| p>Learning how to play golf can be a very | | | | that for a second. Most golfers grab their bags |
| humbling experience! Besides the inherent difficulty | | | | and head to the driving range and may spend |
| of hitting a little white ball with a stick, there are | | | | hours banging bucket after bucket down range |
| the rules to learn, an entire new vocabulary, | | | | until their hands are sore and blistered. But these |
| seemingly strange golf etiquette, special clothes, | | | | same golfers will haphazardly throw a couple of |
| and all of the special equipment and gadgets | | | | golf balls down on the practice green, mindlessly |
| associated with the sport of golf. | | | | put a few strokes on the golf balls and then call it |
| Beginners to the sport often find it difficult to find | | | | a day. |
| good information for learning how to play golf, and | | | | Putting is one of those skills that can be drastically |
| while there is lots of information available on how | | | | improved if you practice very regularly. Chances |
| to play golf it is often contradictory or taken out | | | | are that your day is already riddled with spare |
| of context. We've put together a few hints to | | | | moments that you could put to good use by |
| get you pointed in the right direction: | | | | practicing your putting. You can practice your |
| Strong Desire to Learn | | | | putting at the office, at home, even when you |
| Like anything worth pursuing, having a strong | | | | travel. Simply purchase one of those portable |
| desire to learn and succeed is critical. If you are | | | | putting greens that you can travel with and set it |
| just taking up the sport you have probably been | | | | up in a corner of your office or home so you can |
| bit by "the bug" and a desire to learn the game is | | | | practice when you have a change. Learning to |
| not an issue. However, I have also seen spouses | | | | take control over the putter is a great skill that |
| that felt they needed to learn to play golf so that | | | | will improve your game drastically. |
| they saw their partner more than just a few | | | | Seek Competent Advice |
| hours on the weekends, or the junior executive | | | | There is a lot of advice about learning to play golf, |
| that thinks he/she needs to learn the game in | | | | however, much of it is poor advice. I have always |
| order to advance in their company. | | | | found it funny that people will take golf advice |
| Sure you want to improve your golf score, but | | | | from a guy who has never broken 90 all day |
| are you willing to do the work? A strong desire | | | | long, but won't approach his local pro for a lesson |
| will help you achieve your goal. You will need the | | | | or a few pointers. I am not saying your buddy |
| desire that allows you to change your schedule in | | | | doesn't have a few good points that might help |
| order to accommodate more practice time, and | | | | you improve; I am simply saying that there are |
| to put yourself in the vulnerable position of asking | | | | better options for a long term plan. |
| for help and guidance from more seasoned | | | | It is also important to find a source of information |
| players. | | | | that remains consistent. Often beginning golfers |
| Mental Side of Golf | | | | will jump from on source of information to |
| Your success at learning the sport of golf will | | | | another, from one philosophy to another, and |
| include the mental aspect of the game. To many | | | | from one approach to another. It is possible to |
| golfers the mental aspects of the game are what | | | | learn to play golf better than most simply by |
| drives them to play. Yes it is fun to see how few | | | | sticking to consistent instruction. |
| strokes you can take to get around a particular | | | | Have Fun |
| track, but controlling your emotions and the | | | | In most cases, the best players are those that |
| voices inside your head are equally challenging and | | | | have fun. The last thing you want to do is to |
| rewarding. | | | | become an overly competitive player who cannot |
| Learning how to play golf well includes learning the | | | | partake in the inherent joy of the game. Keep |
| mental aspects of the game as well. Tiger Woods | | | | your ego in check and don't be a show-off on the |
| father said that Tiger was not the best because | | | | green. Stay cool, relaxed, but focused on playing |
| of his physical prowess, but because he had the | | | | well and having fun. That's the only real way to |
| strongest mind of any golfer in the tournament. | | | | play. |
| Coming from the father of possibly the greatest | | | | Learning how to play golf can be a very fun and |
| golfer to have every played, learning the mental | | | | rewarding experience as well. Breaking 100, |
| aspects of the game of golf seems prudent. | | | | breaking 90, and breaking 80 are all milestones |
| Practice Putting | | | | that are worth pursuing and will keep the game |
| During a typical round almost ½ of the | | | | exciting and challenging for you. |
| strokes taken will be with a putter. Think about | | | | |