How To Break 100 ? Advice For The Golf Beginner
If Tiger, Phil, or any other pro makes an 8 (a snowman) on
any hole, that is terrible. Your average score on a par 5
is 7 or more right now. For a golf beginner an 8 is really
no big deal. 10 is the score you should avoid. The
difference is a pro is trying to break 70 and you are trying
to break 100. Don't let par, Tiger, or your buddy set your
goals.
To break 70 on a par 72 course Tiger needs 3 birdies and 15
pars. He plans his rounds thinking about which holes he can
birdie. Do you plan your rounds thinking about what score
on each hole is reasonable and achievable for you?
To score 99 on a par 72 course you must average 5? shots on
every hole. Somebody is asking themselves: ?How do I score
? of a stroke on any hole?? Obviously you don't! On the
first par 4 you score a 5 and on the next par 4 you score a
6. The average is 5?.
On the first par 5 you score a 6 and on the next part 5 you
score a 7. On the first par 3 you score a 4 and on the next
par 3 you score a 5. The average of all that is 5?.
(6+7+4+5=22 and 22/4=5?)
To break 100 you must average bogey and ? stokes per hole.
To break 90 you must average bogey. If you don't believe
me, do the math. Now you understand the math, but what is
the plan?
First, improve your skills. Don't bother setting goals in a
skill based activity unless you intend to improve. A goal
doesn't make putts or hit straight drives.
Second, set your next goal within sight of your present
skill level. If your average score is 120 then aim at
double bogey per hole (108). As you practice and improve
one or two parts of your game you will find those 12
strokes. You can't get to 90 or 100 strokes until you get
past 110.
Third, ask yourself what is par really worth? Par is an
estimate of what a scratch golfer should score on a hole or
total for the entire course. Tiger's par is really 68 or
less and mine is around 90. If your par is around double
bogey then add two strokes to the listed par for a hole.
Now you have a reasonable target for your own performance.
Finally, what happens when you do score a snowman? There is
no punishment beyond personal disappointment. Tiger makes
bogey sometimes, he just needs to shoot one more birdie to
make his goal. You need to score more bogeys and fewer
double bogeys on the remaining holes.
At this point in time you probably struggle more on par 5's
than anywhere else. That is normal! To reach a par 5
requires 3 accurate shots in a row. Can you really do that
right now? To reach a par 3 requires 1 accurate shot. You
will probably loose strokes on par 5's and make them up on
short par 4's and par 3's. That is part of your plan.
Remember pros love par 5's but they kill us.
Learn to play golf with joy. You may never hit a drive 300
yards, but you can measure your own progress. Set
reasonable goals and then practice to improve your skills.
Measure your game against your own growing skills not what
you see professionals do on Sunday. Remember you aren't
just an amateur, you are a beginner. Relax and enjoy every
round.
Walter Werner is the father of two adult daughters, an
amateur golfer, an internet marketer, and a TQM Deming
Master. He is attempting to share his own experiences as a
golf beginner so that you can improve your game more
quickly. This is the ninth in a series of articles he has
written for beginning golfers. You may see all of them at
his blog.
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