Played my first "match" today...

Well, my golf buddy from school and I were getting bored in Criminal Law at about 2:20 and it was a beauty sunny day (although quite brisk, only about 5*C) so we decided to pop over to UGC and play 9 holes. I knew it was going to be "interesting" because I just picked up two new (to me) putters yesterday and have only hit about 20 or so putts each with them last night on the indoor practice green (tough to tell there) and on a wacky outdoor practice green and wasn't feeling comfortable with either.

I normally use a Wilson Deep Red Fluid Feel 1 blade style putter but late last year, I decided I wanted to give a mallet a go because I was having a lot of trouble with not getting to the hole and had hit some 2-Balls and TM Monzas in the store and had felt pretty good with each, so I bought one of each on eBay ($100 shipped for the 2Ball and $75 for the Monza)...all good except the Monza was actually a Mezza Monza (smaller head, different colour, not in as good of condition as the picture of the Monza in the ad, etc). The only thing is that lately, I've gotten pretty dialed with my Wilson, but decided to give these two a go out on the course.

So we head up to the course and get to the 10th just as a father/son are teeing off and a pair of middle age guys come up at the same time. The two guys ask if we want to play with them as a four, so we say sure, why not - and then they ask if we want to play a match. I didn't really want to because I just wanted to concentrate on my game, but my friend wanted to, so I decided to give it a try because he said that matches can be a lot of fun. We decided on a weird type of dual matchplay style (two lowest scores vs. two highest scores on each hole).

First, I've never really had any pressure on me, except from myself and from groups behind us (usually not my fault - but rather the result of busy days). Second, I had never played with either of the putters I had with me because I had stupidly left the Wilson at home, specifically so that I could fiddle around with these two to find the one I liked best of them (the Mezza Monza and the 2Ball).

So anyhow, we played the 9 and I wasn't playing well and was putting even worse (I had a number of 3 putts and several missed 5 footers...that I don't normally miss), but my friend played well and so after 9 holes, we had won the $5 bet but decided to go for broke on a double or nothing for the last hole (we actually played 10 because there's an extra hole on the back right now). It all came down to me making about a 4 foot putt and sure enough I missed it. I was really annoyed and about ready to throw both putters out onto the road and it's left me feeling grumpy overall for the evening.

I think part of the problem was that the two guys were pretty annoying...or at least one of them was, the other one was just pretty quiet and seemed almost grumpy, but not quite. I didn't feel like I was having fun playing with them, although I don't like a good 70% of the people that we've been paired up with, so that's not a huge surprise, but I think these were possibly the worst ones yet. I think the other part was just that I didn't really want to be playing a match and just wanted to be playing my own game and not worrying about anything. We hadn't even hit any balls before we teed off, it was just a "step up and go". I wasn't even hitting my 4H off the tee well...believe it or not, I was slicing a Genex 3DX, which has a pretty hefty draw bias. Not quite sure how that was happening, oh well. I only hit two of seven fairways, yech - and NO greens in reg.

Anyhow, as I said, it was pretty bad and I think I ended up with a 57 for 10 holes, which is a good indication of how I played...especially since 22 of those were putts (5 three-putts and 1 one-putt). I think that the next time a match is suggested, I'll probably just politely pass unless I'm feeling on top of things and preferably if I know the people so that it can at least be "fun".

Looks like your match didn't go as well as you wanted.
When I started playing Golf, I felt grumpy when I played badly. Now, I just take it cool as it is, and don't kick myself too hard when I make bad shots. But imagine that those two guys you were playing with also saw you as an annoying grumpy person.
If you want to know annoying, last year, I've played on a course where there was a foursome that was very very loud and utterly annoying. So I shouted "Shut up!". They didn't even heard me... But I've just realized I've lost my cool, and three putted the hole.

I know it's hard to enjoy the game when you're in a match situation, and people around you are annoying. But don't let it get to you and blame your lack of fun on them. After all, I'm sure that if you played a good round, you wouldn't have mind

Sounds like my play last weekend. Man did I suck. :faintthud

If I had my way, I'd probably never play for money but the guys I like to play with always do.

I've learned over time to ignore the bet and play for fun. It seems to work out because no one ever wins or loses all the time. Sometimes it actually gets a little exciting. As bad as I played Sunday, the other guys kept it even though number 8. Since we play skins with carryovers all the money was up for grabs.

#8 is a 195 yd. par 3 and I pulled my tee shot about 30 yds. and long. My chip to the green was perfect though and left me about 8 feet for par. I made mine and everyone else missed. On the score card they all kicked my ass but I left with the most money. It's nice to have something positive to hold on to after a lousy round.

It's also nice that someone invented beer to help with the pain.

Actually Loop, I talked to Toby today (the guy I golf with all the time) and he said it looked like even the kinda quiet grump guy thought his friend was annoying too. Like Quiet Guy was ready to swing and just about to go and his friend wouldn't shut up so he'd have to step back off the ball and then he would shoot his friend dirty looks. Also, Toby thought the guy was super annoying too, and Toby's pretty laid back (with a name like that, you can't get too worked up I guess).

Also, even when I'm grumpy on the inside, I don't show it, I'm a pretty congenial guy, who then turns around and goes "man, this guy's a tool." But it's possible, heh.

I think part of it is sort of like Tiger last year, how he never looked like he was having fun...going through swing changes that haven't quite "finished" yet and not being able to strike the ball consistently.

Now if only I liked beer....

during h.s. practices we had to play for like cokes or snacks, just the way it was to get the pressure situation experience for tournament time, worked ok, i had to make a heck of alot of clutch putts even when my putting was at its worst, sorry about your round, i know what its like to be on one of those rounds where you want to work, but your buddies pull you into something really serious where you can't think about how your game is doing and then there's the ones where its too leisurefull (word , i dunno) and you don't even bother to think about your game, thats why i always play alone for the most part when i'm really working

Silver,

Playing a mtch isn't a bad thing it hgets you use to playing more competitve golf and is also fun and great when you win.

It is never easy trying out new equipment but when I used the two ball and other people that just got them usually hole loads first time because they are a lot easier to put with than many putters.

Alough you missed the short putt you can still take something awya form it experience which will help you. There is a lot of pressure on short putts like that I have missed many in my time, you shouldn't let it worrie you at least you played in the match and did ok. And maybe next time you will beat them.

I don't think I have played a round not competiveley in the past year unless i'm out by myself, it makes you want to play better because you are ethier playing for pride or money.

I agree that playing matches are good and can be fun in the right circumstances. This was not, however, the right circumstance. Like I said, I think it'd be fun to play against people that I know, or people that aren't total dicks.

Otherwise, it was all good. Good comments.

Last Saturday - for the first time in two years - I played a round of golf in a foursome where we did not bet.

It was totally weird. We played for score only.

Betting is so absolutely ingrained in everything we do in our game - it is strange when you are playing just for score.

Silver - to your point though - I agree with you. When you are trying new equipment - it does make it very strange when you are in a competition. It is clearly best to try it out when there is no pressure on you -especially a putter which accounts for half the strokes in a round.

I am working on mid-winter swing changes now and was actually happy we did not bet last Saturday.

I hope to play tomorrow (wife is under the weather) though. If I do - it will be back to the $$$....