Concentration?

I do find it difficult to maintain my concentration for 18 holes particularly when held up behind slower players.

Take today for example when I was playing on my own at my local municipal Gott's Park. I was behind a 3 ball group, and whilst I know I have no priority playing on my own it was not until the 10th that they let me play through.

The result was I struggled to a miserable 55 for the front 9 my worst score for 9 holes for a long time. I then got into my stride on the back 9 and shot a personal best 5 over par 36!

I don't know what you all think but I am starting to realise that golf like most sports is to a large extent a mind game. I suppose this is partly what separates the low handicappers from the high handicappers (like myself).

I always seem to have a 'bad patch' at some point in my round with 2 or 3 bad holes which makes all the difference.

Any tips on maintaining my concentration and holding my game together for the full 18?

Cheers Alex     

First of all Alex, being a single player you have to accept that by going out on the course amongst three and fourballs that the round is going to be slow, and, quite honestly, why should those groups have their game spoiled by a single player up their backsides all the time. Why not take the opportunity of at least playing two balls, which will help in the speed of play and also calm you down.

Even the top pros. have a bad patch during their rounds as well, I can assure you, especially when their short game is not giving them the pars they expect when they miss the greens.

I personally have never found concentration to be an issue, I accept the situation when the rounds are going to be slow, all the time these days it seems, and switch myself off from the game when I am waiting. As soon as I am preparing to take my shot then I concentrate, easy really, but of course no guarantee that the shot will be as one expected. A bad shot should not be blamed on a lack of concentration as that is the easy get out, be honest with yourself and inwardly admit that a bad shot is of your own doing.

Sorry, what was the question?

So you feel that the single player should have priority then, David, well I don't, and I would certainly make it a rule that a single player has no rights whatsoever on the course. I also disagree with allowing two balls to be interspersed with three and fourballs. This does not happen at old established golf clubs as there are set times for two balls and set times for three and fourballs.

Thanks for the reply John.

Fortunately I don't often play on my own and if I do I don't think I spoil others game by being 'up their backsides all the time'. I much prefer being in a 2 or 3 ball, but the pace today of the group in front of me today was ridiculously slow.

All I was saying is that the slow play affected my concentration and was a factor in my poor performance on the front 9, I wasn't trying to blame my poor shots on this entirely! 

Tim, the question was really does anyone have any tips about maintaining concentration for the whole round and not letting 1 bad shot turn into 2,3,4 etc.

I have never played on my own at all, I cannot see any enjoyment in doing this.

The pace of the group in front of you would obviously appear very slow if you are a single player.

I don't think it was the slow play that affected your concentration, just the fact that you let this situation get the better of you on this occasion, if it didn't, then what is the reasoning behind your vastly improved play on the back nine, which incidently, I congratulate you on.

Thinking that the best concentration in the world will bring its rewards in par after par is wishful thinking, Alex, we all know that. It is amazing that when someone has done rather poorly in a competition the usual excuse is nearly always that they were three putting everywhere, and not the more likely reason they played a lot of poor shots during the round.

Personally I feel that it is confidence which enables us to play well and having confidence in ones abilities is what produces the goods.

Alex,

The thing that i always do if i think that my mind is wandering off, is to imagine the hole that im about to play and how i would like to play it (where i want my drive to go, what the hazards are, where my second shot into the green should be aimed and the contours of the green etc). Also if you have just had a bad hole try and block it out of your mind (I know this is easier said than done) also this goes for thinking ahead to much. Dont worry about that nightmare par4 that after this hole, just play the course one at a time. 

With regard to the Slow play, i tend to agree with John P on this one, players on there own shouldnt have an automatic right of way, however i do tend to let single players though as im not a huge fan of having people standing behind me at the tee's if i can help it. But i usually wait till a Par 3 and call them through. Other slow play is not acceptable, if you have found the rough, take 5 mins to have a look for it but a 15min expedition is not on. Also (this is one of my pet peve's and will prob come over harsh) but when the group infrount stand on the green and either figure out how many shots they have just taken or have a discussion while marking cards really winds me up.

Semi Rant over

Danny 

if you are a single player behind a 3 or 2 ball, as this is for the most part a friendly and gentlemanly game the thing to do would be to ask to join them, therfore speeding up the game for followers and hopfully making new friends

As a point of order may I refer you to the R&A Rules of Golf (http://www.randa.org/flash/rules/PDF/WEB_ROG_spreads.pdf) :-

Priority on the Course

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority on the course is determined by a group’s pace of play. Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round.The term “group” includes a single player.

Like it or not unless the committee has decided otherwise a single has the same status as a group and as such just because someone is a single player does not give you the right to hold them up. 

David, I did read your post and what your saying is the same thing, just worded differently. A larger group than you is obviously going to be slower than you and as you do not have priority then you will have to learn to live with it.

I agree with you, Brian, I would laways invite a single to join up, but most of the time they seem reluctant to do so, whether it is because they are shy, or have an inferiority complex or even a superior complex.

I never play on my own which usually means I have to ask people if they wouldn't mind if I joined them and probably 50% of the time I get refused, usually with the flimsiest of excuses.

James, I suggest you read what you have quoted again and you will notice that this has nothing at all to do with general priority.

Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round, key word is playing a shorter round.

You will also find that probably every recognised golf club in this country will state that a single player has no priority and for good reason.

Do you give up this easily on the course then David.

chris. surely a group playing in a comp have priority over those just playing a friendly or practice round, i'm sure thats the norm at my club, unless we are just more well mannered

Courtesy On The Course

Observing course etiquette ultimately ensures maximum enjoyment from the game. The R&A states that the 'overriding principle is that consideration should be shown to others on the course at all times'.

Golf balls leave the clubface at a frightening speed so safety is paramount at all times. Never tee off when players are within range and ensure playing partners are well clear when undertaking a practice swing.

Silence is golden
It's courtesy to keep quiet not only when playing partners are teeing off or putting out but for other groups on the course who may be putting or playing nearby.

Right of way
If you stray on to another fairway wait and check before playing your ball because courtesy lies with the players on the correct fairway.

Step to it
Players should play without delay wherever possible to speed up pace of play. This will include being ready to play, leaving bags or trolleys to enable a swift departure from green to next tee. Under Rule 6-7 it's actually possible to be penalised for undue delay and slow play.

Players searching for a ball should signal the players behind them to pass as soon as it becomes clear that the ball will not easily be found.

Players should not search for a ball for more than five minutes. To speed up play and avoid any unnecessary delay, play a provisional ball if there is the slightest doubt that the original ball might be lost. It saves traipsing back to the tee!

Once players have finished putting they should exit the green immediately, not stand there filling in scorecards and dissecting how they've pulled off a birdie/triple bogey (delete as applicable.)

Priority on the course - in the absence of special rules, two ball matches should have precedence over and be entitled to pass any three or four-ball match.

A single player has no standing and should give way to a match of any kind.

If a match fails to keep its place on the course and loses more than one clear hole on the players in front, it should invite the match following to pass.

are not acceptable on the course or within the Clubhouse. Each player must be in possession of a golf bag ... A single player has no standing and should give way to a ...

• www.scrabo-golf-club.org/etiquette.htm
• · Cached page

john bairstow (winter hill golf club)

Originally posted by Mrs Hilary Spiers on 2008-05-11 at 16:26

can you please tell my of the single player rule.has he or she any standing on the colf course,or is it mainly a local for our club to decide.

many thanks
john bairstow

+ Reply to this post

Originally posted by admin on 2008-05-12 at 10:33

John

For all Rules-related matters, I suggest you visit the main R&A website, www.randa.org. Here you can browse through the Rules online and even participate in an online quiz. All enquiries about Rules issues should be sent via this means.

However, as you have raised this issue, I would refer you to the Etiquette section of the Rules and specifically to the item "Priority on the course" which states that:

"Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority on the course is determined by a group's pace of play. Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round. The term "group" includes a single player."

The Etiquette section of the Rules merely provides guidelines and, as noted,the Club Committee has the final say on priority on the course.

Regards

Steve Isaac
Director - Golf Course Management
The R&A

I disagree with John's views on single play.  I start 80% of my rounds as a single player and often enjoy the solitude and the challenge of playing against the course.  I do also enjoy playing with others and starting a round on your own often allows you to hitch up with another group and play with an interesting mix of people.

 I am glad that the R and A have changed the ettiquette to give single players standing which I think is fair.  However I think that single players should not expect to be let through just because they are quicker.  The point made above by John about consideration being the overridding factor should hold sway.  If I go out as a single player and it is clear that the course is busy and the group in front of me is keeping pace with the group in front I would not expect them to call me through. 

However if the course is practically empty and I am behind a slower group I would expect the courtesy of being offered to play through at a convenient point.  I would just say here that I am amazed how many groups wait at a par 3 tee to let me play through which then means they have to wait till I have completed the hole before they can play again.  It seems far more sensible to be called through on a par 4 or par 5 tee where you can get out of the way much quicker.

Finally I would appeal to all players to stop the practice of hitting balls up other players backsides.  As John rightly says it is dangerous and also shows a lack of courtesy.  I hate the sound of a ball landing on the green when I've just taken my first step off it or to hear a ball landing behind me as I hit my second.  As a single player I always make sure that the group in front is well out of range before teeing off and let them clear the hole not just the green before hitting my approach.

The 'Etiquette' has no firm basis as a rule and you will find that any self respecting golf club will always have no standing for a single player, as I have shown to you all with my C & P's.

Chris I don't know, but it sounds as if your course is just nine holes, which of course will cause problems when other groups wish to start. The normal rule for this of course is that one alternates with those starting and those coming off the ninth.

If it is an 18 hole course then I cannot see how you allowed anyone to jump in in front of you. I most certainly would never have allowed it and they would have been told quite firmly that they had no right to do so.

John you either play to the etiquette or you don't.  You cannot just pick and choose as you often point out about the rules and rightly so. 

I accept courses make local rules and I always check them before playing and would abide by them.  However I do not think that giving single players no standing via the local rules is as wide spread as you think.  Certainly the four courses I play regularly have no such local rule. 

If all players show courtesy a mixture of groups should not cause a problem  ie single players and two balls shouldn't try and barge their way around at busy times and larger/slower groups should let smaller faster groups through when there is space ahead of them at quieter times.

Jon W, The Etiquette is what the golf club decides, not me or you and we have to abide by their version of it and the majority of clubs will have no standing for a single player.

I think the problem these days is that there are many new courses which are not run on the same lines as a real golf club. That is they are play and pay and their only interest is how much they can take at the till, whereas private members clubs are run for the benefit of their members and if you are serious about the game they are the only clubs worth joining.

I have the same situation at my club which is part of a very large group with over fifty courses, only a few of them were members clubs before being taken over the rest being play and  pay. Money is the bottom line and because of that we see the usual clowns on the first tee with shirts hanging out of their trousers, trainers and a standard of play that one knows will take at least five hours to go round.

Societies abound and whilst some are very good there are some that just do not have a clue.

I hate to hold anyone up and am the first one to let faster groups through, but it is no use you coming to my club as a single player and teeing off immediately after our competition group on a Monday and Thursday and expect to be called through. It just will not happen.

Rules are there to be enforced and Etiquette is not a rule, but something that every golfer should abide by and if a club states that a single player has no standing then he should respect it.

Alex, in answer to your question, If you are trying to concentrate for the whole round which generally is  4hrs and getting longer, you will never do it.You only need to concentrate when you're stood over the ball.Between shots think about something else or talk b~@#cks to your playing partners, then re-focus on your next shot.

Who does this? I have been guilty myself,thinking of your next shot immediately after the shot you've just had. This is not a good idea as you can't really know what your next shot will be until you arrive at ball, you wont know what the lie will be like,the yardage and how the wind is doing.If you tend to do this and then you have to play a different shot you now have two shots in your head, and then play neither.

So in short clear your mind of golf between shots,that's what the pro's do. 

If you are on your own practice chipping around the tee box area while you wait,improve your short game.

Alex,

I don't mind being held up a little as I find I relax a touch and think less about my game.  As someone in the middle of this posted, don't try to concentrate for the whole round.  You don't need to and you'll go mad.  What you need is a start and finish trigger as Steve said above.  My start trigger is to walk behind my ball and spin my club in my right hand (old habit from when I used to play squash).  Checking the target line from behind the ball is the start of my concentration.  I have the same pre-shot routine too.  My finish trigger is as I walk away from the spot at which I played the shot.  I allow myself a swear or personal pat on the back until the club is in the bag and then I chill until the next shot. 

As regards etiquette and singles, we always give a single behind us the choice if we are holding them up; do you want to join us or play through.  Sometimes their playing partner has let them down and they're happy to join up.  Sometimes they've a got a few hours spare between meetings and they're trying to get as many holes in as they can (usually this is me).  Depending on their circumstance, they'll do what is appropriate for them and we're not offended if they just want to go through.  No one likes to be held up on the course and I don't think it matters on the size of the group.  If you are holding someone up and have clear course in front of you, let them through. 

No problem David.  Hard part is sticking to it!!!

You should be giving me tips!  I''ve been playing longer than you but you're giving me 8 shots!

I played with a lad from work recently (plays off 4.5).  He told me there's nothing wrong with my golf, it's my head.  I analyse too much, think too much and take too long over the ball.  "Just bloody hit the thing then forget about how it got to where it is" was his advice to me.

Chris,

I always found you played better when you just hit the ball rather than taking your practice swings etc.

Did you get the PM I sent you??

John.

I don't take a practice swing now John, except with my fairway woodsfor some reason.  Yes I got your PM and I'm tempted.  Haven't had the time to look into properly yet though. 

Did you see there is now a golf only package available for Patshull?  I know you asked about this as well as me and was told there wasn't one at first.  I'm playing in the high handicap comp in Tamworth now so can't play. 

Chris,

The next MAB society is at Patshull if you wanted to play it?? If you decide to join then mention my name. There a good bunch of lads & there are quite a few high handicap players.

John.