Josh,

I feel your pain!  Like you, I've tried the really aggressive approach with the same terrible results.  Now I just try to play my normal game and keep the pressure on my opponent (let him make the mistakes).  If I lose, I tip my hat to my opponent and move on (sometimes you just can't overcome giving up to many strokes).

In my limited experience, I find when I'm giving a lot of strokes, it's best for me to just play my game and let the chips fall where they may.  While higher handicappers do have great rounds on occasion, there's a reason why they're getting so many blows on a hole.  Generally speaking, their inconsistency will be the key to your success, and when they're imploding on a hole, you need to be in position to win it.

Now of course, if your opponent is having one of those days where it all clicks, well, then you're out of luck unless you can go really low.

I've never been given strokes before so not sure what's that like....

To answer your question, look at the scorecard first and see what kind of match you're looking at..  If it looks impossible, then adjust your betting so you don't lose as much...

But seeing how ya playing this year and winning more tournaments and cash than any amateur player i know, I say a loss here and there shouldn't affect your earnings....  You know there easy money out there..

My best friend almost always hits his drives in the fairway, hits his approaches around the green and when he is on-chips and putts well. In the past, I got more aggressive and things went south quickly. I got smart and went back to playing my game and when I got more consistent by hitting hybrids and irons off the tee and laying up, then if I can get it near the green, my short game can gain me a lot of strokes. He started feeling the pressure and began hitting poor approaches which put pressure on his short game. Playing your own game isn't being passive, its playing to your strengths. Good luck! 

I will not sit here and act like I am the high and mighty and un-phased by things like this, but when I play match play the only thought on my mind is to play my game one shot at a time. If you find yourself worrying about how many strokes you're giving up throughout the match you will be forcing every issue, every shot. I guess the assumption is that if you are skilled enough to having your friends ask for that many strokes, then you should be able to execute a few great shots without needing to feel the pressure. 

Play your game!

If you agree upon the strokes prior to the round then the destiny is set, but you have to play each round one shot at a time, not worry about giving your opponent a stroke on 17. Also, on that note, play well enough that you won't have to worry about giving that stroke on 17 and close him out!

I always stick to my guns and keep going about my business as usual. It's saved several rounds that looked like they were headed for the tank.

A good example would be a round I played last season. I was a single playing on Saturday morning so I got put together with a threesome that I had never met before. Not sure if it was just nerves or what, but I literally could not get the ball off the ground for nearly the entire first hole. It really looked like it was going to be a long day... However, I stuck to my pre-shot routine, kept my head in the game and shot an 89 which was competitive with the guys I was playing with. When the round was done, one of the guys came up to me and basically told me that he was impressed with my dedication to the routine and the results I was able to get from sticking it out.

I've said it on here before, and I'll say it again. Sometimes golf is simply a game of perseverance.

It is my 2 cents that if you got to the level that you are by doing what and how you do it, why change? Play your game your way. Period.