I hate to admit it, but I three putt from time to time. Yup, I know it is hard to belief that a four handicap player commits the cardinal mistake to three jacking on the green. It is a disgrace and I should be thrown off the course when I do! Well, that is how I feel in my head, but in reality I do not know of any golfer who does not three putt from time to time. The trick is not to make a habit of it and I believe I have accomplished that goal.
During my last round yesterday, I shot my first three putt in four rounds. I rolled the ball very well of late and the results showed on my score card. In my most recent case of putting faux pas, I was 35 feet from the pin (very poor approach shot) and hammered the ball 15 feet past the pin. To my defense (and no I am not making excuses) I tried to navigate the multiple patch spots on the green and failed miserably.
As a result, my ball sailed smoothly over all the bumpy areas and did not lose any momentum heading to the pin. As my ball waved at the pin as it cruised by, I was thinking I made such a poor putt…..what was I thinking. In reality, I was not thinking because I let an easy par slip to the wayside because of my aggressive putt. Oh well, that is the nature of my game these days and I hope not to repeat this mistake…..ever!
I generally use the three foot rule when lag putting. The closer the better, but any lag putt outside of three feet is considered a poor putt in my books. This is an important skill to master and I believe I am better than average. I am not bragging, but I work on this skill and over the years lag putting has saved many of my golf scores.
Regardless of how profieicent of putter you are, I think I can speak for all golfers when I say that three putting is the worst! None of use can stand three putting from any distance. However, when it does happen I will blame something else because it cannot be me……right? 😉
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
Hi JIm,
I understand your dilema. For me the problem is that the practice putting green is a different speed to the greens on the course. So the first putt of the day is key. As you say a very good approach shot is required to take out some of the guess work.
Pete
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Thanks Pete. You are right about the different speeds of the practice greens. That is a challenge for sure. Our course is coming along, but still needs a few weeks of growing to fill in. That is another challenge as well. However, that is life in Canada in the spring.
Cheers Jim
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Jim, drive out of bounds or three putt for double bogey. Which is the greater of two evils?
Brian
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Brian
I hate them both!!!! I would rather three putt for a double because that is usually a mental error I can fix. Hitting out of bounds is just tough to diagnose. You always ask the hard questions! 😉
Cheers Jim
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I want to find an excuse when I three putt. That’s for sure. The only one I allow myself though is the distance of the first putt. A 3 putt from 50 feet won’t feel good, but I won’t hate myself. From 30 feet, I’ll have a harder time getting past the guilt. And location matters too. A 3 putt on my home course, or one of the few I’ve played most often over the years is far harder to reconcile than one somewhere else. And if it makes you feel better, I three putted earlier this week on my home course and to make matters worse, the holes are two inches above the ground so all you have to do to be in is touch the stupid thing. 😂
I wasn’t happy about that needless to say. And it was certainly my fault. I was way too aggressive AND read the line wrong on the first putt and pulled the second. There wasn’t any excuse. Not even the sweat in my eyes. 😓
But I went on to shoot a 2 over so I think I’m going to live. And you will too. Lessons in humility come with being golfers and there’s no better teacher than the greens.
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Kevin
Lessons in humility….exactly! Have a great weekend.
Cheers Jim
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