I am apparently the Queen of shooting 80.
I've been playing roughly 18 years. I started playing at 15, and didn't get serious about it until mid 20s. For the past 5 years or so, I've turned a corner with my game, sort of. I've figured out some things in my swing which have helped me break through a plateau, whereas I was consistently in the mid 90s for a good 8-10 years, I've gotten my game to the point where I'm in the mid-low 80s on my good rounds, with high 80s/low 90s on my bad ones. My hcp index is between 12 and 15 and has been for quite a while... but I cannot seem to break 80!
Today was the latest. I was playing a round with a much better opponent. She had 4 birdies on the front alone, and I was doing all I could to keep pace. Made the turn at 4 over, which for me is a good score and brings "79 watch" into play. From that point I went 1 over through my next 6 holes. I was standing on the tee box on 16 at only 5 over, and unfortunately for me I knew EXACTLY where I stood. 16 is a long par 5 and the green is on a little tabletop so it is the hardest green to hit. I was way short of the green on my approach due to wayward shot, and had a full wedge in. Hit the green perfectly, but had no spin whatsoever and couldn't hold it. Rolled off the side, pin high. Made a bad double. After parring 17, and splitting the fairway on 18 (albeit a little short), I had a comfortable 7 iron to the center of the green, knowing a par gets me in at 79. I was so nervous I had to back off the shot. I then proceeded to hit the worst, fattest iron I'd hit all day. Still, I had a comfortable sand wedge to the pin. Put it 10' away. Lipped the putt out. Tap in for bogey, and what must be my 5th or 6th time shooting 80.
The mental game is real people.
