Virginia Golfer September / October 2014

MAKE PUTTING A PRIORITY The best way to introduce someone to the game who has never played golf before is to start on the putting green and have them work their way back to tee shots last, not vice versa. Ironically enough, the same rule applied to a championship-tested competitor like me at the State Open. As soon as I arrived at the site to prepare for the round, the first thing I did was head straight to the putting green to get a feel for the greens—and the stroke I brought that day. What do I work on and where should you focus your efforts? It all depends. In order to get a feel for speed, I try to find a putt that features a lot of break before moving on to putts with less curve. Ultimately, I’m trying to repeat what I’ve worked on in practice, which is a smooth and even stroke. Also, I almost always putt to a hole—not to a tee in the ground or the edge of the fringe. Don’t start your practice or preparation with nerve-rattling 4- or 5-footers. Practice short putts last; you want to ingrain the sensation of watching the ball fall into the hole before leaving the practice green. SET INTERMEDIATE GOALS Let’s face it: I play golf for a living and have more time to practice and play than the av- erage working-person’s amateur. If you don’t have a chance to play a lot or it’s been a long time between rounds, go out and play one day and forget about score. Set some mental markers that are realistic and achievable. For example, you might make a mental note: ‘Today, I’m going to take a practice swing prior to every shot.’ Other options: ‘Today I’m going to let my breath out before starting my swing.’ ‘T oday, I’m going to take one extra club.” Instead of writing your score on your scorecard, keep track of how many times you stuck to your goal. This thought pattern can get you out of a rut, especially if you keep shooting the same score. Get an early sense of the speed of greens by stroking breaking putts while warming up. w w w. v s g a . o r g SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 | VIRGINIA GOLFER 15

Virginia Golfer September / October 2014 | Page 17