The 2nd Cut Newsletter: Edition #38

First Round Recap, Scottie’s Putter, Bunker Shots, Playing the Odds Like the Pros, How to Approach Early Season Play

The 2nd Cut

Mar 15, 2024

“They don’t think of their perfect shot. They think about all their shots.” - LKD

📰 Edition #38 📰

Welcome back to The 2nd Cut Newsletter!

ICYMI, check out last week’s Deep Dive: The 2/3rds Rule Revisited

📫 In today’s Newsletter: First Round Recap, Scottie’s Putter, Bunker Shots, Playing the Odds Like the Pros, How to Approach Early Season Play

If you’re new here, this newsletter is designed to provide valuable insights, tips, and ideas from around the internet to improve your golf game.

What you get:

1 - Newsletter every Wednesday
1 - Deep dive every Friday

First Round of the Year (RECAP)

I recently played my first round of the year, and I made a conscious decision before teeing off: ZERO EXPECTATIONS.

Despite my resolve, I shot a 92, with a front-nine 41 and a 51 on the back. No birdies, accompanied by 3 doubles, 1 triple, and an unfortunate quad. Most of those high scores seemed to pile up on the final five holes, leaving me a bit dejected.

Nevertheless, the weather was perfect, the greens were in impeccable condition, and I had the pleasure of playing alongside some great guys (shout out to Chris, Rob, and Adam). I stuck to my "zero-expectations" mantra until I bladed a bunker shot over the green and into a hazard, resulting in a demoralizing quad 8. The frustration continued on the subsequent hole with yet another bladed bunker shot.

I managed to keep my composure throughout the round. But let's be real – golf has a unique way of humbling even the most seasoned players. There are moments when it feels like the game is determined to crush your spirit, leaving you feeling disheartened and questioning why you even bother picking up a club.

This is where doing a quick post-game recap can really come in handy. Despite feeling somewhat defeated post-round, taking a step back and objectively assessing my round allowed me to find some positives and see the bigger picture.

So, below is my post-round recap – a routine that I encourage you to adopt. Whether you jot it down in your notes app, write it out, or simply reflect on it mentally, this exercise can offer valuable insights and help you maintain a healthy perspective on your game.

Round #1 of 2024:

Score: 92 (+20)

Positives:

The driver was great. Both distance and accuracy. A ton of fairways hit.
7/9 GIRs on the front. I had some really good approach shots
50 yards and in shots were good overall
Lag putted well all day

Negatives:

Approach shots (esp back 9) left me in bad positions, leading to big scores
Bunker play was terrible. Bladed multiple shots over the green.
Big scores mostly due to losing focus and putting myself in bad positions esp on the back 9. 2 penalties.
Putting from inside 5 feet was not good. Not starting putt on correct line. Changing target, not trusting.

Takeaways:

After writing the positives and negatives down, I have a more positive outlook on my round. Despite the poor back 9 I did alot of things well. Whereas after the round, it certainly didn’t FEEL like it.

I was in a good position most of the day off the tee, and it was really just a handful of bad approach shots that put me in bad positions. I then compounded it with poor bunker play.

Finally, it’s my first round of the year! Why should I expect flawless consistency when I haven't swung a club in over four months? It's unrealistic. I wouldn't hold anyone else to such high standards.

The Plan:

Moving forward, the plan is simple: keep playing golf.

Of course, I need to hit the range, practice, and log more rounds to refine my golf game and mental approach. Additionally, I'll focus on honing my skills within 120 yards and improving my bunker play.

It might seem a bit cheesy or even like a trivial exercise, but trust me, taking the time to write a post-round recap can work wonders, especially when you're feeling dejected after a tough outing.

It's all about gaining clarity and preventing yourself from blowing things out of proportion.

By jotting down what happened on the course, you strip away the emotions and get a clear view of the reality. With this newfound perspective, you can then take a step back and plan your next moves rationally rather than just letting frustration fester and spiral out of control.

Check out Edition #17 for my review of Journal 18, which is a great way to track your recaps.

🐦 Tweets of the Week 🐦

This tweet from LKD talks about Scottie’s newfound putting success. Although many will attribute it to a putter change, the truth is Scottie has put a ton of work into improving his stoke. Link

Below is a 4-minute video from Padraig Harrington on hitting bunker shots from both hard and soft sand. Click the link to watch. Link

TLDW:

Hard sand, square up the club.
Soft sand, open and swing harder.

📺 💻 T2C Media 📺 💻

If you pay attention to only one thing in today’s letter, let it be this video. GolfDigest Writer Luke Kerr Dineen created this excellent video on aiming and course management with some explainers from Scott Fawcett of DECADE golf.

It’s 9 minutes long, but it's one of the best explanations I’ve seen on stacking the odds in your favor off the tee and on approach shots. It’s everything this newsletter has tried to hammer home.

Below is a great pod episode from Jon Sherman on “How to Approach Early Season Play.” If you are just ramping up your golf season like I am, I highly recommend you listen. Play it below or click the Link

🔢 Stat(s) of the Week 🔢

We are witnessing some of the greatest golf since Tiger Woods. If Scottie’s putter can stay hot, look out. I’m not saying he’s Tiger, but just noting that what Scottie is doing is NOT normal. It’s rarefied greatness.

📊 Poll of the Week 📊

How many rounds have you played so far in 2024?

Thank you everyone for reading and subscribing.

Til next time.