Tag Archives: club tournament

Unfathomable Phenomenon, Part 2

28 Jul

The mind is a powerful thing. Today I decided to be more disciplined in my thoughts during the golf game. Week in, week out, I play so badly at my home club; it has created a lot of self-doubt and a loss of confidence. There’s nothing to lose this week except maybe the contributed pool money for the winners.

I manifested more positivity and made some changes to my approach. I also decided to use that big-ass golf umbrella instead of my usual minuscule one to protect myself from the sun and heat. Since I always collapse after the turn, I thought a bigger umbrella might help eliminate the discomfort. And it did help!

I tuned out the other players in my flight and focused on my approach for every shot. All these little measures and changes helped amazingly. The heat did not get to me, and the external noise from the chatter did not affect my swing or focus. Putting was good at 30 despite raking up three holes where I three-putted. A case of could-have and should-have. Oh well.

It’s funny how all these small adjustments seem to work out well. Why didn’t I think of these changes before, and had to endure so many rounds of unsatisfactory golf? So today is the first time after so many rounds that I finally managed to play under my club handicap at my home club! Wheee, a truly rewarding feeling.

To cap off the satisfaction, I was joint second runners-up in the group, and was duly rewarded from the pool money. Nice! The unfathomable phenomenon is basically a mind game, a test of mental strength, and I did well in today’s game. This is just as important as the golf swing and all. Fixed my mindset, changed my attitude, and focused on my approach. Now that I know what I should actually do, I hope to maintain the outlook and start playing better golf from now on. My next game is this Thursday.

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Unfathomable Phenomenon

21 Jul

Every week I play golf, and it has become routine. However, every time I play at my home course, I experience an unfathomable phenomenon. I become a nine-hole player, even though I play 18 holes. In other words, in the first nine, I play superbly, but in the second nine, I collapse.

Is it the course? The weather? Me? I cannot understand why I’m always like this. To illustrate the silly phenomenon, after my return from Johor, for two consecutive games recently—one during a club tournament on Sunday and the other a friendly social among my weekday group today—both outcomes were the same! The first half of the game was good, but the minute our flight crossed over and the sun came out, everything fell apart. So predictable! Hrmph.

Perhaps my mental strength melts away whenever the sun is out? I couldn’t do this and that, as if I were a novice at this game called golf. I really don’t understand. However, when I play at other courses, I play well. The perfect example being the recent game at Port Dickson where I achieved a personal best gross score. And it’s the same sun, and not like somewhere cooler, just a different state and golf course. An unfathomable phenomenon indeed.

But of late, the weather has been very extreme, so the heat does take a toll on me. And this shows in the golf score, unfortunately. I rest for a week before I try again next week. And knowing the weather and heat will take a toll on my mental strength, I need to prepare better for it. We will find out next week; stay tuned.

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