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 Age: 44 Current Handicap: 14 Lowest Handicap: 12 Has played golf for: About 17 years Plays: About twice a month Warms up: Usually Practices: Rarely The symptoms: I play most of my rounds at the same golf course. We have a par 3 that plays completely over water. Over the past year, I have found that I have started hitting more and more balls into this lake. I can almost guarantee writing down at least a 5 on this hole. What can I do to make it through this hole without losing a ball? Dr. Golf’s prescription: Start with a healthy dose of positive attitude while warming up. Don’t let the added pressure of only playing twice a month get to you. Warm up with the club you’ll use on that par 3 and visualize a beautiful shot that flies over the water and lands safely on the green. People who worry about avoiding a hazard typically hit it into that hazard. Get a positive image in your mind of the shot you want to hit. Put a beautiful swing in the image and make your birdie putt when you hit the green. Before you know it, the image you see when stepping to the tee will not include any splashes. Patient: Male Age: 35 Current Handicap: 12 Lowest Handicap: 2 Has played golf for: About 10 years Plays: About 6-10 times a year Warms up: Rarely Practices: About once a month The symptoms: I used to play a lot of golf, but family and work keep my rounds at a minimum. When I do get to play, I get frustrated and don’t enjoy playing because I remember being a much better player in the past. My question is, how do I get the most out of my minimal amount of practice and playing so I can keep my skills a little sharper? Dr. Golf’s prescription: I suggest fine tuning your fundamentals (grip, stance, posture and aim) and changing your outlook. Remembering how good you were a few years ago is great, but that won’t help you hit a good drive off the first tee when you haven’t played in a month. But solid fundamentals will. Return to the basics and think about what made you a good player in the first place. While playing collegiate golf with Paul McGinley (now a European Tour player), I learned that you must keep it simple. McGinley carried four woods in his bag and, instead of numbers on the top of his head covers, he had the letters K.I.S.S. I asked him what the letters meant and he answered, “It reminds me to Keep It Simple, Stupid.” McGinley always went back to the basics to help him remain consistent. A change in attitude can be as simple as sticking to a process rather than worrying about an outcome. Have a solid pre-shot routine that enables you to make your real swing as good as your practice swing. TREVOR BAKER Head PGA Professional Virginia Country Club |
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