OB Sports Golf & Leisure

● LESSON TEE OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE ❘ WINTER 2017 ❘ obsports.com 1) Think smart, play smart Taking a smarter mental approach to every shot can pay big dividends on your scorecard. With almost every swing you take, evaluate the risk-reward scenario and resolve to hit the safer shot in most instances. By avoid- ing the water, sand and OB stakes, you'll have fewer re- covery shots to make and ultimately will score better. This goal helps you really focus on your course manage- ment as you steer clear of those penalty shots and, in turn, those big numbers. ••••• 2) No more three putts Learning to get the ball in the hole consistently with just two putts can also dramatically lower your scores. Be more conscious of the speed with which you hit each putt. Also remember, putting with a speed that makes the ball go past the hole 12 inches or so is not being tenta- tive, but actually "widens" the hole for you. The harder you hit it, the smaller the hole becomes, and the longer the comeback putts you will leave for yourself. ••••• 3) Hit a bad shot? Get over it We all hit our share of bad shots in every round. Even players on the professional tours hit bad shots all the time. Getting upset and letting your frustrations out is very natural, but my advice is to do it quickly and put it behind you. Don't let your aggravation over one bad shot carry into the next and affect your mental approach mov- ing forward, costing you more than the one bad shot you just hit. Always remember that the most important shot in golf is the next one. Let the bad shots go and focus on how you'll hit the next one. ••••• 4) Make time for your short game So many golfers feel they don't have time to work on their short game, so they go to the range and hit driver after driver. But you'll only hit your driver a maximum of 14 times in an average round. The large majority of your shots come from 100 yards and in, so it only makes sense to work on the part of your game that will get the most use on the golf course. Don't skip over this crucial area of your game. Your scores can drop dramatically by focusing on improving your short game. ••••• 5) Get out on the course We all want to play more golf, so make 2017 the year that you leave the office early when you can, or get your yard work done early so you can spend Saturday after- noon at the golf course. And don't just hit the range – get out and play 9 or 18. You can spend all the time you want on the practice area, but if you don't take it to the course enough to truly test your training, you won't improve as much as you could. Being on the course is where players are made and the art of lowering your scores is learned. "Make 2017 the year that you leave the office early when you can, or get your yard work done early so you can spend Saturday afternoon at the golf course." – BOYD SUMMERHAYS

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