I am confident that every golfer laments about leaving strokes on the course. Usually it means that they wish they could take a shot over again or made a different decision that would result in a different outcome. This universal situation is generally discussed at the 19th hole over a libation or two. No matter what we shoot as a score, golfers always feel they could have shot at least one stroke lower. The feeling of missing out on a better score can lead to frustration, however I would suggest that it is the natural order of things for all golfers. The real question is where most of us feel we lose the most strokes?

After playing a round of golf, how many strokes do you normally think you could have shaved off your score either through a lucky bounce or better course management? Explain #golfchat

— The Grateful Golfer (@TheGratefulGolf) February 18, 2023

Sometimes the strokes we lose are due to poor conditions or an ‘unlucky’ bounce. The fortune offered by the ‘Golf Gods’ can be disappointing or gracious. Regardless, strokes are often lost because players feel they are being unjustly penalized because of where their ball finishes. This rub of the green result is all part of golf, but it does allow golfers to lament about it later. I actually think that it is a part of the game and offers some players hope for their next round. In many cases, players can pinpoint the exact shot that cost them extra strokes (in their mind) and wish they could have that shot over again. Of course that is an impossibility, but it does not stop the conversation after the round.

Course management (which includes putting) seems to be the leading cause for players accumulating more strokes than they think is fair. In many cases, there is a domino affect where one poor decision adds multiple strokes to the final score bottom line. They realize after the fact that their decisions cost them on the scorecard. Proper decision making is definitely a learned skill that many amateur golfers do not pay enough heed. It is okay to make a poor decision (we all do) but to continually make the same mistake and then complain about it is a definitely a no go for me. Course management is a skill that does save strokes and if employed properly, is a game changer.

Lastly, I think that the subset of putting to course management is the one area that freely offers the most frustration to golfers. Many feel that they should make far more putts than they did and as a result feel that they left strokes on the golf course. The comment by Keith Cook sums up what I think most golfers feel about losing strokes on the green:

Think realistically 1-3 each round. But not surprised if most will think much higher as they accept the chip-in or 30-foot bomb as facts…but the 6-footer for par they should’ve holed or the bad tee shot sticks with them. I think most of it balances out over a round.🍀⛳️

— Keith Cook (@_KeithCook) February 18, 2023

I think the 4-6 foot putt is the most remembered missed shot. This is followed by hitting a wayward tee shot. These two areas seem to be the greatest topics when reviewing our round at the 19th hole. It is frustrating to miss those shots because it changes the fortune of our round. Hence, most golfers focus on what the missed with a sense of disappointment. I agree with Keith that most good and bad results balance out over the course of a round or two, but that does not stop golfers from feeling they could have always shot a lower golf score!

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