At sometime during our golf season, we have a great round where we walk off the course thinking that we have turned the corner to better play. Just to come out the next time to shoot a poor round that we want to forget. It happens to us all, even professionals. There seems to be no specific reason for this collapse, yet it still happens more than we hope or want. Keeping this in mind, how do we follow up our next score to match the great round we just played. I have a few suggestions if you are interest.

The first step is to manage expectations. After a great round, everyone adjusts their mindset to thinking that this great round is the new normal. Portions of our game might have opened the door to more consistent success, but it is unlikely that our entire game will have change. I will suggest that the great round demonstrates that better golf is possible, we just have to find a way to capture all the aspects of why we shot a lower score. Therefore, my expectations of breaking 80 most of the time with a dash of breaking par now and again is a good mix for my game. Breaking par is the lofty goal of a possibility, but shooting under 80 is the probable. By managing my expectations, I keep the door open for some great golf without mentally breaking down the moment something poor happens during my round.

Understand what was different and why. This step to following up a great round with another great round is often overlooked. A little introspection is always a good thing, especially when looking at our golf game. Did you putt better, chip closer, stay in play off the tee, or receive a few more lucky bounces? All of these, and more, might account for your lower score. As such understanding what was different will help focus our future play and practice routines. In my case, every great round is rooted in a high greens in regulation percentage. The higher my GIR, the lower my score.

Time to adjust your course management strategy….or not. Depending on the reason why your shot a great round, it might be time to contemplate changing your course management strategy. Hitting a different club off the tee, clubbing up on approach shots or aiming at the center of the green could be the answer to some of your score challenges. However, a word of caution about overreaching how your play the course; attempting to cut the corner because you made it last time by mistake does not warrant a new approach to that shot. Understanding how you scored low through consistent play is where your course management strategy should lean.

Lastly, accept that good scores will happen on the golf course. I am a strong believer in the law of attraction. I focus on the good of every shot and avoid negative thoughts. By focusing on what shot I want to make allows me to be successful most of the time. Basically, I think of a great shot, believe I can make the shot, and accept the success when I execute my shot as per my intent. That last part is very important. Many golfers have a hard time accepting success by trying to find excuses for a good (and poor) golf shot. If you make the shot your intended, be grateful and allow this success to be reflected on the scorecard. If you are not successful, start anew by asking, believing and receiving success. It really does work.

These are my four core tenets to follow up a great score with a great score. If you are wondering, anything under 75 is a great score for me. During last season followed up one great round with another 5 times. My best streak was three rounds in a row under 75. The possibilities are out there for shooting great rounds of golf, the trick is to follow it up with another great round!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!