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Your Golf Game in 2008
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Did you achieve the goals you set for yourself on the golf course this year? Was your goal to break 100 or 90 or 80 or 70? Or maybe you didn’t set a goal?
Unfortunately, year in and year out – I hear Golfers that aren’t happy with their golf game say that they get stuck within a range of scores that regardless of what they try – they can’t get out of that range. You have the 100 Golfer that can’t seem to get lower than 102. You have the 95 Golfer that every once in a while is so close to breaking 90 – but something happens on hole 13 or 14 that causes you to make an 8 on an easy Par 4 that stops your momentum and bumps you up back into your scoring range.
And you have the Golfer that can break 90 once in a while – but usually finds their score hovering between 88 and 95 – thus labeling themselves as the infamous ‘Bogey Golfer’.
To break through to the next level of Golf, you need to make a goal and commit to it. Now, when I say goal, I don’t mean that it’s as easy as you saying – ‘My goal for 2008 is to break 90 every time I play.’ And as popular a goal as this is for millions of Golfers every year – what percentage do you think actually achieve their goal? Unfortunately, not too many because your goals shouldn’t be score influenced.
The goal could be – ‘Well, in the past, I’ve spent 95% of my practice time on the driving range. This coming year I’m going to spend only 50% of my time on the driving range and 50% of my time on and around the green.’
Why is this a good goal?
Because if in the past you’ve been stuck with the same scores - though, you continue to practice the same way you’ve always practiced (spending the majority of your time on the driving range) – why would your scores be any different next year? If you’re scores are the same from year to year and you practice the same way year to year – it’s no wonder you don’t see the improvement you’re looking for year to year.
Maybe it’s time to switch things around because as Albert Einstein said – ‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results’. Golf Made Simple has adapted that saying to say – ‘The definition of an insane Golfer is doing the same thing over and over again hoping for better results’.
Do you know any insane Golfers?
So maybe your goal shouldn’t be about score. I don’t believe that Tiger Woods has a scoring goal. I don’t believe he’s saying that his goal in the Masters is to break 65 each round. I would believe his goal is to win the Masters – but I don’t believe he’ll be focused on score. He’ll be focused on his PLAN.
Most likely he’s saying – ‘Well my goal is to work to improve my performance in the sand bunker. Because in the 2007 Masters I only got out of the sand and made my next putt for par on 2 out of 7 chances. And considering that I was only 2 shots away from being in a playoff or 3 shots from winning – I only really needed to have made 2 or 3 better shots out of the sand to have won another Masters Title. So my goal this winter is to become a better player out of the sand.’
Now, how’s that different from your goal of breaking a certain score? Well, I can guarantee that Tiger will make Par from the bunker at the 2008 Masters at a higher rate than the 28% he made in 2007. Anyone want to bet me on this?
Your scores on the golf course – meaning the 100 or 90 or 80 that you’re using as a measuring stick are determined by how you Drive the golf ball, hit your iron shots, putt the golf ball, hit your wedges, play out of the sand, stick to playing to your Strengths and away from your Weaknesses on the golf course, along with how you control your emotions on the golf course.
So instead of making your goal based on score – why not make your goal to improve one of the above.
At the 2007 Masters, Tiger scored 73, 74, 72, 72 - to end his 4 rounds at 3 over par – whereas the winner Zach Johnson was 1 over Par. If Tiger now makes his goal in 2008 about improving his score to scoring 72 each round (which would’ve won the 2007 Masters), will that goal help him to succeed as much as if he made his goal to improve his sand shots around the green?
‘Play to your PLAN – don’t plan for your score’
If your goal for 2008 is score oriented – you might see the same results you’ve seen in years past. Though, if your goal is focused on improving your weaknesses (like Tiger’s PLAN in the sand bunker will be) – then your scores will improve.
Are you score oriented or PLAN oriented? Make your goals about improving your PLAN and your scores will improve. Make your goals about improving your scores and your frustration will continue.
The Monkey is focused on their score and more times than they’d like to admit, they find a way to mess up during the round and not achieve that score
The Player is focused on their PLAN and usually doesn’t know that they’ve accomplished a better score until the round is complete
How are you going to accomplish your goals in 2008?
Go ahead, Be a Player!
Regards,
Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life
www.GolfMadeSimple.com
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"I Went From Over 110 to the 90’s"
Hi Jeff,
I must say it's been a good season. I consistently hit in the 90's now. I think that's great since I was hitting in the 110-120 range before I came to GMS. I also broke 90 once.
Driving accuracy is no longer a problem. I hit the fairway or at least keep the ball in play with almost 90% of my tee shots. Putting has greatly improved so that I'm one and two putting with greater consistency. I'm no longer afraid to hit my 3 wood off the fairway.
The other day I was off on my shots at the beginning of my round and realized my pace was off. Went back to the good old tick tock and things came back into play.
Also, Matt (my son that also attended GMS) broke 80 the other day.
Take Care,
Jim C – Somerville, Massachusetts - Sent November 8th, 2007
Attended Tampa Location on January 16th to 18th, 2007
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"I’m Down To an 11 Handicap"
Jeff,
My game has improved this year whereby I have my handicap down to an 11 and if I could ever putt would be in single digits. I am hitting the ball farther than ever and in play. I am enjoying it more than ever and was able to get several games into the high 70’s. That was so sweet and quite a thrill.
It is getting cold up here and golf is limited to playing in several layers, however we are still getting out once or twice a week.
Regards,
Shelly C – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Sent October 25th, 2007
Attended Tampa location on January 2nd to 4th, 2007
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The First GMS DVD
What’s the Buzz? The Buzz is that there’s a good possibility that GMS is just about to release our first DVD. And from what I hear – it should be on sale just in time for your holiday shopping. The Buzz is that the official announcement will be made in the Golf Improvement Weekly on November 28th, the week after Thanksgiving here in the States.
What’s on the DVD? Well, I’m going to have to wait until the 28th to give you more information – though I believe that you’ll certainly be able to use this DVD over the winter months so that your golf game is ready for the spring.
In the meantime – as of November 27th, we’ll be switching our San Diego location over to La Quinta/Palm Springs. We were originally going to start the GMS Program in La Quinta on November 30th, but because of demand – we moved our opening dates to the 27th.
Why the demand for our La Quinta/ Pam Springs location? Well, first – we have Golfers signed up for a GMS Program 52 weeks of the year – so there’s a strong demand for GMS. Second – have you ever been to the La Quinta/Palm Springs desert? If not, and if you like the beauty of consistently blue skies, mountains rising up all around you, 72 degrees with low humidity – then you should go. Third – our GMS location is at the Trilogy Club at La Quinta which hosted the PGA Tour’s LG Skins Game from 2003 to 2006 and included Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam twice.
So call me today to reserve your spot in La Quinta or any of our 5 other GMS locations in Florida, California and Arizona.
Alex - Director
Golf Made Simple Inc.
Phone:1 (888) 580-3635
Email: Alex@GolfMadeSimple.com
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Golf Made Simple Upcoming Dates
San Diego, California
Thank you to the Barona Creek Golf Club for two special years at their facilty. Our Palm Springs / La Quinta California location will now take the place of GMS San Diego beginning November 26th, 2007.
To see available dates for La Quinta -
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Tiger Isn’t The Best Ball-Striker!
According to a stat called Ball-Striking – meaning a combination of Greens in Regulation, along with Driving Distance and Accuracy – Tiger Woods is ranked #19. Yet, he’s by far ‘The Best Player on the Planet’. Cameron Beckman is ranked #1, John Senden #2, Mathew Goggin #3, and Charles Warren #4.
Though, Cameron Beckman is ranked #112 in the Money Leaders, Senden is ranked #39, Goggin is ranked #103 and Warren is ranked #91. How is it possible that these 4 Golfers are ranked ahead of Tiger in Ball-Striking, yet are so far behind when it comes to good scores and winning?
If you add-up the winnings of all 4 of the top Ball-Strikers – they are still over $6 million short of Tiger's earnings for 2007. How can this be?
Maybe it’s because Tiger is ranked #3 in getting up-n-down for Par from less than 30 yards from the green – making Par from off the green 41% of the time. While Beckman is ranked #145 (24% of the time), Senden #131 (25% of the time), Goggin #187 (18% of the time) and Warren #59 (30% of the time).
Is Ball-Striking important? Of course it is! Tiger wouldn’t be where he is without it. But he also is where he is and the other guys are where they are because of their ability levels on and around the green. Drive for the money; Wedge it close for the Big Money and Putt for Championships!
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How many times have you missed a putt for Par or Bogey by just an inch or two? Have you ever had a round where you said ‘I was just missing my putts by inches; if I could’ve just made a few more putts, I would’ve had a great round!’
If this is true – then why did you go to the driving range before your next round of golf? Why didn’t you devote most of your time on the putting green – where you could’ve been working on your 5 to 20 foot putts? Why didn’t you devote your pre-round time to your wedge around the green rehearsing your 5 to 20 yard wedge shots?
It’s not your Driver’s fault that you missed 10 putts for Par. It’s not the fault of the iron that you hit from 150 yards that you felt didn’t come close enough to the hole to make a two putt. It was your putter and wedge that could’ve made the difference between that average round becoming an exceptional round of golf.
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