Do you play Golf?

Sounds silly. If you're reading this blog chances are you think you play golf. However, most people on the golf course are not playing golf. The first four years I was on the golf course, I played the same game most of you are playing today. It wasn't golf.

July 1968. Clarkston, Michigan. Spring Lake Junior Invitational. My first tournament away from my home course. It was my first tournament I was required to hole out all putts. No big deal. Right? Wrong. I missed several putts under three feet. Since that tournament, I putt out everytime. No gimmes.

Why is putting out important? In every stroke play tournament you will be required to putt out. If you are used to putting out, it's not a big deal in tournament play. A better is reason is your brain seeing your golf ball go into the hole 18 times during a round. If you take gimmes, how many putts do you see actually go in? The more putts you see go in, the more putts you'll make.

Forward to September 1972. Freshmen at Western Michigan University. Qualifying for the golf team. Not only do we putt out, we also play the ball as it lies. Now we're having fun. Another shock to my golf system.

I found out by always playing the ball as it lies, it gives me an advantage over the other players. Bad lies don't upset me. It taps into my creative side. I have always played and practiced at public golf courses which tend not to be as manicured as country clubs. The lies I encounter every day are usually much worse than I see in tournament play.

I do take relief where allowed by the rules. Drainage, hole made by a burrowing animal, immoveable obstruction, cart paths, aerification holes, and areas marked as ground under repair.

In tournament play, if I get a bad lie, it's not a big deal. Knowing what kind of shot is possible from the lie and that I have hit the shot before, is a great comfort under tournament pressure. Would you have the same comfort?

Know the rules. Unplayable lie, out of bounds, lateral water hazard, regular water hazard and obstructions. Do you know the proper procedure for each?

When you begin to play golf, your handicap may go up. Don't sweat it. You will be prepared for any circumstance you will see in tournament play.

On the PGA Tour, any record round shot while playing perferred lies is not put in the record book. Why? Because the course was playing easier. Scores are lower. If you play golf, your scores will be better under preferred lies. Would that be advantageous?

Things women golfers need to know.

Golf is counter-intuative. The information your brain sends you about putting your hands on the club and getting the ball in the air is wrong.

Always have a target. Playing golf without a target is like driving across the country without a map.

Free advice is harmful. If you have heard keep your head down, keep your head still, keep your left arm straight, follow through, hit down, or shift your weight, you've been harmed.

The golf swing is an athletic movement. You don't have to be athletic to make an athletic movement.

Golf is a physical, mental, and emotional experience.

Play golf. Most people play what will my (friend, spouse, others) think of me, or I hope I don't (whiff, top, shank, look silly, etc.). Remember, most people don't care what you do and the others wish the results were worse.

What to do?

Seek competent instruction. The instruction should focus on the best way for you to choose a target, place your hands on the club, set-up, aim, and a pre-shot routine to bring it all together. You must do this in the way best for you. Other people may look similar, but it won't be the same as you.

Play and practice hitting shots under real and imaginary objects. That's right under. Your instinct will tell you to hit up to make the ball go up. Unfortunately, this will keep the ball on the ground. Tie a piece of string to two stakes and stretch the string out three feet towards the target and one foot off the ground. Take your wedge and try to hit a ball under the string. What happened? I'll bet the ball goes over the string. This technique works wonders for your chipping and pitching. Move the string further toward the target and higher for other clubs.

On the course, imagine a paper banner two feet high and 10 feet towards the target. Hit your shot through the banner making it tear open. Or imagine a gate similar in shape to a croquet gate in front of your ball toward the target. Hit your shot through the gate.

You will get nervous and anxious on the course. Your job is to recognize your physical, mental, and emotional state and consciously shift into your hitting a golf shot state. It's often helpful to take one or two deep breaths from your diaphragm before hitting a shot. We often forget to breath properly when dealing with stressful situations. Hitting your first tee shot of the day in front of others is stressful.

Practice your pre-shot routine away from the golf course. Correct repetition will help you take your new grip, set-up, aim and routine to the course. When practicing away from the course, make no more than 10 full pre-shot routines in any one session. When you feel competent, do your pre-shot routine with your eyes closed. Use your other senses. Feel your movements, listen for your movements, and any other signals your body sends you.

Finally, when confronted with free advice, run.