keeping the round going!

Find someone close to your handicap and play a match, or better yet skins. The penalty for a bad hole is the same no matter what, and you can win or tie a lot of holes through clutch putting, even if ballstriking is off. It also changes the strategy based on what they do and keeps you thinking rather than just being patient.

I hit my best shots it seems when I have the least room for error.  I only have one shot I can hit, so I see it clearly, and I'm totally focused on it.  Even if I miss the shot it's usually a well hit shot that's very close to the intended target.

I think I can carry this same mentality into the final holes when I'm playing well.  Pick a safe target, and then attack it like it's the 17th green at Sawgrass.  See the exact shot you want to hit:  starting line, trajectory, shape, landing point.  Say it out loud if you need to, but be completely focused on that very specific target.  If you miss, you'll still be safe.

Of course, it's always easier to say this than to do it.  I had a pretty good round going last week, and I bogeyed the 15th simply because I lost focus.  I tried really hard to focus on specific targets the remainder of the round, and I finished eagle, par (narrowly missed a birdie), bogey.  Obviously we all need reps in these closing hole under-par situations to get better at them.

You've probably heard this in one form or another from any number of people, but it's helped my game as much as any tip or equipment upgrade I've put to use. It's most evident when I'm having a bad day; the more frustrated I get the worse I play. But if I'm having a great day I can just as easily choke under the pressure of maintaining the pace through the rest of the holes. If it's possible to do so on the course, I will even walk away for a couple minutes or an hour and come back. Just about every time it helps me focus and concentrate on what's important. I've even snuck a fishing rod in my bag once or twice and threw a few casts in the water hazards during these sabbaticals. There's nothing like combining your two favorite hobbies

Just gotta get out of your own head.  I have similar problems on good rounds.  I've taken some lessons from the rounds where the blow up section is earlier.  My round last weekend is a good example.  Was +2 through 6 holes.  If I can keep that pace that's a 78, great round for me.  Totally shat the bed 7-9, going +7 on those three holes.  With a 45 on the front I know I'm not going to be posting a great score for me, so I relax and concentrate on just trying to hit some good shots that I can be happy about, playing shot to shot.  With that attitude I put up a 39 on the back, which is a very good, though not epic, 9 hole score for me.

Plus I hit that 39 with two 3-putts.  I didn't let those get to me cause I was using a new putter which I was dominating with on <20 foot putts but which I hadn't practiced lag putting with and those two three putts were from awful putts in the 50-60 foot range.  Just goes to show you how you need to figure out some way to play shot by shot with no anger or anticipation about scoring past or future.

I wouldn't post this in any of the numerous SLOW PLAY threads

Ha - good call Ernest. I would never do this unless it was in between holes and was I able to, for all intents and purposes of the other golfers, "leave the course". If it would hold anyone up I continue to play, regardless of a potential to choke.

Play golf as 18 rounds of one hole rather than one round of 18 holes. Don't think about your score, just try to hit good shots. Accept the result of each shot and keep going until you hole your last putt.