24 replies to this topic

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

My count is now at two.

First time was a couple months ago and I tried to "sneak up" on breaking 80. I was playing OK but not great with a 40 on the front nine then a bogey and a double early on the back nine. But a birdie on the 17th hole meant I just needed par on 18 to shoot 79. Hit my approach in the bunker, made a heroic effort at a long bunker shot then lipped out my 4-1/2 footer. That was my first 80.

Fast forward to yesterday. By luck of the draw, my 80 from September was due to be replaced in the handicap computer by whatever I shot yesterday.

This time I tried doing it the hard way. Parred the first four holes, three-putt double on the fitth, another bogey on the seventh followed by birde on eight and par on nine for a 38. Now the pressure's one because I'm making the turn to the shortest and easiest of our three nines. Alternating pars and bogeys have me at four over (for the nine) coming to the last hole. Need par for 78, bogey for 79.

Tee shot was perfect, the longest I've hit on that hole in probably a year or more and right down the pipe. Then the first speed bump. Just as I was starting my takeaway on my 5-iron approach some guy on the tee box of an adjacent hole puts his cart in reverse. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP...and a fat shot comes up 30 yards short of the green. No worries, plenty of green to work with, just pitch it into the middle of the green and two putt.

Predictably enough, the little pitch shot was hit just a bit fat and stops in the front fringe. Ran the 40-foot putt five feet past and you can guess the rest. Three-putt double, my second of the day. Another 80.

So what's the over/under on how many more time I'll have to shoot 80 before I finally break through with that 78 or 79? Man I hope I can get it done before the weather turns crummy in January/February...

[PDunny]

I hovered around 80 for a while, shooting very low 80's probably10/15 times, then bang a 78, followed by 76, 79 etc.  If just happened as it will for you.  Once you do, you'll find it relatively easy to repeat.

Just relax and play what's in front of you.

[schuyler]

Zero times. I shot in the low 80's for a year then one day I started off +5 thru 7 then I made 10 pars in a row and doubled 18 for a 79. After that I started shooting in the 70's somewhat consistently. Just keep at it, it will probably happen on a day when you least expect it.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

Yesterday was definitely a least-expect day given that I had just shot a 98 on Saturday including dunking my tee shot in the water on three holes in a row to start the back nine. I think a stroke-a-hole is one of the biggest round to round swings for me, ever.

Then again, during the 98 on Saturday I parred four of the last five holes so obviously something was changing! So let's see, on this 36-hole weekend through 13 holes I was 24 over par then for the final 23 holes I was 10 over par. Go figure.

You know, sometimes shooting a million one day means going out the next day and just not giving a darn. That can be a helpful thing.

[chiphunt]

The biggest problem is the mental barrier. I shot 80 a bunch of times before breaking into the 70s. Just as you seem to be doing I was thinking score, score, score. If I got off to a good start, say +1 after 5-6 holes, I would start thinking today is the day I break 80. Well as soon as you start thinking final score is when you mentally break down and get ahead of yourself.  Breaking 70 regularly is my goal now and I admit I still start thinking final score sometimes. I'll be on number 14 at two under par and start thinking 68 or 69 and before you know it I'm 1 over par again. It's so difficult to break through that mental barrier and not get ahead of yourself. You are probably picturing yourself in total bliss after the round with that 78 on your scorecard having a beer. Then bam you hit one OB or three-putt...ha

[duffer987]

Good question. Since it was 1998 I don't remember
But seriously how many times I was right on the number 80, I think would be very very very low.
This year I have a 78 and then some 81's and 82's, but I don't have a single 80.
It's just a number - allbeit a nice one for those of us with double-digit handicaps - so I never fret over it. If I wanted to chase rounds in the 70s I could play a simple par 71 track five miles down the road from my home course and without a doubt some of my low 80s this year would have converted into a 78 or 79.
Like most things, the chase is more compelling than the result. When you finish a round that has a 7 on the front of it you'll wonder what the fuss was all about

[cwglum]

A few times over the course of the same summer, shot 80 3-4 times before breaking 80 that fall.  Spent a few summers shooting in the 70's 3-4 times per year and finally started being a member and increased my rounds quite a bit, shoot in the 70s more times than not now.  Unless you've got a specific area that's hindering your game .... it's basically a case of being around that barrier enough times to be able ignore the score and just hit the shot.

[HoosierHacker89]

I shot 80 even at least 20 times before I finally broke it this year. I actually shot under 80 7 times this season after I got that monkey off my nack.

[atlanta golfer]

Not many at all.  You can't be thinking about a specific number, coming down to the last few holes.  Mentally that just doesn't work out.

[RRFireblade]

It's going to be tough if it's so deep in your thoughts. I know it's hard but you have to go out and say that shoot 75. You really have to convince yourself and believe it though.

Edited by RRFireblade, 05 November 2012 - 12:14 PM.

[Featherhammer]

Keeping your score out of sight can really help! Just add it up at the end of the round and you'll be surprised. Admittedly, it's hard to do. I'll get my score in my head around 15 or 16 when I know I have a good round going and then proceed to blow it. Staying detached from your score until the end of your round can really help, though. Keeps you 'in charge' of each of your shots.

[MDCallaway]

I shot 80 4-5 times with a bunch of 81-82's thrown in there. Worst one was when I made the turn at 1 over 37. Went to back 9 and really the only hard holes on that side are 10 and 11. Par 10 bogey 11. Thought id cruise in. Blew up and tripled the easiest hole on the course. Only 475 yard par 5 that I can reach in 2 most times. I learned to stop playing for a number and play golf. My buddy knew I'm a head case and saw I was playing well. He took the card from me after he saw me playing well. Added up at the end shot 76. I need a shrink haha

[Kadin 25]

Exactly 80? I'm not sure before shooting 79. I can tell you this though, I shoot "80" more now that I shoot in the 70's, that drives me crazy!  

[MDCallaway]

Kadin 25, on 05 November 2012 - 01:34 PM, said:

Exactly 80? I'm not sure before shooting 79. I can tell you this though, I shoot "80" more now that I shoot in the 70's, that drives me crazy!  

I just shot 80 last round. Doubled 18 from the middle of the fairway with only 130 to center of the green. I was a little annoyed. Shortsided myself and tried getting cute with it and left myself shortsided again

[One Gray GLI]

I shot 80 a couple times in a row at my home course before finally breaking 80....with a 75. Each and every time I shot 80, it was blowing up at the end because I was more focused on score.  It's hard not to do it, but just staying in the moment and one shot/hole at a time is the best way to do it.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

I never carry a scorecard but, unlike breaking 100 where you need a lot of fingers and toes to count up how far over par you are, when you're shooting around 80 the score is almost impossible not to know in your head. Darned near comes down to "how many bogies does that make" although I complicated it a bit with my two doubles.

For several months now I've been on the fence about playing from the so-called "senior" or black tees at my club. I definitely have more fun playing up but it's always vaguely embarrassing to be teeing off with the guys 10, 20 years older than me. But I think it will do me good to stick to the blacks for a while until I've shot, say, a couple of high 70's scores. Give myself as many chances as possible to learn to ignore the magic "80" number and just play my game.

In my whole (golf) life I've had really one legitimate chances at breaking 80 from the white tees coming down the stretch for the last few holes. I've played the black tees at my home course maybe 50 times (versus 500+ rounds from the whites) and shot 80, 81, 82 about one out of ten of those rounds. Realistically an 84 from the whites is probably a "better score" for a 19-handicapper than a 79 would be, or at least pretty comparable. But it sure is more fun tormenting myself with trying to grind it out for the last hole and break 80 than to need a par on 18 for an 82.

Edited by Fourmyle of Ceres, 05 November 2012 - 04:10 PM.

[MadGolfer76]

It is tough sometimes, because cats who go out and shoot a number of low-80's scores and want to break into the 70's often get it in their heads and try to force through it. The best way is to just get lucky and fall into a round in the 70's where you don't notice how well you are scoring until the end. That is how it happened for me. Shot a couple 83's/84's (maybe an 81), and then BOOM! - 77. Shot maybe one or two more 80's rounds and then rarely shot out of the 70's after that. I was putting in a lot of time practicing and playing back then, so that had an effect.

[mooseman76]

I still haven't broken 80, but did shoot 80 once. I knew I was playing well, had no idea what my score was. On hole 17 I hit probably my best drive of the day and was waiting fir the green to clear. I took a peak at my scorecard and noticed I sat at 69. Bogey, bogey and I did it. Duck hooked my next shot into the tree line. Ended up finishing 6-5 for an 80. Doh...

[MNNikeGuy]

I must of hit 80 atleast 20 times! once my hcp card had 8- 80's on it! i hate that #! i've had 4 rounds that i went 36-44 and almost gave up golf all together. Then one day the 70's came in gang busters.

[MizzyMan]

I think I shot 77 first time breaking 80. What worked for me was on a day when I was feeling good about my game warming up, I had a goal of shooting 75. Didn't even think about breaking 80. 83 was my best (I was in high school) and I had only been playing about a year or so, so I knew I would eventually. But don't set a goal of breaking 80, have a lower goal and you'll get there. I've seen too many people trying to break 80 that get so worked up on the last few holes that they almost play defensively if they are 6 or 7 over. Only to blow it at the end. Try to go low!

[hoganfan924]

I think it was zero.  Long time ago, shot 78.  Think previous best was 81

[highergr0und]

I think I shot 80 on the number one time before breaking it.....

[UKGolfer123]

Still yet to break 80 unfortunately mate......
I have had one score of eighty about 3 months back.
Consistantly shoot in the lower to mid eighties.
I wouldn't sweat thngs though, it will happen suddenly and you won't look back   I am using that positive thinking for my game too.

[sonofagunn]

None. I've broken 80 twice, but never shot it exactly.

[Sean2]

Twice.