Can't take it to the course

[COYRAWW]

Apols if this has already been covered. I'll start by making it clear that I'm a retired lady with a high handicap who's fairly new to golf (2 years) - so likely very different to most of you. Although I'm pretty rubbish I do love golf and am keen to get as good as I can before old age turns things in the other direction. With that in mind I invested in a studio - we had a spare room and could afford it, so I figured it would be a great investment - and good fun.
I'll confess to using online coaching a lot - I'm a terrible tweaker - though I do have professional lessons too so I know the things I'm trying to fix. So, along comes lockdown and an opportunity to try and fix all those swing faults. For the past 4 weeks I've been in the studio 2-3 times a day for half an hour at a time and I really did feel like I was seeing improvements - ball going further, straighter, more consistently - yay, what's not to love.
This week the course opened again and out I go, full of confidence, only to find that out there I can't do it. I mean, not at all - as though I'd never picked up a club in my life before. Everything just felt weird. Of course I've had many an off day before - but always felt like I could get it back on the next hole if i could just remember that basic principle that I was getting wrong. Not this time - genuinely felt like I didn't have a clue.
Now I'm sure eventually it will come back - but my big worry is that the studio was a bad idea - that playing there is nothing like playing on the course and is actually going to do me more harm than good (I've heard of similar issues going from the range to the course). Have I just wasted a shed load of money? Has anyone else experienced anything similar or is it just cos I'm still a very inconsistent player who doesn't have a reliable swing yet?
Appreciate any advice.

[jpotas]

Good morning and welcome. It will end up being a great investment, it will help you become a much better ball striker and will allow you to become much more consistent. In golf, you should never, ever, let one day influence where you think your game is at. I can hit 80 or 95 on the same course within the same week! Stick with it and I am sure you will see a difference, just don't put to much pressure on yourself. It's a game, have fun!!!

[Dax]

Agree with the above comments, playing in real grass and with different lies cannot be replicated in a sim where conditions are perfect. It sounds like your ball striking is getting better. Perhaps a lesson with the instructor you have been using to discuss the round might help now that lockdown is over for you.

welcome to the forum btw, my sim studio has helped my game a lot, but there are still days where I feel like I am picking up the clubs for the first time.

[3on3putt]

Welcome to golf. I've been playing for 20+ years and I've been a single digit handicap for about half of those and I still have days where I don't know what the heck I'm doing. I remember playing in a tournament a couple years ago and shot 79 the first day and I think 91 the second day. Same course. Same tees. Same weather conditions. Only difference is that it was 24 hours later, and that's a lot of time for the golf swing to escape you.

Heck, look at some of the day-by-day scores on the professional tours. You'll see guys shoot 66 the first day and 76 the next (which by their standards is beyond awful).

That's why golf is like a drug. Always chasing that next high.

I think newer players tend to have more difficulty "taking it to the course" as there's still some nerves and a lot of swing thoughts going on. Just keep at it and you'll find it becomes more seamless.

And no, building your indoor space was absolutely not a bad idea. It was the best idea. And you will enjoy it a ton.