Practice at the range and play on the course: The object of golf is to get the ball into the hole in the least amount of strokes.  When you are on the golf course, try to play with the least amount of swing thoughts.  Free up your mind to play better and enjoy it more. Play from the correct tee box: The back tee is reserved for low-handicap and professional golfers.  There is nothing good that can come from struggling all day to reach the greens.  Playing from the wrong tee box can make you swing too hard, ruin your tempo, and ultimately play slowly while looking for errant shots.  Play the tee box that is recommended for your handicap.  You will thank yourself, perform better, and enjoy the game more.

Perform shots within your capabilities: I see this with many National Golf School students.  A golfer who could hit a 5 iron off the ground with their eyes closed tries to hit a 3 wood off the fairway 230 yards to the green.  As the ball heads into the hazard, they are upset and say, “I really need to get that shot down.”  What they really need to do is hit a shot they can perform, keep the ball in play, and build confidence.  Wouldn't you feel better if you hit a beautiful iron into wedge range, and then hit your wedge 10 feet from the hole? Lower your expectations: A major problem with most golfers is that our mind thinks we can perform on a much higher level than we actually can.  When I talk to National Golf School students, I will ask them what was the best game they ever shot.  If they say 90, which is averaging one over par on every hole, then I recommend they try to shoot one stroke over par on each hole.  This way, it takes away the pressure of trying to make par on each hole, and often results in better overall scores. Content ©2004 PGA.com, written by: Patrick J. Livingston

Have a Red-Hot short game: This is one area that I emphasize with our National Golf School students so you can be as good as a top Professional in a short amount of time.  Learn the basic fundamental way to chip, pitch, putt, and get out of a bunker, then practice it.  You can search a lifetime for a pure swing, but you could be a short game wizard within a month with some knowledge and practice.  Think of how much more freely you could swing at the ball if you didn’t care about slightly missing the green.  If you have a great short game, it is like a built in insurance policy. Keep a great attitude, stop and smell the roses, and have fun. As a PGA Professional, I expect to play well. I also know that if our attitude is wrong, you can't perform.  I love this game and nothing saddens me more than seeing someone who is not having fun on the golf course.  If you are having a bad day, try to keep your spirits up and still be a good partner with whom to play.  The greatest compliment I can get is when someone says, “It’s fun to play with you, Pat.”  After all, that's what it's all about.