I don’t mind target golf, as long as I can see the target ahead of time.

Playing Eagle Ridge G.C. recently, I was faced with a variety of hind-parts-puckeringly scary golf shots.  There was trouble everywhere on the course, from bunkers to ravines to falling off the side of the mountain at any given time.

The view from the tees had to be designed to mess with golfers’ minds, because I can’t remember being so out of sorts on a golf course in recent memory.

Which got me to wondering what shot, more than any other, gives me the most angst on the golf course.  My new swing has a slight draw as my base shot from which the rest of my game builds out.  So, frankly, any shot requiring a fade poses a mental hurdle for me currently.

Don’t hit it in the water. Don’t hit it in the water. Don’t hit it in the water. Damn it! I hit it in the water.

And, like a lot of golfers, there are particular tee shots on particular holes that just plain make me uncomfortable, either because the hole “doesn’t suit my eye” or I’ve never played that hole well, and the vicious cycle perpetuates itself, and the myth has become fact (ahem, 5th at Picadome).

However, I find standing on a tee box with a driver in my hand, if there is water to be avoided, one of two things happen:

• I bail out and overcompensate, ending up out of position on the other side of the hole, or
• My game betrays me and I end up sending the golf ball into the lake or creek like it’s a hungry homing pigeon.

I can handle the pressure of making the putts that I should make.  I’m getting more and more comfortable playing out of bunkers.  But when there is a clear area into which I’m not supposed to hit my ball, my demons get the best of me.

So, Dear Readers, for our June Question of the Month: What golf shot scares you the most?