Golf Forums - What Should I Have Done?

I had a problem yesterday and I wondered what you would have done in the same situation.

The day was really sunny and I started out on my own at 1pm, so the sun was getting lower all the time I was playing.  The ground was frozen solid although all the frost had melted by the time I set off.

It turns out I was the last person out so there was nobody behind me.

I played the first five holes, not particularly well, but I played them!

The sixth hole at Stapleford Abbotts, Abbotts Course, is a par 3 hole.  My GPS was showing 166 yards to the centre of the green.  This hole has a large lake left of the hole.  From the tee only half the green can be reached without having to go over the pond.  The flag was in the middle of the green.

Now my problem was that the sun was directly in my eyes.

I decided to hit a steady five iron, and I made a solid contact with the ball.  Immediately I lost the ball in the sun.  So I listened, and looked, shading my eyes with my hand.  Well I didn't hear the ball hit the ice on the pond and I didn't see the ball land.

So I walked up to the green looking for my ball as I went.

There are three bunkers around this green and a couple of mounds behind.  Well I looked everywhere and I could not find my ball.

So I decided to go back to the tee and play the hole again.  There was a two ball in front of me with a four ball in front of them.  So I thought playing the hole again would allow them to get away from me for a while.

This time I took a six iron and again I made solid contact with the ball.  And again I immediately lost the ball in the sun.

The same thing happened again, didn't hear the ball hit the ice and couldn't find the ball anywhere!

Well I gave this hole up for lost but what I need to know is what score should Iput down for it?

I put a four down, which is what I should score with my stroke allowance on this hole.

So what would you have done?

Russ

Shot 1 = tee shot, shot 2 = drop(lost ball), shot 3 = 2nd tee shot...............................another lost ball, so I think 4 is a tad generous!

I agree I think 4 is a tad generous. If in a comp hit a very high shot above the sun, or just hit a thin away from the sun. However as you were playing alone, does it really matter? Drop one just short of the green and go from there.

The reason I put a 4 was because I've played this hole many times, and if I miss the green and don't go into one of the hazards then I normally end up with a 4.

As I was on my own it doesn't matter really about the score, it's just that I put in all of my 18 hole scorecards on here.

At my golf club I obviously can only put in the scorescards that are signed by another member, but then I would not have had the problem of losing the ball, as they would have been able to watch it for me.

Russ

Sorry

You didn't finish the hole so no score can be entered. However you're out for fun and not a comp so it doesn't really matter - If you had of been you would be back and forwards to the tee and green until you found a ball and finished the hole. You were already 3 of the tee so you'd have been looking a minimum 5 for a the next shot into the hole. But as said you didn't finish the hole so a line through that hole.. Sorry - soul destroying game golf (at times)

Kevin

You Could just estimate what you normally score on all 18 holes & put in an estimated card.  You therefore would not need to go out in the cold. Just put your feet up & watch golf on TV! 

Problem solvers R Us !

PS as for being a single player on a course - you do now have standing on golf courses. You just can't expect to play through competitions - although any sensible golfer would let you..

Cheers