| If Tiger, Phil, or any other pro makes an 8 (a | | | | present skill level. If your average score is 120 |
| snowman) on any hole, that is terrible. Your | | | | then aim at double bogey per hole (108). As you |
| average score on a par 5 is 7 or more right now. | | | | practice and improve one or two parts of your |
| For a golf beginner an 8 is really no big deal. 10 is | | | | game you will find those 12 strokes. You can't get |
| the score you should avoid. The difference is a | | | | to 90 or 100 strokes until you get past 110. |
| pro is trying to break 70 and you are trying to | | | | Third, ask yourself what is par really worth? Par is |
| break 100. Don't let par, Tiger, or your buddy set | | | | an estimate of what a scratch golfer should score |
| your goals. | | | | on a hole or total for the entire course. Tiger's par |
| To break 70 on a par 72 course Tiger needs 3 | | | | is really 68 or less and mine is around 90. If your |
| birdies and 15 pars. He plans his rounds thinking | | | | par is around double bogey then add two strokes |
| about which holes he can birdie. Do you plan your | | | | to the listed par for a hole. Now you have a |
| rounds thinking about what score on each hole is | | | | reasonable target for your own performance. |
| reasonable and achievable for you? | | | | Finally, what happens when you do score a |
| To score 99 on a par 72 course you must | | | | snowman? There is no punishment beyond |
| average 5½ shots on every hole. | | | | personal disappointment. Tiger makes bogey |
| Somebody is asking themselves: "How do I score | | | | sometimes, he just needs to shoot one more |
| ½ of a stroke on any hole?" Obviously you | | | | birdie to make his goal. You need to score more |
| don't! On the first par 4 you score a 5 and on the | | | | bogeys and fewer double bogeys on the |
| next par 4 you score a 6. The average is | | | | remaining holes. |
| 5½. | | | | At this point in time you probably struggle more |
| On the first par 5 you score a 6 and on the next | | | | on par 5's than anywhere else. That is normal! To |
| part 5 you score a 7. On the first par 3 you | | | | reach a par 5 requires 3 accurate shots in a row. |
| score a 4 and on the next par 3 you score a 5. | | | | Can you really do that right now? To reach a par |
| The average of all that is 5½. | | | | 3 requires 1 accurate shot. You will probably loose |
| (6+7+4+5=22 and 22/4=5½) | | | | strokes on par 5's and make them up on short |
| To break 100 you must average bogey and | | | | par 4's and par 3's. That is part of your plan. |
| ½ stokes per hole. To break 90 you must | | | | Remember pros love par 5's but they kill us. |
| average bogey. If you don't believe me, do the | | | | Learn to play golf with joy. You may never hit a |
| math. Now you understand the math, but what is | | | | drive 300 yards, but you can measure your own |
| the plan? | | | | progress. Set reasonable goals and then practice |
| First, improve your skills. Don't bother setting | | | | to improve your skills. Measure your game against |
| goals in a skill based activity unless you intend to | | | | your own growing skills not what you see |
| improve. A goal doesn't make putts or hit straight | | | | professionals do on Sunday. Remember you aren't |
| drives. | | | | just an amateur, you are a beginner. Relax and |
| Second, set your next goal within sight of your | | | | enjoy every round. |