Yep, for me, I have to play a couple of times a week to have consistency in my scores. If I lay off for a while, the wild shots seem to be much more frequent and much worse. The short game gets really bad too (not that it has been that good in the past 10 years anyway). I just try and lower my expectations and do my best to remember to have fun (a real challenge for me as can be attested by my fellow TT buds that have been out there with me). So, if anyone sees me getting too worked up at Streamsong next week, my apologies in advance. :)

I'm fortunate, like you, to live in a part of the country where we can play golf all year. During the peak golf season, I'm playing about 3 to 4 times a week and that drops during the winter months to about 1 to 2 times (I still have a day job).

I find using a game tracker like Arccos, helps me work on specific parts of my game that need help. Arccos gives plenty of data which can be overwhelming for some people. There is a learning curve and once you figure it out, I believe it will help you.

I'm lucky in that I can, for the most part, play year round although Jan-Feb can be dicey here in GA. Like you though, my scores can vary wildly. For instance, my high this year was 100 and the low was 77.

I haven't done lessons this year, but the big adjustment was getting my T200s in February and working through the change, then on top of it added SM9s in May. Like Dale said, playing more helped me get more consistent - was in a pretty tight band most of the summer between 80-90. More recently, it's dropped off and I'm in the 90s again. I'm still hitting the ball solid, but I'm just a little "off" on the approaches and longer iron shots.

Bottom line, you have the right attitude, shake it off and keep trying and practicing.

Absolutely. It happens to all golfers in varying degrees, depending on skill level. Obviously my up and down swings will be way different then a pro, but I think that it's there for everyone.

Golf is a rollercoaster, especially when it isn’t your life and have other responsibilities that tie you up from practicing. This is what makes the lows so low and the highs memorable. Best of luck shooting low in the future.

It may be why they call it a golf "swing". Everyone's game has highs and lows. For me from 100 to 82 this year, still chasing the 70's before our season ends here in NY. I still practice as much as I can fit in to my schedule as I know I will be more consistent.

How cold do you let it get before you stop playing??

Of late, I classify my game as bipolar. My game can run from 84 to 103. I have no expectations these days and that is why I play a 19.7 handicap with no expectations. I can go out and have good run of pars, or a birdie or two, then Mr. Shankapodamus shows up. Those triple bogie blues can really kill a good day. We were discussing this yesterday at the humidity hit 79% and the the temperature was in the mid 90's, and our clothes showed signs of looking like we had come out of a shower. We think that sometimes that that might have a affect on us seniors. Are we looking for excuses or refusing to accept the fact that we just are in our seventies and eighties and the game is just not as easy as it once was or the heat might be melting our brains, if we really had one. ha..ha..ha.. What' cha think, Dale? Least, I do not take myself as seriously as I use to. With all the pains they go with being older, hips, back, shoulders, I jump on one of those motorized trolleys, turn on my little baby buggy fan in hopes of staying a couple of degrees cooler (and it is coming with me to Streamsong), drink more than ample amounts of water and hope there are no females close by that day and play on. Golf is supposed fun and that is why I no longer play tournaments. There is no complaining in tournaments. Hakuna matata. See ya all Sunday. Hope those who play with me, do have a sense of humor. Yeah, my game is that bad. =)

Yeah I hate living in NY. The golf season is to short and off season is to long. Getting back into the swings of thing is very ugly for me. Hitting the range before the season starts helps out a lot to get the kinks out.

I hear you J. I live in Westchester County and love/hate this time of year. The courses are beautiful in the fall, especially West Point, but I also know the changing colors mean the last few rounds of the year are upon us.

Seems like every fall I get the end of season golf blues for about 3 weeks or so.
It's built into my Midwestern Snow will be falling soon DNA.
What's Crazy it still happens even though I live in Carlsbad.
I just let it happen and take the time to look for things to work on in my game...kinda like hitting the reset button.

Cheers,
Dr. K

It could be the longer nights and shorter time with daylight that screws things up. Par for the course when you live in this portion of the hemisphere this time of year. Spring can't come soon enough.

One bit of sage advice for all here: you have to accept the bad days in order to appreciate the good days!