Business on the Course
photo credit: billypoonphotos Donald Trump, one of America’s best known entrepreneurs once stated, “if you want to get to know a person, play a game of golf with them.” Golf is a great place to conduct business.
More business deals have been consummated while playing golf than any other sport. The game can reveal more about an individual than hours of conversation. A player’s reactions during the game will reveal a lot about their personality. For the observant business-person, like a Donald Trump, getting to know the person can give a decided edge in a business transaction.
The next time you want to conduct some business, do it on a golf course. Tip: If you are a salesman trying to make a sale, make sure your opponent wins !!
One Step at a Time
photo credit: Lazurite “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The same holds true for a round of golf. Each shot you play during an 18 hole round can be viewed as a series of single steps. Doing this will allow you to play shots one at a time, one after another, with the same focus and intention.
It is critical to your success not to look backward or forward in your mind during this “one shot at a time” process. Stay patient and play within your means, it’s the only way you can actually play “in the moment.”
The next time you play, use this moment-to-moment process which will increase your concentration and focus on every shot of your round.
Managing the Course
photo credit: jwillier2 When you are on top of your game, you will manage the course. When you are not playing well, the course will manage you. Good course managers will invariably outscore their competitors. Too many amateurs do not take the necessary steps to closely examine each and every golf hole they play.
If you have a home course, and most golfers do, take the time to map out and chart each and every golf hole. Map out the do’s and don’ts which will help you plan your strategy. Some might say that this takes the spontaneity out of the game, what it does do is add consistency and that is what every golfer needs to play well and achieve a lower handicap.
Chart Your Game
photo credit: danperry.com Maintaining charts can be boring and tedious but they can be very helpful to your game. Tips: After every shot, make a note of the club used, how far you hit it and where the ball landed. On the green, count the number of putts and whether they were long or short. Before long you will see a pattern emerge by examining the chart. Consequently, you will instantly know what part of your game needs work.
Chart your club yardages; for carry and for roll. Knowing how far you can hit each club is essential. Most amateurs use instinct when choosing a club. Knowing how far you hit each club can also instill great confidence. With proper record-keeping watch your scores improve dramatically.
Play for the Full Shot
photo credit: SearchNetMedia All too often, more time is spent considering ball position and not enough time is used to contemplate distance. Knowing which club you would like to use for your approach shot is the key. Any type of shot that is less than a full shot is risky. The shots that scare Tour Pros the most is the “half shot,” no matter which club it is.
The safe bet is to plan the golf hole so that your approach shot leaves you with a full shot to the green. This cannot be accomplished unless you know the exact yardage that you hit every club. All too often, players ignore this very important aspect of the game and leave their shots, and yardages, to chance.
Playing the Par 3′s
photo credit: SimonDoggett What are thought to be the easiest holes on the course, are usually the most difficult. Although always reachable in one, course designers have made par 3′s much more difficult. A well designed par 3 hole is replete with hazards. Try these tips for Par 3′s:
1) Know the exact yardage to the front or the center of the green. 2) Always use a tee, it’s an advantage the rules give you. 3) Aim away from trouble. If the green is surrounded by bunkers, aim for the location which will give you the best advantage for a sand shot. 3) Play your natural shot, don’t try to “create” a shot. 4) Allow for the wind (check the flag for wind direction and velocity).
Attitude on par Threes
photo credit: www.theedinburghblog.co.uk Maintaining the correct attitude on par three golf holes will help you lower your scoring average. Some pros will not use any club longer than a 7-iron if they intend on going for the pin. Otherwise they know that the odds are on their side if they just aim for the green’s center.
If you feel the shot calls for a 5-iron, use a 4-iron instead. It’s better to overclub than underclub, furthermore, there is less trouble on the back of a green than there is on the front side.
One of the most important aspects of iron play is to know how far you can hit each club with your normal swing. Also, know your yardage distance to the hole for each approach shot.
Visualization
photo credit: ames sf Some golfers think accuracy means hitting the ball straight but the real meaning of an accurate shot is when the target is hit. Straight does not mean accurate. Plan ahead by analyzing and visualizing your shot. This should begin as you are approaching your ball, not in the address position. Check for unusual lies or obstacles. Once you are clear as to your goal, choose your target and visualize your shot in your mind’s eye. See yourself swinging the club and visualize the flightpath of the ball to the target.
A positive mental image almost always leads to a successful golf shot. Visualizing should also be done on the practice range. It is important to develop the habit of visualization prior to each and every shots, including putts.
Carelessness Causes bad Shots
photo credit: edmenendez Every bad shot is caused by carelessness. Having the required knowledge of the game and being able to swing well does not guarantee success. No matter how qualified you are, you must apply your knowledge before taking each and every shot, or you will never be proficient at the game. Memorize the following to eliminate careless golf shots:
Before each shot: > (1) consider the terrain then make your plan (2) select the proper club. (3) inspect your grip (4) use the right stance (5) aim correctly (6) maintain your posture. Soon this will become part of your natural thought process.
There can be many reasons for missing a shot but carelessness should not be one of them. Preparation is the real key.
The Driver vs. the Iron
photo credit: matsubokkuri Did you ever wonder what the difference is between a driver and an iron? With a driver, the ball is swept off the tee with an upward blow (upswing). With an iron, the ball must be hit with a downward blow (downswing).
Players, invariably, try to aim their drives at a specific fairway target as they would an iron. They don’t seem to realize that the driver, as opposed to the iron, is not made for extreme accuracy. Irons are made for pinpoint accuracy, drivers are made for distance. Don’t misunderstand me, however, there is nothing wrong with the ability to drive the ball accurately.
If you lower your expectations with the driver and practice more with your irons, you will see a noticeable difference in your capability to shoot lower scores.