I do not know how many rounds of golf I played where I have gained a stroke just to lose it on the next hole. You understand what I mean when you are walking to the tee with a spring in your step due to a birdie, just to be weighed down walking to the next tee after a bogey. I am not sure why this happens, but it happens more frequently than I like to admit. It is during those instances where I realize just how fun golf really can be 😉

I remember playing a round of golf last year when I was sitting even par after six holes. It was a solid day, but nothing fantastic was happening. After a good drive on the seventh hole, I was left with a 120 yards approach shot to an open pin. Hitting my PW, my ball finished a respectable 14 feet from the pin. Putting a smooth stroke, my ball dropped for birdie. I was now one under!

Standing on the next tee, I took aim at the pin on this par 3. I figured that at 165 yards, my six iron was the perfect club. Unfortunately, I did not hit my ball crisp and I was short of the green by about 10 yards. After a poor chip, I was left with a 20 foot putt for par. Well, I am sure you have figured out that I two-putted for bogey. For no reason, I was now sitting at even par and very disappointed.

Moving onto the back nine. After four holes I was one over heading into the 14th hole. I hit a great drive to the top of the hill and was sitting 130 yards out from the pin. I hit a comfortable nine iron to eight feet where I sank an easy birdie putt. Now, I was elated and walking to the 15th (my nemesis hole) thinking that I have a chance to shoot under par. I guess that was my first mistake!

I hit a shoot on the short par 3 that ended up 25 feet from the pin. After a very crappy putt, I was left with 10 feet side winder for par! As you have guessed again, I missed the putt and tapped in for bogey. I must say that stroking a three putt in that situation was a mental error and it cost me more than an under par round. Now, I was fuming for gain and losing a stroke twice in the same round on top of an easy three putt.

I was sitting one over heading to the sixteenth hole. For some reason I could not let things go. After hitting some weak shots down the stretch, I finished the last three holes two over par. Talk about a frustrating finish! I realize that I should keep the perspective that shooting a 74 is a positive thing, but the manner in which I hacked around the course on 6 holes was very deflating.

My above example demonstrates that gaining and giving a stroke on back to back holes is very frustrating. Personally, I get disappointed when I play golf in this manner because I believe I should be able to play better. If this happen rarely, then I could live with the roller coaster ride, but as I said earlier, it happens a bit more than I want or expect. Regardless, I will remain grateful for the birdie and work on fixing giving any strokes back.

Does gaining and giving strokes happen to you?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!