Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

My GHIN index is 4.9. Even as a 4 handicap I have the slowest starts out of any single digit handicap ever. It doesn't matter if I hit a bucket of balls first. For some reason about the 5th or 6th hole my swing is really in a groove. Here are my 4 rounds this week.

Monday @ Crosswinds. 7 over after 4. Finish 6 over.
Tuesday @ Atlantic. 5 over after 5. Finish 5 over.
Wednesday @ Poquoy Brook. 6 over after 5. Finish 7 over.
Friday @ Southers Marsh. 6 over after 4. Finish 4 over.

Re: Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

Sounds a lot like me. My favorite round I started bogey, bogey, double-bogey, bogey for +5 after 4. Played the next 14 at 6 under. wtf

Re: Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

stop caring about your score. thats the secret.

Re: Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

You need to get your head into your A game from the get-go...you don't start well because your mental game isn't there...

Re: Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

[ QUOTE ]
My GHIN index is 4.9. Even as a 4 handicap I have the slowest starts out of any single digit handicap ever. It doesn't matter if I hit a bucket of balls first. For some reason about the 5th or 6th hole my swing is really in a groove. Here are my 4 rounds this week.

Monday @ Crosswinds. 7 over after 4. Finish 6 over.
Tuesday @ Atlantic. 5 over after 5. Finish 5 over.
Wednesday @ Poquoy Brook. 6 over after 5. Finish 7 over.
Friday @ Southers Marsh. 6 over after 4. Finish 4 over.

[/ QUOTE ]

honestly, what is your mindset on the first tee? as a 4.9 you should be thinking birdie on any reasonable first hole. the two courses i play regularly start on a 290 yd par 4 and a 500 yard par 5. if i dont walk away 1 under after 1 then something is wrong.

also it seems like you are very close to being a 1 or better

Re: Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

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290 yd par 4

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Wtf?

Re: Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

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290 yd par 4

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Wtf?

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All uphill?

Re: Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

Let us not forget the 500 yard par-5 that follows. Apparently ghostface plays at an executive course.

OP, I have first tee anxiety too, to varying degrees. Don't know what to say but to try to improve your mindset. My first hole scoring average is probably my worst, I'm just trying to get into a comfort zone and I generally don't settle in until the 3rd or 4th hole. Work on putting less pressure on yourself to start well (a lot of people seem to have the opposite problem, which is finishing well, which sucks as bad or worse).

Re: Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

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Let us not forget the 500 yard par-5 that follows. Apparently ghostface plays at an executive course.

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Those are two different courses. Meaning, of course, that ghostface plays two executive courses.

Re: Why do I always screw up the 1st 4 holes? Then play the rest even.
 

The top-tier Niklaus course here has a 510 DOWNHILL par 5 as it's first hole (from the back tees)...I generally drive >320 so with the huge downhill tiers I had a wedge in...so don't knock 500yrd starting holes.