Playing golf provides many opportunities to be successful or not. Each attempt at success offered teaching points that empower us to learn lessons to improve our golf game. Of course, we must have our minds open to maximize the learning opportunities in order to transfer this knowledge into lower golf scores. It all seems very straightforward, but I assure you it is far more challenging than I make it seem. Despite that golfers relearn lessons constantly, there is the aspect of fighting our minds decisions with the low percentage changes of success. The draw to make that amazing shot often overshadows the ‘right’ shot and as a result hurts our overall golf score. It seems to be the nature of the best, yet there is a way to stay in control our our ego in order to become our best selves on the golf course.
The question you need to ask yourself is “why do I fight the shot I know is the proper one?” It is a reasonable question and I actually have two answers for you. The both are rooted in scale of impact on my golf game to reach my lowest score possible for that round of golf. As I describe a couple of scenarios you will quickly understand that fighting for a lower golf score can be beneficial in certain situations.
First situation is a friendly round where your score is really not that important. You are faced with a shot around an obstacle onto the green with a higher risk of failure instead of punching the ball out into the fair way with a high risk of success.
During a friendly game with my friends, I tried the shot and made the green (all luck I assure you). I saw a small opening at the top of the reeds and figured why not. There was not decision making fight in this case because my score was not relevant. I was having fun and if I shot a low golf score, then that was a bonus. There are times when we play golf for fun and that was definitely a round for that goal.
Fast forward to another time and I am in a tournament. Because I have made a similar shot, then I would fight my logical course of chipping out and playing for a scramble par. I would say to myself that I can make this shot and could do it again. Of course this is the wrong decision, but I would be in turmoil. I would fight with the knowledge that I have made the shot before but know the risk/reward is not in my current favour. So, the smart play (which I have not always made) would be to punch out to set up a safe next shot. I continue to fight these illogical demons when I play competitively because that is the nature of my competitive spirit. At least now I have a fighting chance as I understand when to press my game and when to play it safe.
Golf is a game of decision making. The more we fight the logic of what constitutes the smart shot (which is relative for each player) the more it erodes our chances of shooting our lowest score. As I travel down my golf path I am sure I will continue to fight smart decisions. As I do, I will own the results and lament what could have been.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
You’re right of course. I love my skins games because the whole point is go for everything and if I played that way in a round I was recording for handicap I’d see mine shoot up fast.
That said, there is benefit from repeated attempts to hit those shots. The more you succeed the less problematic they become. The more confidence you’ll have when you really need it.
The first time I pulled one so bad I landed on the wrong side of that 10 foot fence I’ve shown you I didn’t do well at all. But after hundreds of attempts I’m no longer happy just getting over or even with just reaching the green. I’m flag hunting from as close as 8 feet back. Looking for being inside ten feet to be happy. Pars seldom win that par 3 hole but are often good enough to tie.
If I still thought of it as a hero shot, I’d kick out and try and chip it close enough to save bogie if I was playing a handicap round or it was early in a tournament or something. But with the practice, it’s just another option I can call on even in those situations. They aren’t hero shots anymore, except to the guys watching who haven’t done the practice.
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Kevin,
I agree with your logic about continuing to attempt those difficult shots. In reality it is practice and we all need more practice. It takes a time and repeated attempts to develop a skill; some are faster than others for sure. The shot in my picture is a rare shot, but others I practiced helped me be successful. In a tournament, however, unless I was making a shot I need to make to win, I am punching out.
Cheers Jim
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