To think or not to think...

...about your score during a round. That is my question. I was wondering how many people out there keep their score in their head during play. I know the conventional wisdom is to NOT keep track in order to focus on the task at hand but for me I find that if I think about my score I am better able to plan my attack.
Example, if I am 2 over par on the back 9 and I am on the 16th tee I think about how do I get around the last 3 holes in 1 over par to break 40. Mentally I focus on planning the shots and this has the affect of feeling like I am being pulled through the remainder of the round. I find it takes away the pressure as opposed to adding to it. I am careful about obsessing over the score and I never, ever beat myself up if I make a mess of things. If I hit a bad shot and put myself in a bad situation I recalculate and go from there until I finish up 18. I have also learned to keep a level head during the good times and bad. The best way I describe my process is I take my game seriously, not myself.
So I was curious about what thought process' other people go through during a round of golf and how you got to that point.

I think that at any given time, if asked, I could tell you where I am relative to par, but actually thinking about my score? Kiss of death! Thinking about my score keeps me from thinking about my shot.

I've seen more people screw up a good round doing this. And have even used it a few times on guys I'm playing with if they're up a stroke or two on me going into the last few holes. But if it works for your then that's fine.

My thought process during the round as simple as I can make it; get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes possible. No one shot is more important than another and the hole isn't over till it's finished.

I agree with others. I know where I am, I do have a memory (somewhat) so it is impossible not to know. But I have a superstition about not adding up the first nine. I really don't want to talk about how I am doing if I am doing well. I try really hard to not think about the past or the future when playing.

Im always aware of my score, and sometimes i dream of what could be if i do this or that between holes. But as soon as i get into my setup for the next shot, its over. I play the hole then. Im not thinking about my score when making an approach shot to the green, for example.

For me personally, I don't have any idea where I am in relation to par during the round. I don't add it up at the turn, I don't even think about it. I keep a bunch of stats, so the only time I think about score is when putting down my stats for the hole.

I usually have no idea other than whether I'm playing well or not. If I have been playing really well with mostly birdies and pars then I might have an idea, but most of the time I just play one shot at a time than add it up after the round is over. Sometimes I'm surprised how well I shot, sometimes by how bad.

Unless you're playing competitively I see no reason to have any idea what your score is during the round. If you're thinking that you need to make a certain score on a hole to finish with a particular score then it gets in your head and usually ends badly (at least for me). Last year I was sitting at -1 going into 17 and new that all I had to do was play +1 or better to finish at par or better. What happened? I finished with a +5 77 (don't ask - you don't want to know ).

I try to never think about score during a round but I do have a jackass best friend who I always play with that will let me know how many strokes up or down I am to him with 3-4 holes left to play. Such a helpful way to end the round....not!

This is impossible to me. Unless I am hacking it up I know where I am. I don't harp on it but if someone came over and asked me at any point in a round how many over par I am I could tell them. But I never talk about that.

Same for me, knowing my score or trying to shot a score really messes me up.