When you play golf, do you have scores running through your head?

Question

In other words, do you play to break 72, 80 or 90 on 18? Or do you play one hole at a time and try to bogey, par, or birdie on every hole? Or do you just play one shot at a time and not think about scores? Be honest...

Answer 1

I try not to set a score in my mind and play hole to hole with the goal being par on each hole, sometimes bogey (depending on the difficulty of the hole).  

My experience is that I play best when I play one hole at a time.  If I set a score (like I did last Wednesday on my annual golf trip) I play poorly, usually because when I make a mistake, I start forcing shots instead of playing course management and my scores skyrocket.  

I've played the same course both ways in a single day before, playing with a score in mind in the morning and then playing hole to hole in the afternoon.  My hole to hole round is always better.

Answer 2

When I play golf, I play so extreemly bad that I don't even think about scores at all.  If I manage to get through nine holes before I'm ready to call it a day, I'm satisfied.  Just getting the ball from the tee to the hole is enough of a challenge without worrying about how many strokes it took me.  I don't even keep score as it would make the game too depressing for me.  The thrill of actually making the ball go where I intended it to is all I really play for.  That and the exercise of the long walk (I never use carts).

Answer 3

I think about scoring from one hole to the next and then I'll add them up in 3's to have an idea of what I need to do to end up with the kind of score I want.  For instance if my score adds up to 25 for first six holes, I know I can par in for a decent score.  Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't.  I'll accept a bogey, but nothing more.

Answer 4

I try not to think about scores on the hole, round, etc. However sometimes I begin thinking to myself "I have to get this up and down for par" or "I need a birdie on this hole" I think I play better when thinking about one shot at a time with a clear, focused mind.

Answer 5

I only concentrate on the shot at hand.  But of course at the back of my mind, I have an idea of how many birdies/ pars/ bogeys I made so far as I keep score at the end of each hole.

Answer 6

i don't get it 18 hole i play with one at home in my Yard  and it is o.k 18 hole sands like lost of work

Answer 7

I dont set a goal.  I try to play each hole the best I can.  But it is absolutely impossible to not constantly know how I stand which will effect how I play for sure.  Its tough not to get tense and/or defensive when you're playing a great round for example.

Answer 8

My best rounds of golf are when I am not keeping score, but someone else is. When someone else keeps score and I don't pay any attention to it, I can concentrate on the shot at hand. Then I have one goal and one shot. I am not thinking about birdie, par or anything else.

When I am the one keeping score it becomes somewhat of a distraction and I have a harder time focusing on the shot at hand because I am thinking of birdie or par or worse.

You should always take it one shot at a time and do the best you can on that shot.

Answer 9

Never preset a goal prior to a round of golf. Too many variables can enter into the equation, wind, weather, strength, feeling tired, hung over from a bad night and even the people you may be playing with who turn you off. This may happen when you do not prearrange a game. You play one shot at a time and make a decision prior to every shot. This is course management and the score is what it is. You live with it!