Senior Division or Open Division?

[mr_bogey]

It is that time of year again - there is a major local amateur event at our course this weekend, and I have to choose whether to play in the senior (50+) division or the open division. I am 55.

Last year I played in the open division - I shot 75/75-150 (+6) to finish 10th, but 6 or 7 of the guys ahead of me were collegiate golfers. I even slipped in 1 shot ahead of Pistol. That score would have also finished around 10th in the senior division, but they play the shorter white tees.

Last year I had two big motivations to play in the open division - it allowed me to play round one with and to compete with Pistol, and it was great practice for the September club championship competing from the blue tees.

This year Pistol is away and not playing, and I have been plagued for the past six weeks with plantar fasciitis (terribly sore left heel). It mostly has not affected my play, just my walking, but my driving distance may not hold up as well for the blue tees because of the heel. Generally I feel the course sets up no harder for me from either set of tees, but with the injury I am leaning to the less stress of the shorter tees.

Last year I asked for opinions, so I will ask again this year. Any comments on which division I should play?

[Diane]

Mr. Bogey - I think you should play the Senior Division. It sounds like you'll be more comfortable there. Pistol won't be there and you're in a bit of pain - why make it worse. You can always go back to the Open Division next year if you want to.

[mr_bogey]

Today I got out in the heat for a practice 9 - I played alone so I played two balls, a TaylorMade TP Red 1 and a TaylorMade TP Red 2. The #2 ball won the match 36 to 37. The foot was sore today after a period of several good days, so I am pretty sure senior is going to be the choice.

[PA PLAYA]

I know that we often talk about playing with guys that can elevate your game, trying to get a few rounds in with better players, etc.... and that is always refreshing to me to do that as a player myself.

But I guess it really comes down to what you're personally wanting out of the experience.

If you're wanting to play for fun, maybe the outside chance of playing the golf of your life to find yourself right there at the end contending against stronger, younger players..... to see how your game matches up with the younger stud muffins, then play in the Open division.

But if you're wanting to win, or at the very least the opportunity to be rewarded more fairly for playing to your ability, then play in the Senior division. You're obviously qualified, and although I can understand how tough it is from a competitive standpoint to not think that you're somehow lowering your standards, I do think that you have to be fair to yourself above all else. Because you're not really lowering your standards, Mr. Bogey. You're giving the guys in the Senior division a chance to elevate their games to compete with you as well.

As far as your foot.... I can relate, bro. I've had issues with a heel spur in my right foot much of the season. I am all too familiar with starting out with a noticeable limp, and having that gradually turn into a painful hobble. And although it doesn't really impact the golf swing, it certainly does detract from the enjoyment of playing. Because even if you take a cart, you still have to walk quite a bit. Good luck with that.

And good luck with your decision!

[mr_bogey]

Originally Posted by PA PLAYA

If you're wanting to play for fun, maybe the outside chance of playing the golf of your life to find yourself right there at the end contending against stronger, younger players..... to see how your game matches up with the younger stud muffins, then play in the Open division.

This is the main reason I like to play the open division.

It's funny, when I was in my late forties, I always thought about how I was gonna just wear out the senior division when I got there, because I was still as long as the so-called stud muffins. Then I made 50, and I entered two tournaments in the seniors. I didn't do all that well in either, and frankly had trouble getting pumped about them once I began. The next year came and I tried one more - same deal. And it's very good senior competition - I believe the senior field is actually deeper than the open one as far as talent goes. I guess it's just that I prefer seeing where I am stacking up against the BEST - I know winning is highly unlikely, but competing and finishing in the upper group I would expect.

The foot is the whole reason I am leaning against it. I am actually scoring rather well of late, but it is because my short game has come on lately. The foot doesn't affect my iron game, but it is costing me maybe 20-25 yards off the tee because on the bigger swings I am just not able to explode thru the ball like I am accustomed to doing. I can afford to lose that yardage on the white tees, where I hit a lot of 3 woods and hybrids normally. I am afraid that won't be the case on the blues.

[C-Tech]

I'd go to the Sr Division with the foot problem. Once that is cured, you should be able to go back to the Open division next year. Heck, at my old club I was advised to play in the Open Div. because the Sr. Div was much more competitive. Go Figure!

[petermo]

This is an interesting dilemma. The only competition at our club where different tees are used is the Championship and the 1st flight (A Division H'caps up to 7) plays off the championship tees, while the B division plays off the club tees. Last year, at 63, I made the top 16 thereby qualifying for the match play champinship. However, this year I didn't play because there is no provision made for low handicap senior golfers and, frankly, the course is just too long to be fun off the back. I have advocated a separate division for seniors in the A division (either 50+ or 55+ ... it doesn't matter where you draw the line) but have had the response that there's a separate senior championship. Quite frankly that's a social morning played on a stableford basis and is of no interest.

In your shoes I'd be inclined to play in the toughest school as long as I could but would make an exception this year because of the sore heel.

Remind the opposition to beware of the injured golfer!!

[Pistol]

Good luck in the tourney Mr. B, wish I was there.

[mr_bogey]

Originally Posted by Pistol

Good luck in the tourney Mr. B, wish I was there.

Thanks, Pistol - and you are right - you do wish you were here. The course is in AWESOME condition - maybe the best ever . I practiced Wednesday and hit it well on the range, then played another practice 9 - didn't play very well , but I was tired from a trying day at work. I am playing at 0853 Saturday, and am paired with two senior players that I don't remember ever playing with, tho I do know one of them from my younger tournament days.

[PA PLAYA]

Good luck Mr. Bogey.

May the only rain you experience tomorrow be your own rain on their parades!

[mr_bogey]

Hockey sticks.....Red Grange...... 77

Somedays ya got it and some days are like today. I got a clue before the first tee ball. We were supposed to go in threesomes, but one of my group did not show - we learned later he thought the tee time was an hour later. Anyway, that stuck us as a twosome in a sea of threesomes. Lotta waiting.

Lake 9
#1 - Hook, fat, shank, dub, and roll in a 15 footer for bogey.
#2 - Drive long thru the fairway, punch just short, bad pitch and a 2 putt for bogey.
#3 - Long wait then huge drive to 200 on par 5, hybrid to hay left of green, poor pitch and 2 putts for par.
#4 - 134 par 3 - pin on center ridge at very front - PW lands in mid-green and spins back 30' to 2'-11.5" - I win senior division close-up and birdie to go to +1.
#5 - Big drive leaves me 80 yds to pin but in deep rough just off fairway - punch under tree to front fringe, chip close and par.
#6 - 178 par 3 - hit 7 iron so fat I have 90 yds left and divot hits me in the eye. LW beauty to 5 feet, but well struck putt doesn't take break - bogey +2.
#7 - perfect drive to 240, long wait, then hook 3 wood pin high left of creek - so-so pitch from 58 yd to 25 ft, but I run down the birdie - +1.
#8 - perfect drive, SW hits well past but spins back to 12' - run in another birdie - EVEN.
#9 - pull hook left of scrubby pines, punch 8 iron to left fringe - tough pin on back left ridge and I left par putt in the front door - +1 37.

There were 3 more open div. groups than sr div, so at turn play was backed up as seniors were ready to make the turn before open div finished teeing off. This meant at nearly every tee on the back there was a group or two standing and waiting. S_L_O_W.

Island 9
#10 - Hybrid around corner, wedge to fringe left of upper level pin, bad putt 12 feet past, but rolled down the par.
#11 - Yank hook 3 wood gets knocked down clear but short, wedge to 100 marker, SW on and 2 putts for bogey - +2.
#12 - long drive just in left rough, FAT A wedge 35 yds short, fair pitch on and run down 15 footer for par.
#13 - Long drive thru the corner leaves me on the rocks right but clear - punch 8 iron from 135 to left fringe, and two putts felt like a miracle because of stupid pin hanging on right ledge. Par..
#14 - Long wait, then pull long drive into left trees - first attempt I hit a tree and lose 10 yards - second attempt gets to fringe and just miss chip-in - bogey +3.
#15 - Par 3 pin hard left, 153 - 9 iron spin off left, chip is too hot, but I run down 12 footer to save par
#16 - Long wait, then the group in front of us waved us up to join them - good drive up the left leaves 240 to par 5, which I hook into the lake - wedge,chip and putt for bogey - +4.
#17 - 164 par 3 front pin - I hit 8 iron a bit long but on,too much break on putt - four footer for par is hit well but swings too fast low - bogey +5.
#18 - Par 5 w/ layup tee shot - I hit 4 Iron perfectly, leaving 260 in. At the top of my driver backswing going for it, two of the guys that had waved us up started their golf cart 15 yards away NOISILY RATTLING -I pull it into left trees (the other guy said "they got you, didn't they? I nodded) I was lucky and had 66 yds left - I had to keep it low but it was open and I put in on and two putted for par. 40 and 77...

6 greens hit, 25 putts - 3 fat shots and 7 pull hooks and a shank, but a solid putter kept me alive most of the day. Tomoorow the seniors will tee off later so that problem doesn't re-occur at the turn. Front nine 2:10,back nine 3 hours.....ouch.
I am in 14th place 7 shots back - nowhere to go but up!

[Leaguegolf]

Thanks for the recap......now get some sleep and play well in the morning.

[PA PLAYA]

It's tough to get any type of rhythm going when you're waiting on every shot. But despite hitting some loose shots, your putter kept you in the hunt! As they say in the bigs, you can't win it on the first day but you can lose it.

Hope you faired better today!

[mr_bogey]

Nowhere to go but up was right - up to 81.

I bogeyed 3 of the first 4, and missed short birdies on #2 and #5. Then I hooked an 8 iron into the drink on the island green to get to +5 thru 6. I then parred 9 of the next 10 (twice parring par 5's after hitting into the water for a penalty), and missed more short birdies on #8 and #10 and #12 and #15. I was +6 thru 16 and then missed my only short one of the weekend to bogey 17. I was SO-O-O done - beat from the heat and the struggles, and I played my worst hole of the year on the last, and that double bogey (5 shots from 110 yds) capped a lousy round. I hit it overall much better, but the putter was useless. Speed of play was fine (4:35 to play) and my heel was great all weekend. I am a lousy senior player, what can I say? I also had another shank, trying to hit a 110 yd 7 iron punch, but I recovered to 2 feet and parred. So, three penalties, a shank, several pull hooks, but a lotta good tee balls. I was 0 for 12 on putts between 4 and 15 feet (Yesterday, 8 for 13).

[PA PLAYA]

Originally Posted by mr_bogey

Nowhere to go but up was right - up to 81.

I bogeyed 3 of the first 4, and missed short birdies on #2 and #5. Then I hooked an 8 iron into the drink on the island green to get to +5 thru 6. I then parred 9 of the next 10 (twice parring par 5's after hitting into the water for a penalty), and missed more short birdies on #8 and #10 and #12 and #15. I was +6 thru 16 and then missed my only short one of the weekend to bogey 17. I was SO-O-O done - beat from the heat and the struggles, and I played my worst hole of the year on the last, and that double bogey (5 shots from 110 yds) capped a lousy round. I hit it overall much better, but the putter was useless. Speed of play was fine (4:35 to play) and my heel was great all weekend. I am a lousy senior player, what can I say? I also had another shank, trying to hit a 110 yd 7 iron punch, but I recovered to 2 feet and parred. So, three penalties, a shank, several pull hooks, but a lotta good tee balls. I was 0 for 12 on putts between 4 and 15 feet (Yesterday, 8 for 13).

Sounds like the round I had on Saturday. Tried my best, stayed patient, stuck with the process, and kept waiting for that one shot or that one hole that would swing the momentum back to my favor. It just never materialized. The only saving grace is that I wasn't playing in a tournament that day.

One of those character-building rounds.... But I'm sure you'll be back.

[mr_bogey]

Originally Posted by PA PLAYA

One of those character-building rounds.... But I'm sure you'll be back.

If those rounds build character, I should be a saint after last weekend!

Actually, now that a bit of time has passed for reflection, I have to believe that the terrible heat and humidity wore me and my focus out each day. Both days I played the last few holes poorly and made mistakes of the type that come from lack of staying focused, and let okay but not great rounds get away. Saturday I was +3 w/ 3 to play , 2 of which are par 5 holes, so I should have finished strongly. Sunday I had righted ship after a poor start and hit tee shots to excellent positions on the last three but played them +3. I found out Monday that I finished in heat indexes over 105, and several different guys at work were talking about how they almost fell out from the heat that weekend. None of this is an excuse, I wasn't on game to be in contention.

[Diane]

Originally Posted by mr_bogey

None of this is an excuse, I wasn't on game to be in contention.

Mr. Bogey - Heat works as an excuse for me. Rain too. Let's not forget wind and cold as well.

[PA PLAYA]

Originally Posted by mr_bogey

If those rounds build character, I should be a saint after last weekend!

Actually, now that a bit of time has passed for reflection, I have to believe that the terrible heat and humidity wore me and my focus out each day. Both days I played the last few holes poorly and made mistakes of the type that come from lack of staying focused, and let okay but not great rounds get away. Saturday I was +3 w/ 3 to play , 2 of which are par 5 holes, so I should have finished strongly. Sunday I had righted ship after a poor start and hit tee shots to excellent positions on the last three but played them +3. I found out Monday that I finished in heat indexes over 105, and several different guys at work were talking about how they almost fell out from the heat that weekend. None of this is an excuse, I wasn't on game to be in contention.

Well, even though we don't like to make excuses, extreme conditions can certainly influence both focus and execution. And naturally it can certainly level the playing field.

[C-Tech]

I can understand the heat and humidity excuse as valid. I played a round in pretty extreme heat and humidity lately and for a few holes, I hardly remembered playing. I was just worn down beyond the point I could focus, I was only thinking about getting in.