Being The Best Golf Player You Can Be
Just like any other game, to be considered a good golf player
goes beyond having an average score of below 80. While skill at
playing the actual game is commendable, a holistic view is
needed to achieve a well-rounded game.
To play good golf, you have to get down past the three areas of:
- fitness, - practice, - and etiquette.
Fitness
- Keeping one's body and mind in shape is a key element to
becoming a good, if not great, golfer. Looking after your body
and making sure it's in shape not only gets you to perform
better on the course, it also ensures you that you can enjoy
golf even well into your years.
- Achieve bodily fitness by eating right and exercising
regularly. Maintain cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone that
suits the game of golf. Some indicators of physical fitness are
your blood pressure and your BMI (body mass index). Consult with
your doctor on what levels are right for your age and body type.
- Mental fitness is also just as important. Find ways to relieve
yourself of stress. Develop a regular meditation time alone or
with family/friends. Keep your mind sharp by exercising it with
reading or with puzzles like crosswords.
Practice
- Develop a regular and consistent practice routine. Many find
themselves wanting to play more and practice less when it is the
opposite that gets better results as far as scores go. By
practicing more, you develop techniques and muscle memory that
will carry well into your game.
- A good play to practice ratio is 1:2, that is, for every hour
of golf you play, you will do 2 hours of practice. This may not
be done all in the same day. It is advised to alternate practice
and play days so as not to work out too much.
- Continue your education on the game. Not just because you know
how to play means you already know everything there is. Remember
that there is always something new you can learn so either
enroll in a class or take up a lesson or two with a more
advanced player. Do this at least on an annual basis. Constantly
wanting to level up your golf skills shows your dedication to
become a better player than your were the year before.
Etiquette
- Being a great player on the course and on the practice field
is nothing if you are not a good person to play with. While golf
may be a solitary sport, it does not mean that rudeness is
condoned. As a gentleman's game, rules pertaining to respecting
others are of utmost importance.