If its the amount of cash your playing for, I'm not sure a comfort zone can be found.  I know exactly what the gamble is in my weekend group / groups.  In knowing that I could possible lose ( up to 50 ), the most I've ever lost in a round, I'm completely OK with it.  The big losers in our game, are all from self inflicted wounds and over aggressiveness.  We play a game called HAWK, carry over skins, CP's, rabbit ( most birdies ) and most times a team game.  The HAWK is a couple dollars a hole, but, most holes it's tied, it takes birdies to win, 90% of the time.  We have a couple guys in the group who are always checking the last scorecard, the one that shows the running total of the money +/-, and they really get excited if they are winning and count it before the round is over.  And, they get discouraged if it shows they are losing, like we are all out to get them specifically.  I know the risk of the amount and I'm good with it, big loser for the day is normally about 20, but it is very possible to lose 50, if you inflict your own damage by not making pars.  I don't look at the cash card till late in the round, as it might affect my strategy the last 3 holes, maybe.  What I have to gamble with is previous winnings, not from my work check.  So, knowing that I'm playing with last weeks winning, I don't fret over the possible loss of 20-50$.  So, this with this long winded thought, your comfort zone will be there if and only if your OK with the idea of worst case is losing a potential maximum amount.  When I joined this group permanently ( 7 years ago ), the gamble cost was a big increase of what I had been playing for, and it sure as heck made me nervous about the possibilities of losing every weekend.  But, a couple of weekend rounds later, I realized we were all pretty even and the biggest loss come from me not executing, rather than them outplaying me.  So, I stop worrying about losing and I play better, leave the thought of money out of your round from the time you get to the course till after the last hole.  Hope this helps, and good luck in your group.

The way to get over that fear of losing a few bucks is to win all the cash!!!!

Best feeling is walking away from the 18th with a pocket full of cash.

Good Luck!

Dr. K

Carl,

A lot of people like to play money games and a lot don't.  I fall into the don't category, but there are occasions when I do.  On those occasions, what I do is just try to focus on going out and playing my game, to the best of my ability, just like I do for every other round I play.  I know this may not help you, but it works for me.

Barry B.

If you don't feel comfortable playing, you won't find a comfort zone.

Always play with confidence, but if the money out ways that ability, simply pass.  I have played with different foursomes who wager more than I am willing to lose ... I simply say "No thanks, but if I were to wager I would put my money on ... "   They seem to be content gambling among themselves.

Carl,

I'd say you should chalk it up to experience... and you didn't lose anything which is good. I acknowledge that you didn't play all that well, but it's an experience that will help in the future if you play for $$ again.  Personally, I like playing for some money. It gives you an appreciation of what these young guys on tour go through week in and week out trying to make it on the tour. It's remarkable how our knees can shake over a 3 foot, $10 putt when you think about those guys trying to make a 3 footer on the 18th hole in the second round one shot off the cut line and trying to earn something for the week. I guess it all depends if you enjoy the added pressure during your round of golf. It's also a little different if you're in a team situation because of the possibility of feeling that you let your partner down if you don't play well. But in the end, don't spoil your golf game by giving into something you're not comfortable with... just say "no" if that suits you better.

Good luck.

Carl,

As has been said above - when it comes to cash games that are out of you range, just say you're out. I've never played in any cash game where we would shun a guy for not betting. If you really want to play for bigger money try playing for items, dinners, rather than cash at first.

But you had said playing with new people can throw you out of your comfort zone... this, for me, has a simple cure. My pre-shot routine. I may be nervous or uncomfortable when talking or making introductions but my game, that doesn't have anything to do with them. I'd say focus on your routine because when you know it will always be there and be the same, you can settle in to something that is familiar, done a thousand times before and relax because you know what to do and it's almost like each shot is your own 60 second vacation away from whoever you're with haha.. That's what works for me in tournaments, knowing that when my routine starts, it's my quiet time, and nothing else matters but the shot.

Hope that makes even a little sense.

- Mike W

I can say i sufer the same problems. i take awhile to get used to playing with diffrent people. and the money pressures me to over think shots. but for me with out the pressure of money i lose interest. i usually lose money early in the year when i have to adjust to my game and new people but by the mid season im in form and holding my own. i went from a streakey 9 last year to a rapidly droping 4. this year im starting as a streaky 5 and hoping to get to scrach by end of the year. so far im only slightly in the losing side of the money games but thats because i make multiple bets each week. but to further on your point

back on track

if have found you have to forget the bets. for get the money play your game and remember golf is about you and the course. thats all you can control. play your game dont press your self dont try to take shots you don't normaly take. thats when you turn a struggling game into a horrific game. stay on your game i can't tell you how many front nine's i have blown up to turn around and go lights out on the back.  just keep calm and play your game and if you don't like the bets just don't play them. i'd rather play with people that don't care for money games than people that get angry over a quarter. i don't play many  non betting games but i am fine playing them if the company is good.

cheers greens and fairways

simba

Hey Carl,

Great post.  Usually when we play for money handicaps come into play.  Thankfully for me my handicap is a little higher than the guys i'm playing with so i have somewhat of a chance to win a few.  But i hate playing for money b/c like you i get out of my comfort zone and i hate losing money.  I'm very cheap.  I just like to go out and have fun. 

There are times we'll play for beers instead of money which i rather do and always push for that.   

But IMO when we do play for money, i try my best to block that part out and just play my game and have fun.  And if I don't want to participate, i'll play by myself I don't care. 

I never play in tourney's or anything so when I play, i'm trying to beat the course, not my opponent.  

Carl,

If uncomfortable situations are giving you trouble, then your pre shot routine is suspect. I would suggest Rotella's "Golf is not a Game of Perfect" and Jim Fannin's "Golf in the Zone" as a good place to start.

A golf shot is just a golf shot, whether it's to beat a personal best, for the club championship, for the Masters or to take a couple of bucks off some friends. At the end of a day, it is still just a golf shot and to do that successfully, your focus should be on target and process. You don't need anything elaborate, but a consistent 20-30 second pre shot routine will go a long way in helping you in uncomfortable situations.

Best of luck!

This really is a great topic... one you don't see much.  I can definitely see how the money aspect is adding stress to your game, and stress in golf is never good.  However, some people thrive on that sort of pressure and seem to perform better under those conditions.  Personally, I don't seem to perform better, and I don't seem to perform worse.  I do enjoy the added pressure of a small wager on the course... it's something I can control... unlike betting on a horse, or football game where you have no control over the outcome. Whether I win or lose pretty much depends on my performance, nothing else... and that type of gambling I like. For me, there's more pressure if I'm coming to the last 3 holes in a round hovering around my personal best score.  Or in my league, i've been one or two under with 3 holes to play only to go two or three over on those 3 holes... I know I felt very nervous trying to finish the round with 3 pars or better... but the pressure gets to me I guess.. something does.  Somehow i lose focus and can't seem to finish the round strong.  So is that the same amount of pressure as gambling on your game? ... probably not... maybe...I don't know.  It's very interesting to discuss how things affect people differently.

Well, Carl... I would suggest that you not let yourself get involved with those types of games anymore... the bigger money games... you obviously don't like the added pressure and it affects your demeanor if you don't do well.  I wouldn't feel too awfully bad for your partner though... what "cost" your partner was the fact that he hit his tee shot into the lake, so that certainly wasn't on you.  You did the best you could... heck, you would have had a tap in par if the shadow was the hole, so you played the hole very well under whatever pressure you were feeling, so don't be too hard on yourself.  I say, for you, stay away from the bigger money games and enjoy your game of golf.  If you're comfortable with a smaller wager during the round, then go for it and have fun with that.  By all means, have fun out there.... in the end, it's just a game.

I don't get into cash golf games.  Murphy's Law prevails. Used to play the front nine for lunch. 

As a caddie, used to see various things like playing Nassau or a dollar a point (pars = 1 point, birdies = 2 points, eagles = 3 points; 1 putt sneakies = 1 additional point, holing out = 2 addtional points, "sandy andy" = 1 bonus point).