Your Golf Game In 2008

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Did you achieve the goals you set for yourself on the golf course this year? Was your goal to break 100 or 90 or 80 or 70? Or maybe you didn’t set a goal?

Unfortunately, year in and year out – I hear Golfers that aren’t happy with their golf game say that they get stuck within a range of scores that regardless of what they try – they can’t get out of that range. You have the 100 Golfer that can’t seem to get lower than 102. You have the 95 Golfer that every once in a while is so close to breaking 90 – but something happens on hole 13 or 14 that causes you to make an 8 on an easy Par 4 that stops your momentum and bumps you up back into your scoring range.

And you have the Golfer that can break 90 once in a while – but usually finds their score hovering between 88 and 95 – thus labeling themselves as the infamous ‘Bogey Golfer’.

To break through to the next level of Golf, you need to make a goal and commit to it. Now, when I say goal, I don’t mean that it’s as easy as you saying – ‘My goal for 2008 is to break 90 every time I play.’ And as popular a goal as this is for millions of Golfers every year – what percentage do you think actually achieve their goal? Unfortunately, not too many because your goals shouldn’t be score influenced.

The goal could be – ‘Well, in the past, I’ve spent 95% of my practice time on the driving range. This coming year I’m going to spend only 50% of my time on the driving range and 50% of my time on and around the green.’

Why is this a good goal?

Because if in the past you’ve been stuck with the same scores - though, you continue to practice the same way you’ve always practiced (spending the majority of your time on the driving range) – why would your scores be any different next year? If you’re scores are the same from year to year and you practice the same way year to year – it’s no wonder you don’t see the improvement you’re looking for year to year.

Maybe it’s time to switch things around because as Albert Einstein said – ‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results’. Golf Made Simple has adapted that saying to say – ‘The definition of an insane Golfer is doing the same thing over and over again hoping for better results’. Do you know any insane Golfers?

So maybe your goal shouldn’t be about score. I don’t believe that Tiger Woods has a scoring goal. I don’t believe he’s saying that his goal in the Masters is to break 65 each round. I would believe his goal is to win the Masters – but I don’t believe he’ll be focused on score. He’ll be focused on his PLAN. Most likely he’s saying – ‘Well my goal is to work to improve my performance in the sand bunker. Because in the 2007 Masters I only got out of the sand and made my next putt for par on 2 out of 7 chances. And considering that I was only 2 shots away from being in a playoff or 3 shots from winning – I only really needed to have made 2 or 3 better shots out of the sand to have won another Masters Title. So my goal this winter is to become a better player out of the sand.’

Now, how’s that different from your goal of breaking a certain score? Well, I can guarantee that Tiger will make Par from the bunker at the 2008 Masters at a higher rate than the 28% he made in 2007. Anyone want to bet me on this?

Your scores on the golf course – meaning the 100 or 90 or 80 that you’re using as a measuring stick are determined by how you Drive the golf ball, hit your iron shots, putt the golf ball, hit your wedges, play out of the sand, stick to playing to your Strengths and away from your Weaknesses on the golf course, along with how you control your emotions on the golf course.

So instead of making your goal based on score – why not make your goal to improve one of the above.

At the 2007 Masters, Tiger scored 73, 74, 72, 72 - to end his 4 rounds at 3 over par – whereas the winner Zach Johnson was 1 over Par. If Tiger now makes his goal in 2008 about improving his score to scoring 72 each round (which would’ve won the 2007 Masters), will that goal help him to succeed as much as if he made his goal to improve his sand shots around the green?

‘Play to your PLAN – don’t plan for your score’

If your goal for 2008 is score oriented – you might see the same results you’ve seen in years past. Though, if your goal is focused on improving your weaknesses (like Tiger’s PLAN in the sand bunker will be) – then your scores will improve.

Are you score oriented or PLAN oriented? Make your goals about improving your PLAN and your scores will improve. Make your goals about improving your scores and your frustration will continue.

The Monkey is focused on their score and more times than they’d like to admit, they find a way to mess up during the round and not achieve that score

The Player is focused on their PLAN and usually doesn’t know that they’ve accomplished a better score until the round is complete

How are you going to accomplish your goals in 2008?

Go ahead, Be a Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

www.GolfMadeSimple.com