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cfabbot
USA
105 Posts |
 Posted - 09/07/2008 : 23:57:37
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Played in the World Am Golf tourney at Myrtle Beach this year...first time ever for me. To make it even more difficult, I've never played in a tourney that played so strictly to the rules. I tried to bone up on the PGA rules but still found myself worrying about whether I was doing the right thing or not. To say they were serious, is being gentle -- I heard of at least 30 people who were disqualified -- 16 at one time for playing through a "stop play" signal when lightning was in the area; several more for practicing while waiting on the course (some of the rounds were up to 7-hours long and had to wait at each tee); at least one (prior to play starting) for chipping onto a green (in play) that was located close to the practice green.
I actually enjoyed the play -- played in a flight of about 100 60-69 years old men with handicaps 10-12.9. There were over 3000 golfers there. I wasn't playing real well when I went there so went early and played two practice rounds where I shot fairly decent. First day - played in the rain and shot an 86 and was tied at 5th place. Second through 4th days, weather was better but I was horrible: shot 97, 95, 92 and finished in 85th place. While I had some good shots, my irons went south -- hit them solid, hit them straight, but in the wrong direction; had trouble with my five wood -- topped a few which got me in trouble and pulled several into the woods. Don't want to say I was nervous but on the second and third day, I had stomach problems. The second day really got to me -- played a course with environmental areas that ran across the fairways and were located throughout the course. Hit several great shots at the green with my irons, only to have them land next to the green and in an environmental area. Lost quite a few strokes that day when taking drops for balls that landed just a few feet into environmental areas or water. On the third day, I played a course where the grass in the rough was like velcro -- it was wet and it grabbed the club and the ball. I hit balls out of this stuff about half the distance I normally hit -- really ugly!
In looking back, I would say this:
- Really enjoyed playing with a bunch of guys near my age and capability -- I probably should have been in the 13+ handicap group but had a few really good rounds prior to date that I sent my handicap in. By the time I went to the tournament, my handicap was back to a 14. However, I felt I was as a good as any of the guys in each of my foursomes.
- I was nervous and, when things started going bad, forgot about how I shot the good rounds and fell into a routine of just going through the motions and not concentrating on what I had learned from T&T.
- I let the conditions (rain, wet ground, etc.), the courses (lots of environmental areas, water, etc.), and some bad shots affect my attitude.
- I KNOW I can shoot a lot better than I showed. Because of the age group, they had the courses set up so that they should've been easy for me. I've played a lot of the Myrtle Beach courses -- from tees that were much more difficult than those in the tournament. On several courses, they had moved the tees up on several holes so that the hazards (in my opinion) shouldn't have come into play.
- The group of people I stayed with had played the tournamnet several times now and said the first year is always the worst. At least now I know what to expect and what I need to work on. I played another round after the tournament was over and hit the ball much better. Shot a 90 but was on the green in regulation much more that day then on the previous 4 -- probably because I was concentrating on my swing more and worrying less about the results!
- Extremely good learning experience!
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edmp
USA
1337 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2008 : 08:18:10
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What fun.look forward to next years story.
Chuck |
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baldelli
USA
481 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 08:00:53
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The more tournaments you play the easier it becomes to control your nerves, etc. When I first started playing in them I would often times shoot a good first round score like you and then play poorly in the second round. Can't explain the why but with more tourney experience it has gotten better.
I have always wanted to play in that tournament but the timing is bad and I always question the legitimacy of handicaps at such events. What courses do you play?
Steve |
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captski
97 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 19:46:14
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They have become super strict at the World Am. If it is your first year; they check with your pro and watch your scores very closely. I played in this tourney the second year they had it in 1988.....and it was sandbag city. I was in the 7 handicap group of 100 guys. After 4 rounds, the winner of my flight was 23 under par with his handicap....now they adjust after every day and reserve the right to disqualify sandbaggers!
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cfabbot
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2008 : 18:43:30
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| The courses I played in the tournament were: Burning Ridge, Glen Dornoch (tough course), Meadowlands, and True Blue. I played practice rounds at: Sea Trail, Quail Creek, and Arrowhead. Glen Dornoch was probably the toughest -- you had to hit to areas and be able to hit the areas. I pulled/pushed too many and ended up in hazards and environmental areas (what seemed like) all day long. Playing on wet, soggy ground didn't help because there was absolutely no roll. It was terribly frustrating because when I played on Sat and Sun, I shot well -- an 86 on Quail Creek, and a 92 on Arrowhead. The Arrowhead course was interesting -- I shot a 92 but it counted against my handicap as an 82 because I had a "12" on two holes and could only count 7 of the strokes. Yes -- 12's! On one hole(par5), I was determined to hit out of the rough over water to a green 180 yds away. The other 12 was on a par 4 two holes later -- I was determined to hit out of a sand trap over water onto a peninsula green that was only 100 yds away. I guess those two holes were considered training holes! One of my friends called me "Tincup" the rest of the day. |
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captski
97 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2008 : 19:41:48
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| The Arrowhead course by Raymond Floyd is one of my favorite in Myrtle Beach; with it's three so different Nines; I would gladly hold a membership at that course. The Lakes nine is especially interesting with all the water carries and views of the intercoastal waterway. |
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jordan
USA
180 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2008 : 12:17:07
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| Someone please help me understand? cfabbot said he shot a 12, in a tournament, and could only record a 7? I understand this reasoning in a league play, but everytime you play, even a USGA tournament? I played in a USGA tournament and got my butt kicked. This one guy in my foursome had an 8 on a hole and then came in at 2 over par for the front nine? I did not understand why, but he must have just taken what his handicap allowed, a bogey? How fair is that? I shot great for myself that day on a tough course, and he makes top 5 and goes on to the finals? Is this why so many players I see have a low handicap, yet never shoot near it? I was told that "those" guys just don't put in the bad scores, just the good ones? I mean you are what you are? I have worked my ass off to lower my handicap, and since a Graves school, I have lowered it from a 24 to a 17. I can get lower if I just don't record blowup holes, but is that correct? I know in league play it is meant to stop a guy from intentionally having a bad hole he is loosing, to pad his handicap. What is the offical rule? I understand it to be, that if you shot say a 12, you record that on your card for that day, whatever you are playing. I you loose that tournament, or match, too bad. Then when you record that number in for your handicap, you adjust it according to your current handicap? ANYBODY know if this is correct? Thanks, frustrated Matt |
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RAZMAN
USA
373 Posts |
 Posted - 09/14/2008 : 16:09:15
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I too played in the World Am for about 5 years 93 to 98 and got down to a 10 hdcp the last year. The reason I stopped going is when I see a 10 hdcp shoot 72,75, 77, 73 That is not going to happen . Yea they would adjust but no way can you catch them even if you shoot your hdcp. A true 10 hdcp will maybe break 80 twice and will be around 77. But 4 rounds in the 70's not happening. Low 70s at that, NO way.The sandbagging is terrible. I still had a great time and playing by the rules is intimidating, but thats how we really get better. If you notice how large the Mid hdpc group is to the low hdcp groups are. Thats because alot 4 an5 hdcp are in the 10 hdcp flight. The only groups I ever saw were fair was the under 5 hdcp groups and they too shoot alot rounds in the high 80s and low 90s for some. Going to myrtle beach and shoot in in t70s over 4 days is very tough if you are not a 5 or better.
Glad too see you had a good time though. Sorry for ranting. If I get to a low hdcp I would try it again but until then I 'll go with my buddies instead. |
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cfabbot
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2008 : 22:41:30
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Sorry about the confusion on the "shot a 12 and could only record a 7" statement. Talking about two different things here: score card...and entering the score into a handicapping system. Even though it was only a practice round, the "12"(both of them) counted towards my score and was recorded on my score card but....because my handicap was less than 14, when I entered it into the handicap system at my home course, the "handicap system" only accepts a 7 as the highest score on any one hole. I always play the ball down and enter all my scores into the handicap system -- I want a realistic evaluation of my playing ability....not a handicap skewed by padded scores, rolling the ball in the fairway, etc. My handicap in that tournament was a 12.9....only because I shot several really good scores prior to entering the tournament. A more realistic handicap for me would've been a 14, which is where I was most of this year.
I understand what was said about sandbaggers. We had a couple people shoot some pretty good scores in our flight -- and they were re-evaluated and their handicaps dropped from 12's to 8's. I played four days in four different foursomes and I didn't think any of the people in my foursomes were better than their handicaps. |
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World Amateur Golf Tourney/Myrtle Beach
