Improve your accuracy

Develop a "laser focus"

A friend of mine got married a few years into the beginning of my golf life. I had only been out a handful of times before the group outing prior to his big day. Following the round we gathered at the proverbial 19th hole. His dad took a break in the conversations to holler across the room, inquiring about my score.

I proudly belted out, "130."
To which he responded, "Yeah. But what did you shoot on the back 9?"
Laughter erupted around the room, including from me.

I wasn't good. I took my penalties, lost about 16 balls, and putted poorly. I earned every bit of that score. I hadn't played much golf to that point, with very few rounds on the longer courses, so I was content with the score...kinda.

That time out really got me into golf. Besides that, I had recently moved to Southeastern North Carolina, an extension of Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand boasting more than 100 places to play golf. But I was stuck in the ego-driven hole of playing "big boy" golf. Only I didn't have "big boy" money to play with and was very fortunate to have some extremely fiscally friendly courses in the area. Some were beautiful, some, well, not so much, but under $30 for greens fees was a benefit which allowed me to start learning the game.

Early on I realized that the quickest way to improve my game was to work on my putting and short game. I struggled to get to that part of game, failing miserably off the tee and then trying to do too much with the short irons, whiffing and skulling chip shots, saving total embarrassment with my putter...mostly.

I brushed off the thought of par-3 courses entirely. I was hitting enough houses and other immovable objects which surrounded courses already. The thought of a tight hole and a smaller target was unthinkable. Plus, I bought the "Easter Ham on the end of a broomstick" Driver...and by golly, I was going to use it. Par 3? Pffffft!

After a few years of loosing balls and justifying my play by reminding everyone that I was getting the best deal at a little over a quarter per shot ($30/112 shots...about 27 cents per shot)...it wasn't working. I decided to give par-3s a chance.

The course I went to closed for about 10 years in the middle of my time playing golf, but when I first started, I was still shooting 98 there and loosing a few balls. They recently re-opened...only 9 holes now. You can play twice for a full round. Hole distances are mostly in the 80-120-yard range.

When I first went, I was hitting a 5-iron for one of the holes that was about 150 yards. I think that hole is gone now. I pretty much hit 52-56-60 wedges now to all the holes, not totally dialed in, but better.

Shot a 68 my last time out. Par is 54, still not bad. Especially considering my mental block on Par 3s. Something about the requirement for an accurate tee shot, occasionally over water, to a tight green with sand guarding it...well, it can be a trap for any recreational golfer.

I was scrambling to make a 7 on par-5s on the big courses. I was doing the same on the short holes, sometimes with the same, and much more horrible, score of 7. Reeling in the scores by getting better inside of 150 yards, well it might not make you a scratch golfer, but you won't be the joke at the wedding party either.

Give those short courses a chance throughout your time in golf. Hey. Even the Pros do it prior to the Masters every April. You're going to give your game a big lift by dialing in the short sticks, especially that putter. You'll also spend less time in the practical application of The Uncle Dennis Rule.