Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we look back to our February 2001 issue for some advice on how to break 90.
Golf is a game of milestones. AT the outset, it’s all about making your first par. Then, you start to focus on scores. The first time you break 100 … 90 … 80. It’s an exhilarating pursuit.
If you’re reading this article, you probably find yourself in the same boat. And based on the headline, you’re among the many seeking to break 90 for the first time.
If that sounds like you — you’re in luck. Back in the February 2001 issue of GOLF Magazine, our editors put together a piece outlining an easy way to break 90 for the first time. Follow the advice and you’ll be well on your way to posting scores in the 80s.
Having a hard time getting your game into the 80s on a consistent basis? Perhaps it’s a mental problem: Very often golfers get stuck in a comfort zone (say, the low 90s), where the psychological hurdle of taking it to the next level feels insurmountable. Realize this: Unless you have a severe case of the yips or the shanks, there’s no reason why even the shortest of hitters can’t regularly score in the mid to high 80s.
Here’s proof of how easy it is.
If your course has par of 72, a score of 89 is 17-over par. That means you only need to make one par during the round to break 90. But remember that one par is all you need provided you bogey the other 17 holes. Anything worse than bogey, and you need more pars. This sheds light on the biggest key to scoring for the mid-handicapper: Eliminate your double bogeys (or worse), and breaking 90 is a snap.
There are three likely culprits for double bogeys: penalty strokes (water hazards, out of bounds), flubbed shots around the green, and three-putts.
As a straight hitter, you’re probably not flirting with the out-of-bounds stakes, so maybe your ball is finding the water a couple of times a round. If so, you’re taking unnecessary risks. Steer away from trouble in almost all circumstances, and play for bogey if necessary. It might feel conservative, but you’ll surprise yourself with how many fours you make when your target score is five. Besides, either number is much more satisfying than a six or seven.
Take a similar approach around the greens. If your good shots are mixed in with a few flubs, you’re either suffering lapses in concentration, or trying to hit those shots too precisely. Keep your short game simple: Stick to the basics of chipping and pitching, and try to put the ball as close to the hole as possible. But, above all, make sure you’re putting on your next shot. Don’t try to be a hero if failure means missing the green.
Eliminating three-putts is about awareness, and it starts before your ball is on the green. As you study your chip or pitch, look at the green’s undulations. Without putting too much pressure on yourself, know that leaving a flat or uphill putt dramatically reduces your chances of three-putting. The same goes for your first, or lag, putt. Always look for the preferred angle for your second putt, then allow for a miss that will finish on that side. You’ll be surprised at how many second putts you make when none of them are slick, downhill benders.
If you can eliminate these mistakes — penalty strokes, flubbed shots, and three-putts — breaking 90 won’t be an issue. You’ll be threatening to break 80 instead. Consider this a goal, and proof that good golf isn’t a question of hitting great shots, just not hitting disastrous ones.
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