Audit Your Game

Whether you are new to golf or a regular, experienced player, it pays to regularly check on the strengths and weaknesses of your game.

If you wish to improve, keeping some simple records each time you play will give you the basis for this assessment.  Devise a shorthand method of keeping the records on your golf card (be sure not to delay play) and then transfer them to a summary sheet after your game.  Some records that you might keep are:

• Missed Fairways - missing the fairway with your tee shot makes good scoring difficult. Record whether you missed the fairway on the left or right side and look for repeating patterns.
• Missed Greens - once you are in range of the green, shots which miss can be recorded to show the club used and whether the green was missed short, long, left or right
• Ups and Downs - getting up and into the hole in two shots from off the edge of the green or from a bunker is good golf.
• Putts  - count the number of putts on each hole.

Regular recording will arm you with the information you need to focus your practice or to seek a lesson from a golf professional.  It will also assist you to set and pursue some personal targets for improving your game.