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Anyone else here have the problem of no matter what you do, you shoot pretty much the same score everywhere you play regardless of course difficulty? For me, it seems like no matter what I do, I will shoot between 38-40 each 9 holes no matter what. Today, went to play nine after work and was 1 under after 5 and ended up bogeying the next 4 holes for a 39. I just can't break the barrier of a couple over each nine. Anyone else like this? Maybe it's relative to your ability. Maybe for you it's 71-75 or 90-94 or whatever.

I Always used to tend to hit low 90's after 18 all the time. I played at Scotland as I stayed there for a week. And I don't know why, but I hit better scores, High 80's and Mid 80's. Since I go back, The consistency in the 80's has been unbelievable.

It's also some what weird.

You call it a problem, others might call it consistency! I do distinctly worse than normal when I haven't played/practiced in a quite while and when on a new course. And much better when I play more often. Which is how it should be, I suppose. Not sure what causes your problem/consistency: How would your rate your focus / concentration throughout the nine holes?

Well for 9 holes I'd say my conentration is about a 9/10, it's normally the 18 holes that get me. Sometimes my concentration is spot on, but sometimes I can just feel it (but can't stop it) my concentration is everywhere starting on hole 15 or so. It's like my mind is so tried from the first 9 that I've got nothing in reserve.

I think this is the result of a pretty good player.

No matter what the course, your astute at manufacturing your way around the course, knowing your limitations, have an understanding of course managemant, and play a good short game. I can shoot mid-eighties at a difficult track, then shoot the same at a easier course that I play on a consistant basis.

I believe this is an attribute to someone that has no concern for the track he's at, but his game. Don't think about it, just don't change.

LordEmery has a good point, but here's an idea, you might try, bring along an enery drink (small can) , along with something to eat and start sipping on it about the 12th hole, you should notice a difference.

Well I after a round I analyze what strokes I gave away (6ft or less putts missed) or a bad drive mad me pitch out to make bogey....

whatever part of my game that I mess up on during the round, I think of ways to fix it and I pursue my goal of fixing that part of my game. Maybe hitting 10 fairways instead of 5 or 9 GIRs instead of 7 whatever it may be just attack that part and get it down pat.

EG my driver****and its holding me back so I am trying to make enough money to buy a new one. I should be able to hit more fairways with a newer, lighter driver (cuz mine is so darn heavy and making me more inconsistent) but this is just my case, whatever it is that is holding you back....Attack it especially if you are serious about the game. I think golf is the only thing in my life that I have tried harder at then anything else in my life EVER. but it keeps me waking up every morning

JMO

I had a problem that was similar to this. I normally shoot between 40-43, but recently shot a 35 (-1). Basically all you can do is go out to make the best swings you can, and don't worry about the score. If you say to yourself that you're playing better than you normally do you will play to what you expect to shoot. All I can say is go out and play to play great

Last Sunday I was on the verge of something truly special. I birdied the first three holes, and stood on the 4th tee box already at 3 under for the round. Now I know you're not supposed to track the score in your mind... but how do you NOT KNOW that you've just birdied the first three holes? LOL...

Anyway, at this point the golf gods were starting to awaken from their slumber. The 4th hole is a longish par3, 188 yards. Swing felt good, so I pulled 5iron from the bag. Made a great swing, ball is going straight towards the pin (front pin). The ball lands on a sprinkler head just in front of the fringe, bounds over the green and nearly out of play. Somehow, I managed to gather myself long enough to pull off a great shot -- hooded a PW and bumped the ball to within three feet, saving par.

Went on to make easy pars the next three holes. Then on the 8th hole, a long par5... hit two nice shots, setting up my approach shot with a stock 9-iron. It's a beauty, nice and high, coming right down at the flag. I mean ALL OVER IT... It hits the pin, and bounces over the bulkhead fronting the green and into the water. Was unable to get up and down, and carded double bogey. Okay, two bad breaks... playing great, still in good shape.

The 9th hole -- hit a nice bomb off the tee. Great bounce-back swing. Get to my ball, and it's in a crater of a divot. I mean I've seen holes on construction sites that were staked off with caution tape that were smaller than this. (apparently, someone playing earlier had duffed their 85 yard approach shot from the same area, and took it out on that same spot by pounding it over and over...) The ball is so deep that there is no way I can play it. Attempting that shot would either risk breaking my wrist, bending a shaft, or both. So... I take an unplayable lie, hitting three from the fairway. (first time I've ever had to take an unplayable lie in the fairway...) Hit a great approach, and the 5 footer to save par went all the way around the hole without dropping. At this point, I'm starting to lose it.

Make par on the 10th hole. (this story is almost finished, I promise) Standing on the 11th hole, short par3 -- 145 yards to a center flag, not an ounce of wind. Stock 8iron. Hit it, and the guys are starting to get all rowdy, this thing is once again all over the pin. Could it be? Looking like it might be! BAM -- hits the **** pin AGAIN, and glances backwards into a small pot bunker fronting the green, IN AN UNRAKED FOOTPRINT. Blast out, take my bogey, and pretty much give up hope that today would be THE DAY. Somehow I managed to play the last 7 holes at +3, ended up shooting 76.

In this instance, it was nothing but one bad break after another.... nevertheless, I shoot my average. LOL...

Yes, consistency is good most of the time. But sometimes, you'd like to benefit from good play. (yes, I'm still fuming at the run of bad luck)

I know your pain, bro.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I figured there were more out there like me!

I should note though, that I understand what I have isn't really a "problem". I know it's all relative to how well you play, some might call what I have a blessing, others it actually is a problem since they shoot under part consistantly. What gets me is that I can play a difficult course with a rating of 75 or so and shoot my normal 38-40 each nine for about a 77-80 or so for 18, then I go to a very very easy course which I play with my father sometimes which has a rating of like 68.5 and go into the round thinking I should be able to eat this course alive...but still shoot my couple over each nine. That's what burns me up! :)

Yes and it is equally enlightening and frustrating. Over the last two years virtually every round I played was between 84 and 88. In the last seven months I've improved a lot and have had the range drop to 80-83. In fact my last seven rounds have been...80, 82, 80, 81, 83, 83, 81 all played at different courses with very different levels of difficulty.

Its good to know that I'm improving but the desire to have a round here or there that dips into the 70's has made it frustrating. One nice thing about it is that I've finally become very consistent with my golf game and feel a lot more comfortable with shot selection and my ability to manage my mistakes better than I had in the past.

Deron, try your local course from BLUE & White ( and even from Red ). You'll find that the score doesn't change much if at all. At your level, it may feel that 7,200 yd course should make a big difference from 6,500 yd course but if you go back and count where your bogeys come from, they're not usually from 20 yds difference in yardage. It's normally duffed chip shot or three putts from not far away..

I'm not saying they shouldn't make any difference but it's not that big a difference as you think. Heck, for a while, the hardest shot for me was a 150 yds with perfect lie in the middle of the fairway. There was absolutely no excuse to make if I don't pull it off perfectly

Yeah you're right. I had two three putts yesterday from inside 25 feet (this should just never happen) If I three putt, fine, but it better be from some 80 feet or something, Shot 39 with 17 putts for 9 holes. Yeah I've come to realize that when you get to a certain playing level, tees don't make but 3 stroke difference or so because usually people that play mid 70's - mid 80's it all comes down to short game...and I realize that my short game needs improving and I do practice it A LOT, but it's just not consistant. I'll chip/putt everything close from long distance or make every 3 footer I look at for a week, and then for the next month I miss every 3 footer I look at. lol.

I wish I had that "problem"... I have a different problem. I play consistent mid-90's for a while, then all of a sudden I will go out and shoot an 86 or 88 and get excited. I'll shoot a couple of solid rounds then go out with confidence and shoot 107. Once I do that, I'm guaranteed the next 2-3 rounds will be in the 100's before I get back to my norm of the mid 90's. My cap is about 17, but my recent scores range from 89-105. Aggravating...

i had that problem forever, usually shoot 50 for 9 no matter where i went, then all of a sudden, u shoot a 39.
Just take each shot at a time, dont think of what ur score is, thats what i did, i always kept my score(under or over par), then i just stopped and shot 11 under what i usually shoot.