Mr. Haney helped me... shot 1 under today

[bshack]

So I played a rather short course today... Its only a 9 hole course and is a par 35...

Its a good practice course with the 1 par 5 measuring out around 500 yds. 2 Par 3s both around 180 and 6 par 4s ranging from a measely 300-340.

Its a short course but at the same time you still have to make your shots and for 7 dollars its in great condition and a nice practice course.

Now to my score. I shot a 1 under 34 on 9. 2 Birds, 1 bogey and 6 pars. Birdie the 1st and last hole and am really happy with my game right now.

The last 3 weeks the courses have been under water with lots of standing water and when I was hitting drives or chip shots they wouldnt bounce or roll and yet i was still shooting right around 40 or 82. I dont know my handicap but when i set up my account i had shot an 82 that day so im guessing its around 10. I have established a home course and im in the middle of setting up a GHIN handicap.

Now that the courses are dry my chips shots a spinning, rolling up on the green and my drives are rolling an additional 20 or so yds which really helps. Instead of hitting a 9 or an pitching wedge I have a short wedge to the green setting up easier putts.

NOW to the Mr. Haney. Last night I watched the Haney project and he said focus on 3 holes at a time. If you can play the 3 holes at 1 over your on pace to break 80 which is my goal next time out. I birdie the first hole and normally get all mentally beat. I used haneys strategy Par'd the next 2 holes and was on my way to my best round ever.You focus on 3 holes instead of 9 or 18 things go smoother. I do focus on each shot and putting myself in good position but like most I kept my score in my head for the whole round which im trying to limit.

Combine this round with my round of 39 at one of the better courses in the area on monday and my golf is going well.

May your next round go as well as mine and try out the haney skill one time if your getting nervous

[pbillaa]

I find this 3 hole thing interesting, I will try it next time out.

[Paz]

Especially on a course you've played many times. You know which holes you can try and take advantage of and which holes you just need to get that par.

[senorchipotle]

i can see how that can come in handy, the three hole thinking. i rather take each hole, and look at it as if a battle. you par, it's a stalemate, you shoot over or under, you lose or win the battle. if i have more birdies than bogeys after 18, i win the war. that helps me to stay aggressive and focus on every shot.

[1par2win]

I have a variation of the 3 hole theme. I usually divide a round up in 3 six hole segments. Those middle innings are tough ones for me!

[flguy]

3 Holes at time. I like that.

[cody west]

i used to do this for a while last year but i would bogie 2 in a row or 2 out of three and i would spend the rest of the round trying to birdie 2 out of 3 to get that one back. to be completely honest i dont even focus on my score. i just hit the ball after the hole i count write it down and move on. i take it a hole at a time and i dont keep track of my round total because then i get all self concious. iv came to the turn more than once and my partner was like your 2 under and i was like are you serious because i figured i wasnt playing that well focusing on each shot

[soloredd]

Does sound like a great idea. I'm actually going to use the +2 for 3 holes since I'm nowhere close to breaking 90, let alone 80. Baby steps.

I can see how and why this is sound advice though. Takes pressure off thinking of 9 holes and also trying to make a great score for one hole. And since I am somewhat of a slow starter, gives some leeway for the first tee jitters.

[out_in_30]

3 holes at a time is good ive thought of that before while i was playing; definitely should break the course up and not think about holes that are an hour away from being played. but the real trick in my opinion and what i am working on myself is focusing on one SHOT at a time; Bob Rotella is where I got the idea from although i hear pros say it all the time--it sounds so much easier than it really is. I am working at accepting the shots i hit even if they are bad (rotella) and just charge ahead and forget past shots. However I do like to reflect on good shots and use those memories to fuel more good shots. All in all i think the mental side of golf tends to be neglected by many amateurs even though it is just as important if not MORE important than the physical.