I wrote this several years ago right after I shot my first even par round of golf. I was so excited that I came home and mentally relived the round shot by shot (actually I do this with almost every round now- and my wife kindly acts likes she’s listening- and I love her for pretending). After I stored the scorecard and ball for posterity, I sat down and wrote this list in a matter of minutes. It’s my gut speaking. I didn’t think this out and I can’t even say that I’m good at all these tips. Actually, some I’m terrible at; but it doesn’t change the power behind the habits, thoughts or principles.
I was saving this for a post on http://amateurgolfblog.com that I’m creating with a few close friends. I will probably post it there eventually but I wanted to get the loose leaf paper off my desk and the thought out of my head.
Last I want to say that shooting even par golf is relative as much as success is relative. If your handicap is a 36 and you break a 100 it will feel like shooting even par golf. If you are a weekend golfer and normally shoot 85-90, then the day you break 80 will feel like shooting even par. If you were like me and played to a 10-8-6-4 handicap much of your life, then shooting even par feels like shooting even par. Next I want to break 70 which I’ve never done. I’ve come close so many times and I’ve been 4 or 5 under par, but I’ve never held it together. Maybe I’ll write my next tips list after my next major milestone- breaking 70.
18 Tips for 18 Holes- How to shoot even par golf
- Play one stroke at a time, one shot at a time, one hole at a time. Golf is best played in the moment. Your best scores will come when somebody says (I always hope they don’t); hey, you’re only 2 over or 5 over of whatever your benchmark might be. You say- oh yeah I am. Famous last words. The key is to not get ahead of yourself. As soon as I start thinking how many holes I have left or how many over or under I am, things do downhill quickly.
- Have someone else keep your score. This isn’t an issue for most guys on tour or playing in tournaments. Their playing partners and caddy keep score. They just hit a shot and then hit another shot and then another shot.
- Play aggressive with birdies in mind. This is not my nature. I am a grinder and a manage the course. I rarely take chances and thus play well in tougher conditions and tournaments. Unfortunately, it means I also am playing not to lose instead of playing to win. I notice on many of my best rounds I’m aggressive.
- Get your putts and chips to the hole. I have always died a lot of putts in the hole, after all Jack Nicklaus did and who would question him. I’m not questioning him. I still die putts in the hole, but that only happens for me when I focus on getting it there. If I don’t, I tend to err on the side of caution and leave it three feet short in the proverbial jaws. Even if you like to die your putts in the hole, be more aggressive on your putts and chip shots. If the ball goes past the hole you have two chances to make it, if it doesn’t you only have one.
- Realize you don’t have to hit every shot full. That is why it’s called a shot. It’s why certain guys on tour making a living with their shot-making skills. Some lies require different shots as do certain elements like wind or rain. Some grasses require different shots along with certain distances. Some courses require different types of shots. Experiment on the range. It’s OK to hit a bump and run, a flop or a half shot in the right setting.
- Play the ball down, count all your strokes and putt everything out. Don’t lie to yourself or you’ll never get any better. Plus you’ll be exposed if you ever play in a tournament. That 12 handicap will quickly become a 92 in a tournament.
- Believe that anyone including yourself can make 5 pars in a row or 3 birdies in a row. Don’t short change yourself. I’ve seen 25 handicappers make two birdies in a row or finish a side with 4 straight pars. It happens. I have made 5 birdies in a row, 2 eagles in one round and 14 pars in a row. It is possible. Believe it.
- Take your medicine. I rarely try a stupid shot unless I allow myself to be talked into it by someone I’m playing with- which is completely an ego thing. If you get in trouble, get out of trouble and move on. Ask yourself this one little question when you’re thinking about doing the stupid. What will I gain at most if I pull this shot off? Often the answer is I’ll be another 20 yards closer or I could make a long putt for par instead of bogey. Not likely anyway.
- Don’t hit that club off that lie. Many of us amateurs, and I’m as guilty as any, try to hit far too many shots with clubs they shouldn’t . If you are in the rough, your 3-wood is probably not the best option. If you have very little green to work with chipping with your 9-iron or Pitching Wedge will not produce a good result. If your ball in sitting between two clumps of grass, it will be tough to get a 3-iron up in the air. You will probably top it, as would many pros. The reason why we don’t see them hit many shanks is because they respect the lie.
- Establish a pre-shot routine and stick with it. I have one for the driver, one for iron shots and one for putting. I am extremely methodical with this routine. Try it and you will be rewarded. Don’t try it and you will be inconsistent. It doesn’t have to include 3 practice swings. For example I don’t take any.
- Can you carry it there or run it up there? No. Then lay up. Pretty self explanatory.
- Stop strangling your putter, what did it ever do to you. The best putters in the world aren’t wristy or rigid. Want to see some remarkable strokes besides Tiger’s- check out Brad Faxon, Loren Roberts, Ben Crane, Justin Leonard and Steve Stricker. The putter moves like a pendulum with the arms and shoulders. The big muscles.
- You hit your shot and I’ll watch your ball. This will allow you to finish the shot you started in your backswing. It’s important to be athletic when doing this- don’t lock up just to keep your head down.
- Upgrade your equipment. I am not an equipment junkie, and always joke with people when I say I don’t know the difference between a cavity backed iron and a blade. I just pick them up and swing them. Even with this said, the new equipment can add 20-25 yards to your distance. Period!
- Play with a soft ball. I think everyone could use more touch and spin around the greens. When I’m playing with a high handicapper you can hear the click of the club face against the ball on a chip shot, and then you can usually watch the ball race past the pin. Softer balls are usually more expensive, but to me they make a bigger difference than the clubs you use.
- Get lessons. Get humility. Get a handicap. I have had lessons three different times in my life. Each time was a package which covered every area of the game. I had my first lessons when I was 14, then again in high school and then again just in the last few years. If I had the funds I would have them every year. If you’ve never had any, get some now and not from your brother in law or golfing buddy. Also, get a handicap. It’s tough to improve if you don’t measure.
- Learn from your mistake. Laugh about it. Move on to the next shot. Easy to say and hard to do.
- Keep yours stats. When I started tracking some simple things like fairways and greens- I had a better idea of how my game was progressing. Here is the rub. Hitting fairways and greens are good things to track but they don’t always help you score. Scoring is a different game. Scoring is about getting it in the hole. I have had some of my best rounds when I hit five fairways and some terrible rounds when I hit 11 fairways. Go figure.
