I always try to think about how I'm going to play each hole before I tee off. When I'm waiting to tee off I'll look at score card and try to map out my approach to hole. For example if next hole is a long par four I'll stand on tee and have a look at entire hole. I might decide to use a 5 wood, 9 iron, PW, and a one putt for par. Also I have chosen 3 shots I'm also confident in hitting. Having made up my mind before hand helps me relax more and concentrate on each shot. I don't feel anxious or uncertain about a possible upcoming shot. If one of shots doesn't work out I'll handle that as it comes, but planing before hand really helps. A par five might be a driver, 5 iron and 9 iron with a putt for birdie or at least two putts for par.

Even a long par three can be a challenge if it has a lot of bunkers or has a water hazard. If your anxious about water or bunkers then decide to lay up. Lets say hole is 210 yards with bunkers and a water hazard. You could tee off with a club tht will get you out there 150 yards and then you are left with a 50 yard chip or pitch shot with one putt for par. That may be better than putting one in water off of tee or in bunker. Most weekend golfers I know have a hard time with bunker shots. Avoid them if possible. Even though I could drive green myself Imight lay up if hazards are too difficult.

In conclusion, thinking about your round, or next shot can really help you lower your score. A little forethought will help you be honest with yourself and help you avoid those shots that you are not capable of. Playing within your strenghts is not coping out, but it is accepting your own capabilities, and it will actually help you lower your golf scores as we will see in next article.

My strength in fairway is PW, 9 Iron, 8 Iron, 7 Iron, 6 Iron, 5 Iron, in that order. Thus further I am away from green, less confidence I have in shot I am making. (This thought process is an on going learning curve that takes practice and a lot of playing to increase your confidence in making those types of shots) Thinking about distance I had left, 220 yards I was thinking of getting my ball to PW distance. Since I hit my PW about 130 with confidence I layed up to approxiamately that distance on my second shot. A short shot for my second, but it got me to my confort zone. I then hit my PW for my third shot and landed ball on green pin high about 6 ft from pin. I now had a chance at par, something I am sure I would not have had if I had used 3 wood to try to get me on green on my second shot.

Yes, I only had one shot at par with one putt but my putting is fairly consistant, since I can practice putting just about anywhere, and I feel confident about my putting. (Hint, practice your putting)

I missed putt by an inch and boggied, but I felt good about way I played hole, and next itme I might par it. Not to mention that a boggey is better than double or triple I probably would have had with a second higher risk shot to green.

Remember goal is not to be on green in regulation, but rather to finish hole in regulation number of shots. No one cares or will ask you how many greens in regulation you had, but when you tell them your great score they will be impressed.

Sure being on green in regulation helps since you then have 2 putts instead of one to par, But if you are now playing double boggey or triple boggey golf, imagine what eliminating one shot per hole is going to do to your score.

Play with clubs you have confidence in. Keep ball in play for better scores.