May 16, 2008

Being the Best Golf Player You Can Be

Unlike most sports where the more points you get the better; to be considered a good golf player, you need to score an average score of below 80, while having the skills at playing the actual golf game is worthy of praise, a holistic view is needed to achieve a well-rounded game.

To play a good golf, you there are three fundamentals that you need to take note of:

1. Fitness

2. Practice

3. Etiquette

Fitness

The key element to become a good, if not great, golfer, you need to keeping your body and mind in shape. Taking care of your body and making sure it’s in good shape not only enables you to perform better on the course, it also helps you to enjoy golf for many years to come.

You can achieve bodily fitness by exercising regularly and eating right. Do exercises that promote cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone that suits the game of golf. Some natural indicators of your physical fitness are your BMI body mass index) and blood pressure. But be sure to consult with your doctor on what levels are right for your age and body type before you engage in intensive training.

Besides muscular fitness, mental fitness is also just as important. You need to engage in activities and find ways to relieve yourself of stress. If possible, develop a regular meditation time alone or with family/friends, this will take you away from the business and pressures of life. You can keep your mind sharp by exercising it with reading or with puzzles like rubric cube and crossword puzzles.

Practice

To become a pro golfer, you need to develop a regular and consistent practice routine. Many new golfers find themselves playing more and practicing less when it is the opposite that ensures improvement. By practicing more, you will develop techniques and the muscle memory that will improve your game.

A good practice to play ratio 2:1, that is, for every hour of golf you play, you should be doing 2 hours of practice. You do not have to do everything on the say day. You should alternate between practice and play days so that your body do not overwork.

To be constantly improving, you need to continue your education on the game. Just because you know how to play now does not mean that you already know everything there is about golfing. Remember that there is always something new that you can learn so either enroll in golf classes or take up lessons with more skilful players. Do this at least every year. If you are constantly wanting to improve your golf skills, this shows your discipline and dedication to become a better player than before.

Etiquette

Being a fantastic player on the golf course and on the practice field means nothing if you do not have sportsmanship. While golf may be a solitary sport, it does not mean that you can be rude. As a gentleman’s game, the prime importance is the respect you have for other players.