match play format

Feeling Good About Losing A Match

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

I was knocked out of the Open Match Play event held at the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort. It was the second round and he is a very good player. I played very well, but I was out gunned yesterday. Golf is an amazing sport where on any given day anything can happen. The interesting thing about our match, each of us only gave one hole to our opponent. The rest of the time, the holes were won outright by a birdie. Misha closed me out 3 and 2, yet the match was much closer than the score.

My opponent, Misha, is a long hitting player whose greatest advantage is length. I hit some very good drives, yet Misha was easily 40 yards longer. Not only did he hit the ball a great distance, he was straight and in play on all shots except for one (he still shot par on the hole after taking one penalty stroke).

During the front nine, neither of us putted all that well. We had several opportunities but I was the only one to make birdie. After the front nine, I was 1 up and I shot a one over par 38. Misha also shot a 38 with only one bogey for the round.

On the 10th hole I missed a short putt to go two up. I opened the door a crack and Misha took total advantage. Rattled off four consecutive wins with three birdies and a par. Suddenly, I was down three with four holes to go. After pressing the next two I was closed out 3 and two.

I played Misha last year and won the match. The difference this year was Misha’s control with every club. If he missed, he did so by the narrowest of margins. His putting heated up on the back and I could not keep pace. When we finished I was one over and he was two under. It was a great match and I am hoping to play against him again next year.

On a side note, I mentioned that I play hickory sticks and had an extra set given to me by Lorne Emery, president of the Golf Historical Society of Canada. He said that he would be interested in playing a round with them in September. I will connect with in a few weeks and he can give them a try.

Well, I am out of the match play competitions for this year. Not winning is new, but my ego can take it. 😉 I a happy to lose to Misha because he won the match!

I want to thank Mike and Brenda the owners and operators of the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort for their continued support of the match play tournaments.

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

Never Giving Up In A Golf Match

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

It is impossible to determine the outcome of two equally matched golfers. The slightest error or bad bounce could determine the end results. During a Match Play format, there are 18 mini matches rolled into one larger event that will determine the winner. Have a poor hole, well, forget it because it is only 5.5% of the total score. Therefore, it is important to never stop playing because you will neve know what will happen or what fortunes may be hiding around the corner. I found that out yesterday in my match against Scott. The result of the match was determined until the last hole!

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There Will Be A New Club Champion At Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

My efforts to be the club champion at the Mattawa Golf and Ski resort will end this year. I played my first round match against a great young player yesterday and he sent me packing. I lost 1 up and the match could have finished in my favour, but alas Alex emerged victorious. Having said that, it was the best match I experienced in years and want to congratulate Alex and wish him well in the next round.

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Winning The Open Matchplay Tournament

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

I played in the final of the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort Open Matchplay tournament yesterday. It was the final round against my friend Gary. As always, it was great fun and I am thrilled to report that I won the tournament. It was interesting that during the last round I played one of my best rounds of the year and this placed extra pressure on Gary until I closed him out. I have to say that I was initially concerned about my competition because Gary is a stick and has the potential to shoot low scores at any time. I think what made my round so memorable is the strategy I employed.

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Nuance of Match Play Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Match Play format is a unique one on one or team on team competition that has far more strategy than amateur players can imagine. It is not focused on playing our own game like stroke play, match play offers the opportunity to apply greater pressure to your opponent using the ‘concession’ rule. Basically, a player can concede the hole at any time during that hole and move on to the next. There are many reasons for conceding a hole and strategy is definitely one of them.

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