Learn to Play the Game

[pnomm]

As a golf professional, one thing I see so often from good players is such a focus on perfect golf. I see so many people spending hours at the range day after day, yet their scores do not come down. I also watch players on the course get so worked up about one bad shot that their entire day is ruined. Yet I also know the guy who rarely practices yet gets to the course and beats the daylights out of his opponents. He may hit a bad shot here and there but he recovers and gets the ball in the hole.

And this is my point - learn to PLAY GOLF. Don't learn to swing perfectly; don't learn to hit balls like a machine. Learn what to do on the course. Admit it to yourself - the range provides us with a perfect lie, a perfect stance, and no consequences for a missed shot. Simply put there is no pressure and there is VERY LITTLE RELATION BETWEEN THE RANGE AND THE COURSE. Sometimes I wish someone would build a range that slopes unevenly and has bad lies, and then charges you for every bad shot you hit! Now THIS would be good practice.

So get out an play the course. If you are determined to hit balls (other than warming up), bring a friend and have a game on the range. Hit the ball high and low, hooking or cutting, and make each shot mean something. But do this only here and there. Get out and play. Chip and putt with a friend. Play with friends. Learn from a poor shot and learn how to recover. You will improve, and you will enjoy the game!

http://www.greatgolf.blogspot.com/

[tarik]

Sometimes I wish someone would build a range that slopes unevenly and has bad lies, and then charges you for every bad shot you hit!

 

Apparently you haven't been to the ranges here in Alaska, the permafrost in the ground makes every shot an uneven lie. Not to mention every green having different break each season.