It’ll Drive You Nuts If You Don’t Practise

I have to confess that my article this week is self-generated through my own personal pain and torment. Yes, that’s right – my golf game!

I don’t however feel embarrassed in the slightest by admitting in print to the "XPRESS Loyal" that this game drives me nuts at the best of times, after all it is arguably the most technically difficult game in the world.

I join a multitude of "industry golf professionals" that admit that they don’t play or practise often enough due to work commitments and feel hard done by when they play badly, three-putt or miss a green.

This is not just relevant to golf pros of course; it plays true with approximately 99.9 per cent of all golfers across the globe.

Can you picture the golfer that "hits shots on the course that they never hit on the range", misses that straight up the hill three-foot putt or takes three to get out of a bunker and then gets upset?

Come on guys and girls, lets face it – if you don’t put the work in you’re going to!

Professionals are no different to amateurs in such that consistency of performance and achieving goals are all relative anyway.

The point is that no matter what standard you are, you will only be able to improve and achieve goals by practising, taking instruction and dedicating yourself to doing it.

My inspiration for this article came about whilst sitting in the Spikes Bar at Emirates Golf Club at the weekend.

The man in question was complaining about his putting woes (that have lasted seven years) and after another frustrating performance on the course, had bought himself a nice new "Yes" putter. and it was a lovely putter, and oh, of course, it was to be the answer to all his problems – not!

If you are guilty of the above, then ask yourself the following questions:

• Have you had a lesson in the last two months?
• Do you practise for a period of one hour minimum, twice or more a week?
• Do you play a minimum of 27 holes per week?

If you answer to two or more of the above questions with a resounding no – then I am sorry to say you are likely to be an impulse purchaser of golf equipment and a frustrated golfer for the rest of your career. I’m not saying this is bad, but it’s most certainly accurate – just make sure you smell the flowers along the way!

If you have answered yes to two or more of the above three questions then hallelujah! You are on the road, which has fewer potholes, blind corners and steep slopes – happy golfing.