Never Let Them See You Sweat

Discovering the Finer Points of Your Game on a Tough Course

Let’s be honest, playing a tough course can be…well, tough! Tough on the ego, tough on your confidence, tough when it comes to your desire to try that course again.  But who ever said golf was a game of easy?! The best opportunities you will have to grow your game, and become a stronger player reside in your adventures on courses that force you to step beyond your comfort zone.  Why? Because that’s where you will begin to discover the finer points of your game, that when properly leveraged can make even the most challenging courses enjoyable.

• Managing your expectations – Not everyone is going to play like Rickie Fowler, so your success should be based on how well you play to your strengths.  When facing a tough course, set realistic, yet challenging goals that you believe you have the capacity to achieve, rather than trying to over swing or gunning for a miracle.  Great golf is playing your best game one shot at a time.

• Maintaining a present-centered focus – If your round is not moving in the direction you’d hoped, it’s even more important to laser-focus your attention on the shot at hand.  When planning your strategy, take it one shot, one hole at a time.  Getting ahead of yourself will prevent you from being accurate.  When you devote your attention to the task before you, more often than not, you will achieve the outcome you desire.

• Controlling your inner caddy – Sometimes your inner dialog can beat you up worse than the course you are playing.  Successfully tackling a tough course is only attainable if you have learned how to manage your thoughts and direct them toward the outcomes you desire.  Instead of allowing your mind to worry about the water, sand, trees, or anything else beyond your control, lock your thoughts on your target and getting the ball there.

Challenging courses can be ground for some of your greatest lessons in golf if you approach them with a can-do attitude.  To fine tune your game, learn to play to your top strengths within the course parameters.