Opinion & Analysis
What’s your ideal 3-hole start to a round of golf?
I asked my friend and frequent golfing companion Sanders a few weeks ago if he would rather start bogey-birdie-par, or birdie-par-bogey. He gave me a very strange look like maybe I had sat in the sun for too long, or gone too long without making a birdie.
Then he answered, “Doesn’t matter, boss. I’m even par either way.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I tried to explain. “Don’t you think there’s a big difference between opening with a birdie and opening with a bogey? Even if you’re still at the same score after the first three holes.”
He again gave me a quizzical look – and suggested I take a drink of water or better yet, pour a little water over my head to cool down this fine desert morning.
“No, if you’re even par after three holes, that’s your score. It doesn’t matter how you get there,” he said.
“I started birdie, birdie once,” I told him.
“What’d you end up shooting?” Sanders asked.
“I honestly don’t remember,” I said, even though I did remember that I was way over nervous on the third tee and I think I pulled my driver into the trees and made a double there.
“Then you were even after three, so it’s still a good start.”
Tim and Jose were the others in our group that day and so I asked them how they’d like to start.
Tim said he’d like to open birdie, birdie, birdie.
“If you did,” Jose said, “you’d probably double, double, double from there and not even shoot 40 on the front nine.”
“You might be right, but I’d like to try it and find out.”
“I think I’d always rather start with a birdie than a bogey,” Jose said. “There’s never a guarantee if you open with a bogey that you’re ever going to make the birdie to get back to even.”
Finally Sanders seemed interested in the conversation.
“I think if you make about a six-foot bogey putt, maybe with a little break or something you really have to grind on, on No. 1, and then come right back and get a birdie, I think that’s the day you can have a really great round.”
“And if you miss that six-footer for bogey?” I let my voice trail off in the question.
“Don’t get the negative mojo going here,” he snapped, then gave me a look like maybe I needed a beer instead of the water I was chugging.
I thought Sanders maybe isn’t as obsessed about golf as I am, but then he told me:
“I remember my best round ever, a 71,” he said. “I missed a six-foot birdie putt on the first hole and almost three putted it into a bogey. Then I made a 20-footer on the second hole and played great all day. I think it was missing the first birdie putt and then almost missing the two-footer coming back on number one that helped me focus my concentration.”
On a different day at a different course I played with a 35-year-old flag-stick-thin guy who hit the elastomer off the ball. He opened all pars on the first five and I said to him, “You’re off to a good start.”
I guess he didn’t like my talent for understatement or he was just feeling ornery that day. Or maybe it was that he’d been on the first hole, a par-5, in two and three putted for par.
“It’s not how you start,“ he said, “it’s how you play the middle of the round. That’s the key for me, don’t hurt yourself too much in the beginning six holes, then settle into the round and play the next six holes solid. If I can do that, I’m in position, I’m in the mindset to finish strong the last six, and that’s where the round is won or lost.”
I asked him what his best start ever was.
“I eagled No. 1 and birdied No. 2 here a few weeks ago,” and now I realized why he wasn’t particularly happy about his even par open today. “I ended up giving a couple of strokes back but still played good. I wish it had been a skins game.”
While we waited on the No. 6 for the group ahead to putt out on the par-3, I asked if he always played his rounds in six-hole segments.
“No,” he said with a gleam in his eye and a sly smile. “I actually play the round in three-hole segments, six of them. When I play them all in even or one-over par, I’m in the mid-70s where I belong.”
“What happens if you’re two or three over for three holes?” I wondered.
“Then I play the next three holes like it’s its own group again. You have to forget about the bad things that happened and move on to the next opportunity.”
The group in front of us was walking off the green and back to their carts.
“It’s always about what you’re going to do next,” he said. And then he carved a little 6-iron in to about 15 feet.
Saturday I played with Sanders again, and his friends Jeremy and Brock. Brock birdied the first hole, parred the second and bogeyed the third.
I told him there’s nothing wrong with being even par after three.
“I’d rather par the first, bogey the second and then birdie the third,” he said.
What’s your best start ever? Let us know in the comments section below. And check out the inspirational story of one golfer trying to shoot the round of his life at 7-ironpress.com. The book is called A Perfect Lie – The Hole Truth and you can get free shipping on the paperback with the code GOLFWRX, or $4 off the e-book when you enter the code GOLFWRX1 at check-out.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s LIV Golf Singapore betting preview: Course specialist ready to thrive once again
After another strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.
Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest’s top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Prior to being part of the LIV rotation, the course hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.
Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It’s possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to Asian Tour player, Travis Smyth, who described the greens as “the best [he’s] ever played.”
Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.
“I love the greens. They are fabulous,” the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.
Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.
“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee.”
“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big.”
As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.
In his pre-tournament press conference last season, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.
“To play Sentosa effectively, you’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”
Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.
Stat Leaders at LIV Golf Adelaide:
Fairways Hit
1.) Louis Oosthuizen
2.) Anirban Lahiri
3.) Jon Rahm
4.) Brendan Steele
5.) Cameron Tringale
Greens in Regulation
1.) Brooks Koepka
2.) Brendan Steele
3.) Dean Burmester
4.) Cameron Tringale
5.) Anirban Lahiri
Birdies Made
1.) Brendan Steele
2.) Dean Burmester
3.) Thomas Pieters
4.) Patrick Reed
5.) Carlos Ortiz
LIV Golf Individual Standings:
1.) Joaquin Niemann
2.) Jon Rahm
3.) Dean Burmester
4.) Louis Oosthuizen
5.) Abraham Ancer
LIV Golf Team Standings:
1.) Crushers
2.) Legion XIII
3.) Torque
4.) Stinger GC
5.) Ripper GC
LIV Golf Singapore Picks
Sergio Garcia +3000 (DraftKings)
Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by five strokes and lost in a playoff at LIV Singapore last year to scorching hot Talor Gooch. Looking at the course setup, it’s no surprise that a player like Sergio has played incredible golf here. He’s long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he’s in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces. He’s putt extremely well on Sentosa’s incredibly pure green complexes.
This season, Garcia has two runner-up finishes, both of them being playoff losses. Both El Camaleon and Doral are courses he’s had success at in his career. The Spaniard is a player who plays well at his tracks, and Sentosa is one of them. I believe Sergio will get himself in the mix this week. Hopefully the third time is a charm in Singapore.
Paul Casey +3300 (FanDuel)
Paul Casey is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the five years or so. The results recently have been up and down, but he’s shown that when he’s on a golf course that suits his game, he’s amongst the contenders.
This season, Casey has finishes of T5 (LIV Las Vegas), T2 (LIV Hong Kong), and a 6th at the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour. At his best, the Englishman is one of the best long iron players in the world, which makes him a strong fit for Sentosa. Despite being in poor form last season, he was able to fire a Sunday 63, which shows he can low here at the course.
It’s been three years since Casey has won a tournament (Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021), but he’s been one of the top players on LIV this season and I think he can get it done at some point this season.
Mito Pereira +5000 (Bet365)
Since Mito Pereira’s unfortunate demise at the 2022 PGA Championship, he’s been extremely inconsistent. However, over the past few months, the Chilean has played well on the International Series as well as his most recent LIV start. Mito finished 8th at LIV Adelaide, which was his best LIV finish this season.
Last year, Pereira finished 5th at LIV Singapore, shooting fantastic rounds of 67-66-66. It makes sense why Mito would like Sentosa, as preeminent ball strikers tend to rise to the challenge of the golf course. He’s a great long iron player who is long and straight off the tee.
Mito has some experience playing in Asia and is one of the most talented players on LIV who’s yet to get in the winner’s circle. I have questions about whether or not he can come through once in contention, but if he gets there, I’m happy to roll the dice.
Andy Ogletree +15000 (DraftKings)
Andy Ogletree is a player I expected to have a strong 2024 but struggled early in his first full season on LIV. After failing to crack the top-25 in any LIV event this year, the former U.S. Amateur champion finally figured things out, finished in a tie for 3rd at LIV Adelaide.
Ogletree should be incredible comfortable playing in Singapore. He won the International Series Qatar last year and finished T3 at the International Series Singapore. The 26-year-old was arguably the best player on the Asian Tour in 2023 and has been fantastic in the continent over the past 18 months.
If Ogletree has indeed found form, he looks to be an amazing value at triple-digit odds.
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In Tampa, there is a golf course that boasts carts that do not work, a water range, and a group of players none of which have any chance to break 80. The course is overseen by a staff of crusty men who have succeeded at nothing in life but ending up at the worst-run course in America. However, this place is no failure. With several other local courses going out of business — and boasting outstanding greens — the place is booked full.
While I came for the great greens, I stayed to watch our resident instructor; a poor-tempered, method teacher who caters to the hopeless. At first, it was simply hilarious. However, after months of listening and watching, something clicked. I realized I had a front-row seat to the worst golf instructor in America.
Here are some of my key takeaways.
Method Teacher
It is widely accepted that there are three types of golf instructors: system teachers, non-system teachers, and method teachers. Method teachers prescribe the same antidote for each student based on a preamble which teachers can learn in a couple day certification.
Method teaching allows anyone to be certified. This process caters to the lowest caliber instructor, creating the illusion of competency. This empowers these underqualified instructors with the moniker of “certified” to prey on the innocent and uninformed.
The Cult of Stack and Jilt
The Stack and Tilt website proudly boasts, “A golfer swings his hands inward in the backswing as opposed to straight back to 1) create power, similar to a field goal kicker moving his leg in an arc and 2) to promote a swing that is in-to-out, which produces a draw (and eliminates a slice).”
Now, let me tell you something, there is this law of the universe which says “energy can either be created or destroyed,” so either these guys are defying physics or they have no idea what they are taking about. Further, the idea that the first move of the backswing determines impact is conjecture with a splash of utter fantasy.
These are the pontifications of a method — a set of prescriptions applied to everyone with the hope of some success through the placebo effect. It is one thing for a naive student to believe, for a golf instructor to drink and then dispel this Kool-Aid is malpractice.
Fooled by Randomness
In flipping a coin, or even a March Madness bet, there is a 50-50 chance of success. In golf, especially for new players, results are asymmetric. Simply put: Anything can happen. The problem is that when bad instructors work with high handicappers, each and every shot gets its own diagnosis and prescription. Soon the student is overwhelmed.
Now here’s the sinister thing: The overwhelming information is by design. In this case, the coach is not trying to make you better, they are trying to make you reliant on them for information. A quasi Stockholm syndrome of codependency.
Practice
One of the most important scientists of the 20th century was Ivan Pavlov. As you might recall, he found that animals, including humans, could be conditioned into biological responses. In golf, the idea of practice has made millions of hackers salivate that they are one lesson or practice session from “the secret.”
Sunk Cost
The idea for the worst golf instructor is to create control and dependency so that clients ignore the sunk cost of not getting better. Instead, they are held hostage by the idea that they are one lesson or tip away from unlocking their potential.
Cliches
Cliches have the effect of terminating thoughts. However, they are the weapon of choice for this instructor. Add some hyperbole and students actually get no information. As a result, these players couldn’t play golf. When they did, they had no real scheme. With no idea what they are doing, they would descend into a spiral of no idea what to do, bad results, lower confidence, and running back to the lesson tee from more cliches.
The fact is that poor instruction is about conditioning players to become reliant members of your cult. To take away autonomy. To use practice as a form of control. To sell more golf lessons not by making people better but through the guise that without the teacher, the student can never reach their full potential. All under the umbrella of being “certified” (in a 2-day course!) and a melee of cliches.
This of course is not just happening at my muni but is a systemic problem around the country and around the world, the consequences of which are giving people a great reason to stop playing golf. But hey, at least it’s selling a lot of golf balls…
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The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.
TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.
Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.
However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.
Past Winners at TPC Louisiana
- 2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
- 2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
- 2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
- 2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
- 2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
- 2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)
2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks
Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)
Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.
This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.
McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.
Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)
Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.
Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.
Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)
Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.
NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.
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Chuck Zirkle
Jan 13, 2016 at 7:55 pm
12/23/15: Birdie tap in putt, birdie chip in, long birdie putt. Three under. Capped it off with an ace on the fourth hole for five under after four holes. Had to pinch myself. Was up five skins. Shot four under on front nine. A dream three holes and early Christmas present.
Matthew Bacon
Jan 1, 2016 at 11:54 am
Bogey Birdie Par
I’m more likely on the home course for birdie-bogey-par
Patrick
Dec 31, 2015 at 10:05 am
The course I belong to has an interesting 3 hole start. The first hole is a 14 handicap hole, the second a 5 handicap and the third is the number one stroke hole. So, the goal is to go even par and one over at the worst. This course has a slope rating of 128 from the white tees so it’s got some forced carries and the wind is a challenge being near an ocean. Until I read the article, I didn’t understand the theme but it’s relevant for certain courses.
In a tournament my goal is just fairways and greens. Par is a good score and birdies are a bonus. If your a tournament player you’ll know that doubles are killers and sometimes bogeys are acceptable.
Bob Jones
Dec 30, 2015 at 6:43 pm
I never worry about a start. Last summer I double-bogied the first hole and shot a 36 for the nine. My best-ever score is a 75, that began at two over after four holes. Play one hole, forget it, and go on to the next one. Add ’em up when the round is over.
Courtney
Dec 30, 2015 at 1:14 pm
The ultimate start has to be Karen Stupples’ 2004 Women’s British Open win at Sunningdale. Her first round started Eagle – Double Eagle. Her caddy/husband said, “we might as well shoot 59” after those first two holes.
Aaron
Dec 30, 2015 at 10:58 am
So apparently not liking the article and commenting in such a fashion gets your comment pulled?! Hey WRX management what’s wrong with not liking your content at times? Shouldn’t that help you to understand your demographic and prepare articles that are more in line with your reader’s interests? My comment contained no vulgarity, or any level of inappropriateness but rather a statement that reflected my opinion that the premise and substance of this article is dumb. I stand by the statement that this is the dumbest article I have ever read on here and I am disappointed that commenting my view was “censored” by removal. This site is supposed to be about dialogue and at times disagreement on things “golf”. Instead of removing someone’s point of view maybe you could offer a counter point that could be used to have a discussion???
devilsadvocate
Jan 1, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Lol u mad bro? Why wouldn’t they let you say you thought the article was “stupid”?? Obviously that contributes so much insight and depth to the conversation!! These simple-minded editors have not the stomach for true philosophical analysis or debate!!
Double Mocha Man
Dec 29, 2015 at 11:42 am
I like to start off eagle, eagle, hole-in-one. Then I can relax, skate in and finish around 80.
Jeff*
Dec 28, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Really doesn’t matter, because the next shot is all I can control. So on the first tee, I’m just thinking how lucky I am to be playing golf, the only thing I can do is to focus on my routine, tempo, set up, and that gives me the best chance at hitting the best possible next shot. That’s what it’s all about for me.
Stickburn
Dec 28, 2015 at 4:57 pm
3 holes increments? I look at the game completely different.
I shoot 67 everytime I play. Once I hit 67 I am finished. So instead of seeing how low I can go for 18 holes I try to see how far I can get. Kind of like a pitch count for a pitcher coming off a rehab assignment.
Double Mocha Man
Dec 29, 2015 at 11:46 am
So Stickburn, if you played Pebble Beach from the back tees and achieved your 67 after hole #10 you’d walk in the full mile and a half?
Rob
Dec 29, 2015 at 2:24 pm
I’m sure the courses you play at love that you end your “round” after hole #13
Wreiman
Dec 28, 2015 at 2:21 pm
On my normal course I’m good with par, par, bogey. If I’m on top of my game, it could easily be par, bird, par, But the later is my normal. I find if I and in that mode , the round will be pretty good. The other week I was even par on the first holes… then doubled my way into the clubhouse before a few beers stopped the bleeding…
Jamie
Dec 28, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Started off Par-Par-Par just a few weeks ago…and thought that maybe it would be a great cold weather round. I proceeded to fall apart on hole # 6 after 3 putting and wrecked #7. Mentally I think 3 hole segments are a great idea…you try to win each segment as opposed to focusing on the round as a whole.
Jam
Dec 28, 2015 at 11:28 am
It completely depends on the golf course, especially if you play competitively. Each hole has to be played as an individual and separate golf tournament. Difficult to do, but the best way to be successful.
Jack
Dec 28, 2015 at 2:07 am
Yeah I like the 3 hole segments. The 1 hole segments just becomes a 9 hole torture fest. Going to try this next time.
ooffa
Dec 27, 2015 at 10:03 pm
Well that’s it. Golfwrx has finally run out of things to write about. They had a nice run though. I hate to see it end like this.
Progolfer
Dec 28, 2015 at 12:25 am
Hahaha! Exactly what I was thinking!
Tom
Dec 29, 2015 at 12:32 am
you weekend hacker ….you.
Double Mocha Man
Dec 27, 2015 at 6:12 pm
I play 18 holes in 1 hole segments.
jakeanderson
Dec 27, 2015 at 6:12 pm
i usually start with three birdies and close in with 15 birdies. if you play worse than that, you really should not even bother.
Hack lefty
Dec 27, 2015 at 2:29 pm
Best three hole start ever was birdie, eagle, par. Thought I was high on drugs or someone spiked my Gatorade, went on to shoot 86 haha
DK
Dec 27, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Uh, that would be BIRDIE – BIRDIE – BIRDIE
Ronald Montesano
Dec 27, 2015 at 12:28 pm
I’m a personal and professional fan of the three-hole increments. Even if you play one shot at a time, you should still be aware of how you stand. When I coach high school golfers (female and male) I follow the same procedure with them.
We came by this honestly because our boys used to play a three-hole, match-play formula (for a point each set) plus a nine-hole point: four points per match. The fellows were forced to go three by three by three. Some grasped the notion, while others struggled. Next season, we’ll switch scoring systems to a nine-hole, medal score, eliminating the head-to-head aspect. I’m hoping that the fellows will still focus on the three-hole segments.
Alfredo Smith
Dec 30, 2015 at 11:29 am
Ronald that scoring format sounds delicious! You can loose the first 2 segments by being down by two, then win three holes (7,8 &9) and be one up, for the 9 holes, thus splitting the match. With 4 ways to score it gives you multiple ways to get the juices flowing!