GOLF TIP by Denise Boutin
LPGA Teaching Professional
Cedarbrook Country Club
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
(215) 619-2784

"Are You Practicing the Right Things"

Recently after shooting a tournament record 63, Meg Mallon was asked what accounted for her performance. Without blinking an eye she noted her putting, recalling exactly the number of putts in the 63 and in her prior round. If the best of the best keep track of such things, i.e. greens in regulation (GIR), fairways hit, putts per round, etc., then perhaps we should too.

You can mark up a second score card or make a copy of the example below. Note the course’s actual par score, yardage and handicap for each hole. Then record:

* Drive/Loc: Fairway, Rough or Trouble (note the club used to help find your best driving club)

* GIR: based on your personal par

* Up/Down: chip or pitch within 1 putt distance to save personal par

* Bunker: same as above from a green side sand trap

* Putts: number of putts hit till ball was holed

* Personal Par: your par for that hole based upon your handicap (e.g. if your handicap is 18, your personal par is one over the designated par for each hole)

* Dist/Club: distance needed per shot to reach the green in regulation, based on your personal par and assuming 2 putts per hole (e.g. 300 yard hole, with personal par of 5; 5-2=3; 300/3=100 yards)

* #/%: Use the totals and percentages to track your progress and to identify what areas require more practice.