An Easy Way to Improve Your Golf Scores and Reduce Your Handicap

This article is written for the average golfer who wants to find an easy way to improve on their golf scores and reduce their handicap. Although intended for that class of player the advice given applies to all levels of golfer.

The first thing one has to accept is that golf is an unbelievable game. It is both complex and simple at the same time. It is the most rewarding and the most frustrating game I have ever played. It is at all times a very individual game although team participation is a common enough occurrence.

With so many conflicting and opposing statements being true it is no wonder that golf has such a wide following and a fanatical fascination and attraction amongst those of us who play it.

So to improve your scores and lower your handicap you need to be aware that you will have good days (a few) and bad days (probably a few more). That is the fun of it.

The problem with most of us is that because we do not play as often as we would like (say 7 days a week would be nice) we try to hard to score well every time. Failure to do so means a lost opportunity and another week or month gone by.

This desire to perform above our average ability level (something the Royal and Ancient calls a handicap) leads to tension from the first tee onwards. If you start playing well the tension builds because this is THE day that you could beat your previous best and win the competition or the seed money (actually just bragging rights) from your playing partners. If on the other hand you start off badly the tension develops as the prospects of a good round diminish as you get closer and closer to the 18th. Never mind there is always the 19th to look forward to and discuss all the "only ifs" over an ice cold beer.

To reduce your scores and improve your handicap you need to get rid of this tension and urgency to do well. Trust me on this one. If you can learn to relax and enjoy the experience the results will automatically follow.

To do this the first thing you need to understand is that everybody on a golf course is equal. This equality is achieved by means of the handicapping system. What a great game! Every time you step out on to the course you have as much chance as any one else regardless of your build, height, age or sex (I find the only real handicap is if you are nursing a hangover - but interestingly enough how many times have you played with a hangover and surprised yourself by playing well? Bear that in mind as you read on.)

Imagine stepping on to a basket ball court and you are my height (5' 8") and the shortest guy in the opposition side is 6' 5". Hell what chance do you have on winning this game or even ever getting your hands on the ball?

Learn to accept that you are not supposed to par each hole, that on some you may even be expected to go 2 over.

Learn to play to your handicap, always try to par or birdie a hole (naturally) but don't be disappointed if you don't. Negative thoughts apparently release chemicals in your brain that add to the negativity. Take the rough with the smooth and enjoy the day - after all when is your next round going to be?

Using the Stableford scoring system if you shoot 36 points you are playing to handicap. Now that may not always win the competition but if you keep shooting 36 points your handicap is guaranteed to come down. And it will come down dramatically.

Ask yourself this question: would I prefer to be an 18 handicap golfer shooting 40 points every now and then, but most times only making 28 or 30, or would I prefer to be a 9 handicap shooting 36 points every time I go out? I know which one I would rather be.

But to get to that 9 (or whatever your goal is) you need to play to your current handicap on a regular basis.

To do this take each hole one at a time.

First hole: par 4 stroke 17. Let's see if I can par this (bonus and playing better that expected) but if not try and make a bogey at worse so that I stay within my 18 handicap. Whatever the result is - birdie, par, bogey or double bogey- accept it and move on. Forget about it because it is already history. Move on to the 2nd hole and the new unique challenge you face from tee to green. And hey look around you, enjoy the view and smell the roses as they say. This is the day you have waited all week (month?) for.

To end off I would like to reiterate that the easiest way to improve your golf scores and reduce your handicap is to play according to your current handicap on a regular basis and the easiest way to do that is to relax and enjoy the game.

It's difficult enough without us getting all tense and upset over it!