Scoring

Aim: To try and create a positive mindset for you to take into any stroke round, so that you have no illusions as to what score you should get, but you remain focussed on shooting a good round. Also to introduce the "3-hole course" to help you with attitude.

What on earth does this mean ? Surely you shoot as low as you can right ? Well, yes, but its not always so simple ! A good score is not just about the birdies and the eagles, its also the great up and downs, the recoveries and the bogies that should have been a lot more. Dont have any set plan for scores, often birdies just come in a bunch and others they just dont go in the hole, if you have a set target, youre just setting up for a disappointment. Sure, all the reachable par5's should be gimmie birdies but dont lash an approach if you cant quite get there, causing you to make a tough par or bogey when you could easily lay up and get close in 3. Dont go for sucker pins near water or bad trouble, especially if your snap is off, or the conditions are tough, play safe for the heart of the green, more room for error and still a chance to hole a long putt ! A method I use a lot is to write the numbers 1 to 18 on a piece of paper and fill in the PAR as I get to each hole, but I draw a line after every 3 holes, so the 3rd,6th,9th etc...and treat each section as a 3 hole course, which I "play" separately. If there is no wind, I'll aim to have birdie putts on all 3 holes, and make at least 2 of them, but hopefully 3, in breezy I hope to make 2 of them, but be sure of 1, and in the wind I would look to have at least a birdie in each section. When I get to the end of the section I forget about that and start a new one, which allows me to forget about the odd bad shot / bogey, and keeps me focussed if I get into a birdie run. You must forget each section as you finish it, and this will stop you from panicking as you get to the end of the course with few birdies to show, just play each section hard on its own, and see what you can do...Shoot for the pins if you can, especially if you have your stock shot to the green, but dont be scared to play slightly away if the pin is near trouble, or leave yourself an easy chip..dont force a score and make sure you dont throw shots away with bad decisions.Generally a tournament will not be lost by the odd birdie that gets away but by the silly bogey you make or the double or triple bogey that should have been a bogey...still think of par as a friend, because every dropped shot mops up a precious birdie, you may be disappointed with 18 pars ( although Nick Faldo did alright with that to win the Open against Paul Azinger ) but you better believe that 18 pars feels a lot better than 9 birdies and 9 bogies ! Here's what I mean by having a little notepad with a whole series of 3-hole courses set up on it, allowing me to draw a line under each three holes makes me re-focus, so I dont get complacent if I've made some birdies and I don't get down if I've made a bogey, focus hard on the 3-hole course you are on at any one time

Top Tips:
Don't try to look too far ahead or get too caught up in your score, or your intended score
Split the course up into 6 mini courses of 3 holes each and play them separately
Try to play each section under par, but if you have a bad three holes, move on to the next section and re-focus
You can make the triple birdie run at any time so be patient, and if you do, start fresh with the next three holes
A great score is as much to do with the par saves and damage limiting bogeys (not worse) as the birdies and eagles
Scoring can be very streaky so dont get the arse on if you are in a par-streak..par is good...par is good...its bogeys that mop up birdies!
Do learn what you can about the course beforehand ( see course knowledge section )
If you can, practice first, hit some putts on the greens you are going to play and play the danger holes in practice

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