This Hole Always Gets Me!

Ever heard those words before? Have you ever said those words before? I would bet most of us have. I’ve heard that phrase a thousand times and I actually heard it again last Saturday. I want out as a single to play at our local course and joined up with three other guys. We get to the 9th tee box and one of the guys hits his drive way right into the trees. The poor tee shot was followed by the familiar line, “This hole always gets me.” And what do you know, it got him again!

So why do certain holes always get us? This is a great question. Read on…

Some holes just don’t fit our eyes well. Kind of like a set of clubs that you don’t like the looks of. Some are incredibly intimidating. Others have out of bounds and hazards that catch too much of our attention. Many times we play a hole bad one time and that is the only thing we can think of next time we step foot on the tee box. When we have trouble multiple times in a row on the same hole it starts to set up a pattern and here is the danger.

Patterns and habits can be tough to break. Now we start thinking about the bad hole before we even show up to the course. We get nervous just thinking about the hole. We feel tension start to build when we approach the tee box. What we need to do is break the pattern. Here are a few tips to help out.

• First of all, realize that the hole giving you trouble is no different than any other on the course. If you can hit a good tee shot on the other 17, you can hit a good tee shot on this one.
• Maybe try a different approach to the hole. If you always hit driver off the tee, try 3 wood next time. If the hole is a par 3, try taking more club and making an easy swing. Find some way to change your strategy.
• Practice the tee shot you’ll need on this hole before the round. Hit balls on the driving range and use your imagination. Picture the hole and the shot you want to hit. See yourself teeing up the ball and firing one right down the middle.
• Stop speaking negatively about the hole in conversation. I’ve heard people say, “I love to play at Riverdale except for #14.” This kind of talk allows the hole to maintain it’s intimidation which is exactly what we want go get rid of.
• And here is the best tip of all; keep your focus on the process not the results. The hole scares us because we fear the possible negative results. If you make a good swing (process), you’ll hit a good shot (results). We can control process but we can’t always control results. Take hold of what you can control and don’t worry about the rest.

Now make a tee time for this weekend at the course with the most intimidating hole you can think of and go dominate that sucker. Practice the very shot or shots you’ll need on the driving range. Step up on the box and make the best swing you possibly can. Let your imagination help you see the exact shot you need to hit. There is no reason for this intimidation to continue. It will be up to you to make the change.

Have fun and I’ll see you again soon.

Mike Snyder

Twitter: @Mike_Snyder