If Only Golf - Avoid It

[@ZaxDrumsGolfandMore]

I agree with Gabe!! Every round and golfer!! Great video Simon!!🏌‍♂⛳😀

[@thehairygolfer]

Cheers

[@streamleazefishhouse]

If only I didn't have to go to work!

[@metalheads-golf]

😂😅 if only it was not raining today. 😂

[@thehairygolfer]

I agree there. But I'm working my way out slowly.

[@thehairygolfer]

@@metalheads-golf Just seen the forecast for Phuket. Rain and thunderstroms and 32 degrees. It's going to be sweaty.

[@robertcourt8593]

​@@thehairygolferit's going to be a lot nicer than England, that's for sure! Have a great time!

[@thehairygolfer]

@@robertcourt8593 It will be better than walking round in the mud. That really saps your energy. It will be nicer, I can't wait to be paddling on the beach. Problem is the travelling. Shower and fresh clothes this morning, work today, get in the car straight after work. By the time I unpack and get in the shower that is 31 hours in the same pair of undies! You probably didn't need to know that. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Cheers

[@kevinmcanulty2593]

thank you for the mention! banned word during my days at Raglan,. Of interest to you Raglan a gem of a course reopens on 1/3/25 after closing in 2019. It will be worth putting in your diary.

[@thehairygolfer]

Thankyou for the ideas. I rely very heavily on what people say to give me a reason to take the camera out. Raglan re-opening? Good news. I wish the owners the best of luck and yes I will put it on the list. I might contact the owners if they get a website up and running.

[@michaelmccreery8192]

Enjoyable watch again.

[@thehairygolfer]

Thankyou. Without the community I have no ideas. I need you people.

[@nevillehubbard7347]

At whatever level we are, we always have "if only's", which are all part of experiential learning!!! Can you turn it round to make a positive? Of course you can! So that "if only" becomes an "I only....!!!" So, "I only did whatever because i was down there yesterday and took 4 more to get down!". There you go! When you play any of those courses in Phuket that you've played before, instead of thinking "I made 6 on this hole last time i played it", think "I only made a 6 because my drive was too far right, and I short sided myself on a down grain chip" and then play the hole differently this trip!!! And, if you make a 7, blame me!!!!!

[@thehairygolfer]

It's a deal. If I play badly it's your fault. I'm playing 2 new courses but on the courses I know I will let the caddy play her part. I have thought about a few holes I hit driver on last time and it didn't really help me. Off line and a 9 iron from the rough or behind some trees is not better than on line and an 8 iron into the green.

[@nevillehubbard7347]

@thehairygolfer so I'm now thinking "If only I hadn't told you that!!!!!". If you do, I'll just blame the knob on the end of the club as usual!!!!!

[@thehairygolfer]

@@nevillehubbard7347 I'll blame the jetlag. Got to sleep around 5 and the alarm went off at 6:30.

[@nevillehubbard7347]

@@thehairygolfer early night tonight then!!!!!!

[@thehairygolfer]

@@nevillehubbard7347 I wont sleep. Almost seems pointless trying. But I will.

[@nicted9308]

I had an if only moment yesterday. If I had a par on the par five eighteenth instead of a bogey I would have won the comp hey ho. I think we all have a lot of if only moments on the course, but it’s a good talking point in the bar after the round. Cheers

[@thehairygolfer]

Be interested in what you did? If you are like me you tried for that 1 extra birdie or net birdie and pushed a fraction too hard. Next time I hope you close it out for the win.

[@nicted9308]

@@thehairygolfer Hi Simon, I miss hit my third shot and pushed it into the bunker. Got it out of the bunker and missed the put for par and was beaten on a count back .I have to tell you that I have stopped playing twice a week because of problems with arm joints and back. So I play on a Thursday and have a little practice on a Sunday or Monday and so far its going very well and it gives me a little break in between. Getting old hey ho, I hope you can sort out your problem. Cheers Simon

[@thehairygolfer]

@@nicted9308 Getting old is no fun. You keep writing cheques your body can't cash. I wrote a few today.

[@LetsPlayThru]

Haha, yes. Every golfer, every round.

[@thehairygolfer]

I had a couple today but I can blame it on jetlag and 2 hours sleep!!! Cheers

[@cleggygolf]

Great video simon

[@thehairygolfer]

Thankyou

[@robertcourt8593]

I had a couple of if only's last time out, I'm hoping I've thought about them so often the last 2 weeks that I won't make the same mistakes again next time.

[@thehairygolfer]

I always have them. More often these days. Bad decisions and bad shots. But we can try.

[@danielowen5889]

Bang on... i use the same mentality

[@thehairygolfer]

@@danielowen5889 Got to learn from our mistakes. I don't mind a bad swing but I hate a bad decision and then repeating it.

[@robertcourt8593]

@@thehairygolfer it's the repeating them that's frustrating. I did the same stupid mistake from either side of the fairway🤦

[@thehairygolfer]

@@robertcourt8593 You should of seen me today. How do you shoot your handicap with 3 birdies?

[@stuartcaldwell2262]

If only your weather had been kinder. Chin up. I wish I could have joined you in Thailand but I will look forward to the videos. Enjoy this trip.

[@thehairygolfer]

It's a little bit warm here. I ran out of steam yesterday by the back 9. Really good old caddy though.

[@neilfarmer6609]

If only I’d watched this 30 years ago…

[@thehairygolfer]

If only I had started youtube right at the start.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

"If only " I could play like you Simon. Ron

[@thehairygolfer]

You know how to play good golf Ron? Go back to age 2 and take it up. It's a little difficult to achieve though. Simon

[@rogernewton7831]

Simon, for what it's worth you seem to be fanning slightly on your backswing . Open club face on the backswing in other words. Ball tends to go short and right especially with your scoring irons (sand wedge to 7 iron). Also you seem to be not keeping your lower case Y on your chips and flipping it too long. Please ignore if this how you like to play. Best. And the handicap system still sucks on ice.

[@thehairygolfer]

That is my big fault Roger. I've done it for years and can't seem to be able to break the habit. Some rounds are better than others. I need to slow down a bit and think more before taking it back. With the short irons I add loft which really isn't helpful. Chipping, what I do is a little off from what is conventional but it gets the job done. I wouldn't want to attempt to change that. Pitching I'm long and slow as opposed to short and brisk. That is another downfall. The handicap sucks and the WHS hasn't reached Thailand yet. I played a course that was 6500 yards. 67 bunkers, water on 17 holes, sometimes both sides of the fairway. Rated at 68.6 which is a joke. How anyone in Thailand manages to work out what their handicap is is beyond me. I will simply play off 6 every round regardless of what the card says. Cheers

[@ianburton9223]

Out of the rough to the right of the fifth and sixth greens is one of my frequent if only moments. The short chip out of rough for me seems to be a choice of dropping it in the rough short of the green or a quick stab shot over to the other end of the green. I'll find a solution one day.

[@thehairygolfer]

6 I try and hit it left, short right is so difficult.

[@paulhorrocks4868]

Hi Simon, you made me laugh so much about the fireworks. I first thought, what the hell is he going on about, it’s broad daylight where he is by playing. Then I realised it was when you were editing😂. Fireworks are a pain in the backside, they should be banned. In terms of your game. I think the standard you play at is very good. I would be so happy if I were hitting it like you. My game has gone to pot. I’m going to have to seek help from a golf professional. It’s really getting me down along with the ‘If Only’s’🙄

[@thehairygolfer]

Hello Paul, I was in a tearing hurry to get videos edited and it was ready to be done and had to be done. I don't know what that guy spent but it was weapons grade fireworks. These need to be stopped and returned to just being garden fireworks. Drove the dogs mad. So I'm away at the moment. I'm making birdies and then a double bogey. It is coming and going hole by hole. I will see a professional in March. Find a new one. Have a sit down and talk baout what I want. I would suggest that talk over a coffee in invaluble before you get your first lesson. Just tell them your problems and what you want. Best of luck

[@paulhorrocks4868]

@ Many thanks Simon. Are you holidaying in Thailand 🇹🇭? Hope you enjoy it if you are. Take care and stay safe fellow golfer 👍🏻🏌🏼🏌🏻‍♂️🏌🏼‍♀️⛳️

[@golfinginthailand]

Ready for Thailand yet?

[@thehairygolfer]

Almost. Working today, flying tonight.

[@danielowen5889]

The if only game is actually a good thing.. it makes you think about what you should have done....than use that information next time. My last round was a 41 because of a triple.. if only i didnt draw my driver, so 4 hybrid next time to break 40...

[@thehairygolfer]

If you can go home and then think about the errors of judgement and take a different approach next time then you will get better. I try and break it into bad shots and bad decisions. I can't stop hitting bad shots but I may just be able to think better. Cheers

[@danielowen5889]

@thehairygolfer thanks mate.

[@bernardblood9447]

No matter what score you card . You always feel you left a few out there

[@thehairygolfer]

Even the best round of the year you pick apart and save a shot or two.

[@Golfing-AddiCt]

If only all those putts were hit with a bit more purpose, the only putt that was hit purposefully was the one that hit the flag at 10 mph lol 😉 definitely focus on getting those putts in or passed the hole. 😉

[@thehairygolfer]

The greens are very slow and bumpy now. Loads of footprints. I'm not a good putter on slow greens, never have been. I'll wait for the spring.

[@finbar481]

If only more clubs had senior tees! I can hear your despair giving advice about laying up all the time but where's the fun in that when once upon a time all the holes were in range? More golf clubs should cater for seniors if you ask me!

[@thehairygolfer]

I agree, more clubs should have senior tees and they should be assessed for seniors and not a 25 year old scratch golfer hitting it 280 yards.

[@robertcourt8593]

I always say this but they shouldn't just be for seniors. Shorter courses are better for everyone. The guy who can hit their driver 270 yards but generally slices it into the trees at 190 yards would be much better off if they could just hit their 5 wood or 3 iron off the tee and still have a reasonable club in.

[@thehairygolfer]

@@robertcourt8593 That is true. Water is still wet, OB is still OB and the hole doesn't get any bigger if you play forward. It is still a challenge and a joy to play well if you move forward.

[@robertcourt8593]

@@thehairygolfer Rory hits driver, short iron on almost every par 4 I hit driver fairway or driver hybrid... On the rare short par 4 it's so much fun to hit driver 9 iron or wedge.... It's even nice to be able to hit 7 wood, hybrid and still have a chance at the green.

[@thehairygolfer]

@@robertcourt8593 If only I could hit it like Rory......

[@davidwalters313]

Sounds like you need a few more lessons Simon. Money well spent

[@thehairygolfer]

I'm just very stiff David. The lesson was fine - the body not so much.

[@markdavies3489]

Playing at the Herefordshire,how many if onlys you demonstrate here have I been guilty of.Why do we still attempt very hard shots that we can only pull off very occasionally.Nothing to do with golf.Its simple self discipline.

[@thehairygolfer]

I am not perfect as you have seen. I keep thinking I can hit the ball as well as I did 12 years ago. But with so little golf this year it's been poor.

[@markdavies3489]

Can't quite agree though on that second shot on the 3rd not being an if only moment.Usually a bail out for me unless I can see the whole green.

[@thehairygolfer]

@@markdavies3489 A lot depends on the angle and the club. 7 iron, 6 iron is okay for me. If it's a short drive then forget it. I'm not going over with a 4 iron. I find the mistake is landing short in the summer and hitting the downslope. Then you scoot over the green and up the other bank. Now that is an if only and left is best into the fat part of the green as you say. 40 feet uphill isn't a difficult putt. I guess confidence plays it's part too. Which is why I'm always chipping on 7. It's killed me all year.