high handicappers guide to easy golf

I played golf at Pine Ridge the other day and shot the best score of my life by about 6 shots. Thats a pretty remarkable improvement and I thought it would be worth remembering how I did that.

The most important thing I learned that day is that rythym is everything. If you can find a swing speed you are happy with and continue shot after shot, that is what is most important. It's like waterskiing if you try and go into the first corner and crank it as hard as you can, its not going to work. You need to find an easy rhythm and keep at it the whole day.

This needs to be found at the driving range before the first tee box. If you can ensure that you are stroking your 5 iron 160 metres (short but straight), shot after shot, thats a great way to start a round for a higher handicapper.

The next thing is that you dont ever have to smack the ball too hard. If you have a 5 iron in your hand and you give a 1/2 or 3/4 shot, you can send the ball 150 metres. As long as you are just stroking this 3/4 shot it will most of the time go straignt. So just stroke the ball easily and get it on the fairway time after time.

I also find it very valuable to putt before you take to the first tee box. This allows you to get a sense of the greens and also to focus your mind and become aware.

Dont try to focus on too much. I have been focusing on so many different things over the years but when you are on the course, try to only think about 2 things. I focus on keeping my head still and taking the club away on a straight line with my shoulders. Also keeping an arched back in the "poo position" is important for me at the moment but you must focus on what is important for you and dont think about too many different things.

Do something to focus your mind before you go to the range. I juggled a few balls before playing this day. This is a great way to focus your mind on a task and get yourself thinking about hand eye co-ordination.

When chipping focus on the connection with the ball and just think about direction and weighting / speed of the club.

So to make sure that I play well the next time I play, I am going to try to repeat this recipe.
1. I will juggle balls for 10 minutes before leaving my house.
2. I will get to the course 45 minutes early so that I can hit some balls.
3. I will putt for 10 minutes before we tee off.
4. While on the course, I will swing easy and maintain a rhythm
5. I will only think about a few things on the course, a) arched back, b) Head still c) Drag club back
6)When I chip and put I will think about just two things, weighting of shot and direction.

Earlsfield Golf club

Today we played at Earlsfield Golf course. Certainly not the greatest course I've ever played at. It really feels as if twice as many holes have been added to the course that their should have.

No surprises then that we saw two players get a ball in their back while we played.

On the bright side, its very cheap. Just 27 Pounds for 18 holes and the clubhouse offers a burger and beer for just 6 Pounds. Its also pretty close to the center of London, takes about 25 minutes to get from Waterloo to the course.