Plugging away.

[Lbob]

I've been learning about course management and anger management this year. I've focused on trying to make the shot I have confidence in that will (potentially) result in the best score. For me, a lot of it is staying in the moment and forgetting the terrible shot that preceded the present. If you just stay at it and forego heroics or angry swipes you can often avoid disaster.

Case in point. I hit a terrible drive on a par 4 and ended up in a fairway bunker. I had a hideous lie. The ball just trickled in and was right up against the lip of the bunker. I had to get on my knees to take a stab at the ball. I couldn't get out of the bunker but I hoped to advance the ball enough to where I had a swing. I hit a half-skulled 8 iron and got the ball to a decent lie. Now I'm laying 2 looking at 175 to the hole. Could even make par. I take a rescue club and catch it a fat. Now I'm 80 yards off. OK, let's try to get up and down and save a bogey. I hit a nice wedge that's straight at the the flag. The green is elevated and I can't see the ball come down, but it looks like I should have a chance for bogey. I'm happy. I take the cart around the green and I don't see my ball anywhere. Could it be? Yep. I holed the wedge. This is my all time favorite par. I didn't start flailing or get bent. I just kept plugging away. It just takes one shot, and if you keep your cool and give yourself a chance sometime you can make that one shot happen.

I also remember that like death and taxes disaster will happen. It's golf even Tiger has them. But hey, I could be at work. And as the old daying goes, a bad day at the golf course is better than a good day at work.

[Rynofskie]

I agree.......Even on a bad day at the course, that one perfect shot makes the whole day seem worth it. The one time you have a perfect birdie on a par three, or when you hole a shot out of the sand, or skip a ball off a water hazard. Just keep on whacking at it....

[getinthehole]

I agree, I sometimes go through crazy thoughts like quitting golf forever in the middle of rounds, then I just hit an awesome shot and my confidence goes up and hit good shot after good shot. I've now learnt to control myself and I'm doing so much better out on the course, and I'm playing way under my handicap.

[$2 Nassau]

Wow, great par!!

I've come realize that course mgt is something that you are constantly learning and it changes as you improve. It's not just "okay, play smart golf" and that's it. When I was a 30 handicap, course management was simply leaving my driver in the bag sometimes, not trying to hit my 3 wood 250 yards off the deck, laying up short of the green even on some par 4's. etc

Now it's taken on a new role. Club selection has been big for me, not trying to simply knock down every flagstick with every shot. Also, getting to know my distances better. If I need to punch out from beneath some branches I'm trying to get the ball to a certain distance.

This stuff seems so obvious and it's so easy to sit here and type it, but when I'm on the course it's like half my brain is still in my car in the parking lot. So actually putting these strategies to work have helped greatly.

Still a long way to go though!!

[Lbob]

I think that keeping the brain engaged is truly one secret to improving your game and score. But as you indicated it can be difficult.

[jmurdock]

I agree that course mgmt. is a huge part of the game. I used to get hot-headed after a bad shot and it always seemed to steamroll into more bad shots. I believe it was Bobby Jones, or Ben Hogan, that said..."Golf is played on a 5 inch course. The space between your ears"

I also had a great par save once. It was in a college tournament and I was playing a 215 yrd par 3. I hooked it pretty bad (the right to left wind didnt help) and I found the hazard. I took my drop from 110 yds and hit a SW behind the hole. It spun back and into the cup. Still the best par Ive ever made.