To think or not to think...

[1par2win]

...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.

[billm408]

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.

[TN94z]

I don't think about it really, but I always just know where I am. It's kind of hard for me not to know where I am. But I don't sit there and add up scores and think "Man I need to par out or I need to have this many birdies." That will kill a round in a heartbeat.

[Leftygolfer]

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.

[DavidFehertysBike]

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.

[mruseless]

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.

[PiKapp23]

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 ).

[TN94z]

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.

That is true. I can go through a round feeling like my ball striking was terrible and the score very much surprises me. Also, I was going into 17 -2 last year and thought to myself, " all I need to do is par out." Big mistake....17 I bogied, and 18 I double bogied. Finished with a 1 over...drove me crazy!!! That would have been my first under par round...

[Bo the Golfer]

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!

[iacas]

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.

Ditto.

And unless I'm having an incredibly good or bad day, my score also does not affect my strategy. Knowing your score isn't the same - at all - as letting your score affect you or obsessing about your score or whatever.

[Leftygolfer]

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.

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.

[lumpuckeroo]

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.

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