I step up to the first tee feeling like today might finally be the round. My warm-up was decent, my swing thoughts are simple, and there’s just enough confidence to be dangerous.

My driver is… unpredictable. When I catch it, it’s pure—long, straight, and makes me think I’ve solved golf. But there’s always that one swing where it leaks right (or snaps left) and reminds me that timing is everything.

My irons are streaky. I’ll hit a couple of crisp, satisfying shots that keep me coming back, mixed with a few heavy or thin ones that leave me shaking your head. Distance control is “aspirational.”

Around the greens is where things get interesting. Some chips come off perfectly with a nice touch—but others either check too hard or run out like they’ve got somewhere better to be.

Putting. That’s a rollercoaster. I’ll drain a long one out of nowhere, then miss a short putt that you were already counting. Reading greens feels like educated guessing with occasional moments of brilliance.

Scoring pattern: My card probably looks like: A couple pars (maybe even a birdie on a good day) a lot of bogeys and a handful of doubles (the real killers)

The honest truth: I’m closer to shooting in the low 80s than I think. Just need to eliminate penalties off the tee, getting chips onto the green reliably and reducing 3-putts. Sounds like most golfers.

Mental game: I know what a good swing feels like, which is both a blessing and a curse. You’re close enough to good golf that mistakes feel frustrating—but not consistent enough yet to trust it.