhill afterwards.

[SilverUberXeno]

Sing to yourself. Honestly. If you want to be in your own bubble between shots and relax the golf-focus part of your brain, just hum a tune. Or talk to yourself. I walk alone maybe 25% of the time I play. But even when I'm playing with someone, I've usually got some sort of noise in my head just to keep my mind active. Sometimes I sing all the way up to when I'm ready to make my stroke at the ball, like when I'm lining up and whatnot. Keeps me very relaxed.

Also tends to scare everybody else away from you

[Wi-Golfer]

Anyone ever golf while wearing earphones & listening to music? Doesn't even have to be turned on, just wearing the earphones is enough to allow you to ignore most people.

I do it while skiing, hate that lame chatter people attempt while on the lift. I just crank up the tunes & when they look at me & start talking, I just point to my ears.

[warbirdlover]

Maybe being deaf has it's advantages....

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

Maybe being deaf has it's advantages....

So does selective deafness. At times I can be a little hard of hearing due to many years in a factory environment. Allows me to just walk away while people are speaking & my wife tells them i'm hard of hearing

My grandpa was like that, but if a neighbor dropped a nickle across the street he would hear that.