Compete or just play your own game?

[XTOUR]

I agree...Slammer tour is all about match play at every event. You would be suprised at how many lower hdcpers lose to higher ones.

[nokids]

oh man, i just read this entire thread start to finish and i have a headache. gotta agree with donny, it's no fun!

so last week, for the first time in my short golfing career, i played golf for money (with Kilroy). our handicaps were roughly the same (14.8 at the time), and so we didn't have to give each other strokes. it was straight up, $1 per hole.

i played almost exactly up to my handicap and Kilroy played worse than his handicap. to me, playing for money doesn't motivate my game, it's more of a distraction. so i probably would never have the intestinal fortitude to play in a tournament. like jonf, the pressure would probably suffocate me. that's just my prediction, i'll have to enter a few tournaments to see if my worst fears are true, that i'm a choker!

what motivates me every time i play golf is playing well, shooting a good score, a birdie, or a good par save. i enjoy playing well in front of others. making a nice shot and getting a compliment from my fellow playing partner is what i live for. a beautiful drive, sticking an approach shot to within a few feet of the hole, chipping a 60 degree wedge in the hole, or nice birdie putt.

[mpare]

Tiger addressed this issue in his Memorial post-game interview. I don't recall his exact words, but the gist of his comments was that all of the non-tournament golf/practice was no substitute for tournament play to focus and improve his actual play. Interesting.

[Husband]

I find that it's more fun when you've got something on the line. You tend to tighten up and re-consider 'going for it' which tends to bring out the best of my game. I'm a bit of a gambler, I guess.

I usually do 25 cents a hole just to say we're playing for money. Makes those 3 footers for par seem like 20 footers when you've got 6 skins on that putt To be honest, I've never collected at the end of a round I won, anyways... In the end we just play for bragging rights I guess.

I'd never play for a large sum of money though, golf is just too unpredictable! One day you're sinking everything and the other you're missing gimmies.

I'd love to play in a tournament just to get a feel for the competition. Which one is the best one for a first timer?

[DenisO]

Normally I don't compete much and am just out there to play, but in the team matchplay event last weekend I noticed that I really concentrated and tried more on a lot of shots and in the end I think I played better than I normally would. Definitely made some shots I wouldn't have done normally (only my 2nd time getting to a par 5 in 2). I really would like to have more friendly competitions, but competitions nonetheless, with the people I play with.

[nokids]

So Denis' golf game has completely gone down the toilet recently. We've decided to play matchplay vs each other and compete $2 a hole as a way of getting him "up" for the rest of the season. Any other suggestions to light a fire under his arse? No Viagra jokes please.

[DenisO]

lol thanks, you jerk! (although true at the same time)
Don't know why, Im not concentrating on shots like I use to, motivation is gone. I think money will at least help a little, also moving to California will help too...but I don't think thats going to happen for another couple years

So Denis' golf game has completely gone down the toilet recently. We've decided to play matchplay vs each other and compete $2 a hole as a way of getting him "up" for the rest of the season. Any other suggestions to light a fire under his arse? No Viagra jokes please.

[nokids]

I think I need to put a camera on you and have you study the game film after. You'll think to yourself, 'who is this imposter and what's he done with Denis?'

[DenisO]

You do realize I blew up as soon as you pulled out the camera, started taping and play by play commentating on my game right? Its all your fault

[DenisO]

So we had our toonie match play today, and it actually worked. I was playing great up until I dormie, 4-up with 4 to play. For some reason when I hear dormie I decide I don't have to keep playing well for some reason, so he made a comeback and tied. Either way, I played a lot better than I have been lately which is good.

[Kilroy]

It ain't over 'till it's over.

[nokids]

So we had our toonie match play today, and it actually worked. I was playing great up until I dormie, 4-up with 4 to play. For some reason when I hear dormie I decide I don't have to keep playing well for some reason, so he made a comeback and tied. Either way, I played a lot better than I have been lately which is good.

WHEW!!! Dodged a bullet today.

[mpare]

My guess is that you learned a valuable lesson. Your error will not be repeated the next time you put those toonies at stake.

So we had our toonie match play today, and it actually worked. I was playing great up until I dormie, 4-up with 4 to play. For some reason when I hear dormie I decide I don't have to keep playing well for some reason, so he made a comeback and tied. Either way, I played a lot better than I have been lately which is good.

[DenisO]

Very valuable!$8 worth
My plan is to continue to get better while purposefully losing matches to him. Then one day I'll hustle him and convince him to play $50/hole. Damnit, I just gave my plan away!

[Kilroy]

That's the best part of competing. Eliminating errors because it matters, rather than brushing them off because it doesn't.

[nokids]

Seriously I don't know what got into Denis on Sunday. He was 3 putting and 4 putting for the past month, then all of a sudden we play our match and he was 1 putting and 0 putting from the fringe. next time we play it will be for $0.25 a hole you sandbagger!