Proper Club Selection

photo credit: nsaplayer   Going over your past approach shots you will find that most come up short.  Do you know that the majority of amateurs, if not scratch players, land short of the pin?  The real question is what causes this problem.

The problem is by ”wishful thinking.”  If you are 130 to 150 yards from the pin, do you go with a 7-iron or a 6-iron?  Most golfers would use a 7 and come up short.  Using a 6-iron may put you on the back fringe but that’s not all bad, there’s usually minimal trouble on the back side of most greens.  The trouble on most greens is on the front side.  Remember, it’s better to over-club than under-club in almost every situation.

Kids in Carts

photo credit: nimish_gogri   Golf is a game that is meant to be played while walking.  For most of the game’s history, carts were non-existent.  Players would walk in all sorts of conditions, over all sorts of terrain. 

Kids need to understand that the real joy in golf comes from the sensory sensations of walking and enjoying nature at it’s best.  When youngsters play in carts, they lose the meaning of how the game is meant to be played.  Walking slows things down, it gives the golfer time to think, which is what you can’t really do when riding. 

One of the keys in playing good golf is maintaining a consistent tempo.  When riding a cart the game speeds up but so doesn’t your tempo.

What did I do Wrong?

If you miss a shot, do not think of what you did wrong. . . just go to the next shot and think of what you must do right ! 

This advice is far easier to give than to get you to actually do it.  When you hit an errant shot, don’t say “what did I do wrong?”  Instead, ask what you “didn’t do right.”  Thinking about doing it “wrong,” can mislead and confuse you.  Keep your focus on executing shots the right way instead of the wrong way.

Do not think while making your stroke, do your thinking prior to the stroke.  Because you cannot think about any more than one detail at one time, it is futile to think at all during your swing.  Keep your mind clear and just make solid contact.

Inner Strength

photo credit: plasticrevolver   As golfers, sometimes we have to call on our inner strength to get over a bad round.  Bad rounds are a normal phenomenon that happen to every golfer, no matter what their level of play.  For a Tour player, a 73 may be a bad round but for most amateurs, a 73 would be a gift. 

When a bad round does occurs, it’s human nature to get mad at yourself but it’s a normal reaction for anyone that truly loves the game.  Realize that bad rounds are just part of the game, everybody has them but it’s how you handle them that counts.  These kinds of rounds will never really go away because that’s the nature of this wonderful game.

Wasted Shots

photo credit: Kelowna09   Every golfer, amateur or Pro, knows what it feels like to waste a shot.  A “wasted shot” is any shot that you could have avoided for any number of reasons.  Some examples are:  topping the ball, slice, hook, shank, chunk, choosing the wrong club etc.  When these type of shots occur they almost always cause anger and regret.  

Keep in mind that Harry Vardon once said ” I’m happy if I hit seven really good shots per round.”  This means that bad shots are to be expected during every round you play.  

If you make a wasted shot, put it immediately out of your mind and think of how to play the next shot.  Just try to ignore bad shots, no matter how bad they are.

Drinking and Golf

photo credit: star5112   Anyone who drinks on the golf course cannot take the game seriously.  Since alcohol is a depressant, a player’s thinking is usually distorted.

Playing with someone who is drinking, makes as much sense as being a passenger in a car being driven by a drunk driver.  To some players, drinking on the course is “cool,” but it can and will lead to serious trouble at some point.

Being “loaded” and driving a golf cart is just asking for trouble.  The potential for an accident is increased 100 fold and litigation may ensue if the passenger is injured.

If you’re a serious golfer and not just out for a quick “buzz,” do yourself AND others a big favor, and don’t drink on the golf course!

Famous Penalties

photo credit: stevie withers   Greg Norman was the defending Champion of the Disney World Golf Classic and held the first round lead when he noticed that the ball he was using was improperly stamped and thus was not on the approved list of permissible balls.  He reported the violation and was immediately disqualified. 

Davis Love lll, playing in the 2001 British Open, inadvertently nudged his ball while making a practice stroke with his putter on the 17th green.  Instead of replacing the ball at a penalty of one stroke, Love putted out from the new position, incurring a two-stroke penalty.  He signed a scorecard charging himself with a one-stroke penalty and was immediately disqualified for giving himself a lower score than he had earned.

When to Press

photo credit: Smabs Sputzer   Calling a press (increased bet in a Nassau match) can make you money.  Here’s how:  1)  Clarify the betting procedure on the first tee, such as an automatic press when two holes down.  2)  Agree whether the recipients of the press can decline it.  3)  Always begin a press on a hole where you’re receiving  a handicap stroke.  If you are giving shots, never press.  4)  If you are a good player, press on par 3’s.      5)  If you are playing a four-ball (best ball) match, always consult with your partner before pressing.  6)  When trailing late in a Nassau, ask to press for the eighteen-hole match at the same time you press the nine hole bet.

Take Charge

photo credit: SearchNetMedia   Control the match by taking control of your opponent’s play.  There is an old saying,”the game of golf is played between your ears” and nothing could be more true.  Since golfers tend to be more reactive than pro-active, its quite simple to get control of the match at hand.  Try the following:  1)  Take charge on the first tee by showing him the ball your playing, tell everyone that YOU will keep score and ask your opponents the order of play. . . show them who’s boss!  2)  Always make them putt out no matter what the distance to the cup.  3)  Control the pace of play especially if you begin to fall back in the match.  Tiger Woods uses this tactic very successful to rattle his opponents.

Playing with a Caddie

photo credit: nsaplayer   A “looper” as they are sometimes called, has one purpose and that is to make your round more enjoyable.  Upon your introduction, getting on a caddie’s good side is easy.  Make sure your caddie calls you by your first name, its much more personal.  Before you begin, ask him to store the covers to your putter and driver in the bag.  When you make the turn, be sure to buy him snacks or lunch.  Discuss each and every shot with him, especially on the putting surface.  Getting his opinion will help you envision your shots and inspire confidence.  When the round is completed, fold or roll the money up and hand it to him in a discreet manner.  He’ll be eager to see you for your next round !

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