• 26 September 2024
• 216 Views
• by Unknown Golfer

The Unknown Golfer: Seeing through the red mist

Last week I was flying. Not literally up there in the clouds, but in golfing terms. It was a lovely sunny afternoon, playing eighteen holes at a beautiful woodland course nestled deep in the heart of the middle English countryside. 

First hole was a little jittery. Flatted the tee shot because I swung too quick, took a few deep breathes to calm the nervousness of playing with good club golfers in a friendly pairs match then got down the first hole in five shots. 

The 2^nd and 3^rd were solid pars. A birdie at the 4^th followed by another birdie at the 5^th, and I was one under for the round… heady stuff and relatively unknown territory.

Settling into the game and swinging well now (for me anyway), I was three over at the turn and feeling optimistic about my chances of a recording a decent score to help lower my much-monitored WHS Index handicap – even breaking the fabled 80… 

At the 12^th hole (a long par 5, stroke index 1) the wind was blowing just enough left to right to help errant sliced tee shots over a winding 6ft estate wall. My playing partners warned of this and then all hit drives high and right themselves. Not out of bounds but in the rough and playing out.

I saw my chance to be that sensible, clinical match play golfer. 

Returning to my bag I replaced the driver with my 3 wood and strode confidently back to the tee intent on placing the ball gently down the middle of the fairway and advantage us…

Well, that was the plan anyway – the problem was that my head didn’t bother to tell the rest of my body that my arms were already swinging. What followed was an enormous banana slice that should have come served with whipped cream and marshmallows.

The red mist descended like yet another abnormal climate change downpour. Scolding the 3 wood like a naughty schoolchild I grabbed my driver back out of the bag; teed a second ball up (an orange Volvik so I knew it was my provisional); and went for broke. 

Five minutes later I was trying to dig that same small orange spherical out of the thick rough in front of an overly-familiar estate wall. Five minutes after that and I was traipsing off the green with a big fat 10 on my card.

Final score: Gross 90. A very friendly, fun match lost by 2.

“Oh well.” “It is what it is.” “Happy days. At least the sun was out” … and other assorted platitudes.

One bad shot per hole in this game is manageable and most times retrievable. 

But two bad shots back-to-back and you’re always up against it, if not digging your own golfing grave.

Roll on the next time 🙂

The Unknown Golfer

www.golfretreats.com is NOT a conventional golf trip company. We create high quality, guided coaching experiences to help all player abilities progress their golf game in a fun and enjoyable way. 

We’re passionate about what we do and the people we do it for. Our promise to you is that at the end of your stay, you will go home a better golfer.