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My problem, I have a 10.7 index and consider my self a decent player for someone who plays once a week.

Well, I was playing yesterday and made a "snowman" on a par 4, 13th hole. I can't even remember the last time I did this..! I guess I didn't shake it out of my head because on the very next par 4, I, respectively,

1. horribly sliced my drive into water right
2. s*anked my next shot into the opposing fairway to the right
3. s*anked it again to the bathroom that preceded that fairway.

*-can't even type this word.

After I saw my ball rest oh so nicely behind the bathroom, next to the greenskeeper hoses and tools, I gave the customary handwave, inside in total wretched disgust, to my partner and didn't even bother to hole out.

Is my behavior warranted or should I have holed out? Mind you we were in a foursome and everyone was playing great. It would've been embarrasing to even attempt to hole out. Honestly, for those two holes I had forgotten how to swing and everything was a low shank to the right..it was so scary.

I did play out the rest of the remaining 4 holes bogey, par, bogey, bogey..normal for me.

How can I overcome these mental meltdowns?

That's considered very bad form in my 4-some. We card it as a GU (Gave Up) and follow it up with considerable heckling. happens out there & as Peter Jacobson said... 99% of amatuers aren't good enough to get mad over a few bad shots. If the guys you were playing with don't mind.... forget that ... they mind even if they say they don't and chances are they lost a little bit of respect for you. Sorry .... J1MO.

i have to disagree with them "minding"..why would you want to bear and wait while i try to finish the hole for god knows what final score. I actually did it out of respect for the group we had so not to torture them..lol

unless you are saying they would rather mind me suffering in agony to finish out the hole..which sounds very sadist IMO.

Around here, most local courses have a "big team" match in the afternoon where groups are decided by A, B, C, D players based on hcap...in the interest of expedient play there is a maximum number of strokes a player may take on any given hole...I think A and B players can only take triple and C and D players a quad (I think...). Anyway, my 2¢ is that you did the prudent thing, although possibly for the wrong reason. You don't want to hold up your group or others with poor play...on the other hand if you're playing a nassau where total strokes determine the winner, you may want to play it out. Usually if you are looking at triple or worse you should probably pick up and take whatever max the group agrees on...unless your group is comprised of purists who insist on a hole-out or a "GU". If there's no $ on the line, who cares, really?

Now, as far as the mental aspect, probably one of the hardest things to do, especially if you're a weekend golfer, is to regroup after a poor shot. All I can say is that you must give yourself as much time as you can to calm down and approach the next shot as if you're not the one who put it there but must deal with it nevertheless...like if you're playing alternate shot and your lovely partner gave you this shot to deal with. You must do whatever it takes, mentally, to approach each and every shot with a "fresh" attitude. The best golfers are able to do this shot to shot and hole to hole.

Now, the more you get frustrated and pick up, the less you will learn to do this...play through the adversity whenever you can do so prudently without holding up play. Mastering the ability to approach each effort with a fresh mind will stop that deadly domino effect of the wheels coming off.

Shade

You don't get better by giving up. Finish the hole.....for two reasons. One, it will help make you mentally tougher for the next time you find yourself in a similar situation and two, it's good practice for your recovery shots. You may find yourself in the same situation when you can't just give up and you can draw on that experience to help you avoid an even higher score.

As the great Chubbs once said "find your own happy place."
I think league is on point with this. I used to get the same way & throw away 4-6 shots after 1 bad one. I have now learned to calm myself before every shot whether it is the one after your best drive or the one after your worst drive. Routine is very important to keep your composure. Tiger Woods is the greatest at this.

You should have finished up the hole. Never give up. You could have made a great chip in the hole or made a great putt that gave you some confidence and momentum for the next hole(s).