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Just $39.99Cut out the valleys and ride the peaks by playing in an eclectic format.
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The “psycho scorecard” is a rite of passage in the world of golf — no matter the visceral, occasionally exhausting level of frustration it causes players. The sight of rows of 2’s and 3’s alongside 6’s and 7’s (or worse, the dreaded snowman) is enough to raise the blood pressure of any sane golfer.
But worse than the outcome (which is typically a ballooning handicap) is the knowledge that accompanies the psycho scorecard. You know what you’re doing at least some of the time you’re on the course. But for whatever reason, you can’t seem to put it together for longer than a few holes in a row.
I know all this because I am the holder of more than a few psycho scorecards in this season alone. I know the pain of going 3 under on the first four holes of the back nine only to record a 42 coming in, of starting the day bogey-bogey-double and realizing I need to go low to salvage my score.
Frankly, it stinks. I’m tired of it. Which is why during my next round(s), I’m trying out this week’s golf gambling format, the Eclectic Tournament.
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An Eclectic Tournament is, essentially, a collection of your best scores from playing multiple rounds or multiple balls. This tournament is perfect for boom-or-bust players because, over the span of several rounds, your outlier scores should begin to vanish, while your lower scores remain.
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An Eclectic Tournament is a perfect format to follow if (like me) you’re someone who often falls victim to the psycho scorecard. You don’t need to constantly score low, but if you want to be in contention, you have to ride your peaks while avoiding valleys on the same holes. For those whose golf game is feast or famine, it’s time to feast.
Golf.com Editor
James Colgan is a news and features editor at GOLF, writing stories for the website and magazine. He manages the Hot Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and utilizes his on-camera experience across the brand’s platforms. Prior to joining GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, during which time he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Long Island, where he is from. He can be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.