Category Archives: scoring

playing the game, scoring

No Double Bogeys

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The round that I think is my all-time favorite is one where I shot an 85, but I didn’t have any double bogeys–five pars and thirteen bogeys.

85 is higher than my usual scores, but I have never played so consistently. It was a very satisfying day.

Scoring is about not making high scores on holes. That’s the easiest way bring your total score down.

So today I want to mention how to avoid double bogeys, and maybe in the same way avoid triples. And beyond.

When you’re on the tee, and you put the ball in the fairway, your way is clear (though I have to admit that I have driven dead center to an open green and still taken a DB. More than once).

If you miss the fairway, however, there is a decision to make–if you can’t easily reach the green, how far can you reasonably advance the ball with your next shot, and put the ball in a place where with the shot after that you can easily get it on the green?

You gotta think two shots ahead, not about making a heroic par but instead, an easy bogey. Remember, you’re a recreational golfer. A bogey is a good score.

You gotta combine your skills with what the course is offering you from where you are, and play for the best position for the shot after that. The position is everything.

That is how you cut down on the double bogeys off a bad tee shot.

If you flub the shot into the green, then your task is to get down in no more than three shots. Put the first of those three shots on the green. No fancy shots. Bunt if you have to. Just no chipping twice in a row. Forget the pin. Don’t try to get too cute. Just get the ball on the green so your putting can take over.

Sure, you have to have some skills. You have to be able to execute somewhere long the line. But thinking ahead, playing within your abilities, is how you give yourself the opportunity to get the ball in the hole in as few strokes as you can.

No DBs.

Try that this summer and see what you get.

mental game, scoring

An Easy Way to Shoot Lower Scores

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Following yesterday’s 58 in a LIV Tour event, Bryson DeChambeau had this to say to the press:

“Yeah, so for any junior golfers out there, it’s probably the best thing you can do when trying to learn how to score. You go up to the red tees and try and shoot sub-60 rounds, for a good aspiring junior golfer that’s trying to be a professional golfer.

“You just go to the front tees, try and shoot under 60. If you can do that and you consistently are able to do that every single round you play, get in that comfortable mind of, okay, I’m 10-, 11-, 12-under, let’s keep going, pedal to the metal, that gets you in a great mindset.

“That tremendously helped today, being able to say, okay, I’m 10-under; well, I can’t stop. I’ve got to keep going. I’ve got to birdie 17, birdie 18, let’s go, and having that sort of — I’m not really going to say it in front of the media, like — Yeah, sort of the F-you mentality, like let’s go, let’s get it done. It’s something that led to me shooting 58 today.”

Bryson is exactly right. Are you trying to break 90? 80? 100? Always close, but no cigar? Go the forward tees and get it done. Over and over. Keeping doing it again and again.

You’ll get comfortable shooting those low scores and when you go back to the tees you normally play from, you’ll keep on doing it not because of your skills, but because of your new mindset.

scoring

Three Ways to Lower Your Score Easily

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Shooting good scores overall is more a matter of avoiding a high score on a hole than of getting a low one.

These three things put a lid on it:

1. Get the ball in the fairway off the tee. If you don’t hit a driver well, leave it at home.

2. Get the ball on the green with your first short game shot. Down in two is great, down in three is O.K., down in four is a big no-no.

3. Sink putts from under four feet. That takes lots of practice, but it’s worth it.