Play the Course, Not Your Scorecard · Sunshine Coast Golf Dojo

Play the Course, Not Your Scorecard

⛳ Introduction

Ever noticed how the more you chase a good score, the more it seems to slip away? One bad hole turns into two. A missed putt suddenly means the whole round is “ruined.” Sound familiar?

It's a trap most golfers fall into — playing to protect or chase a number instead of playing each shot as it comes. But what if you could learn to let go of the scorecard… and actually start scoring better?

📖 The Story

There was a local club tournament where a mid-handicapper named Dave showed up with one goal: break 80 for the first time. On the front nine, he played lights out — fairways, greens, steady putting. He was one-over through 7.

Then came a par-3 over water. He chunked it. Double bogey. He shook his head. “There goes the round,” he muttered. On the next hole, he overcompensated with an aggressive drive — OB. Triple. By the time he reached 18, he limped in with a 91.

Afterward, his buddy said, “You were playing so well until you started thinking about the number.”

The next week, same course. Dave made a new commitment: no looking at his score. Just one shot at a time. He didn’t count until he walked off the 18th green.

Final score: 79.

💡 The Lesson

Golf is about moments, not math. When you obsess over your score mid-round, you're pulling yourself out of the present — out of the shot you're standing over right now.

Focusing on the outcome tightens your grip, clouds your decisions, and invites frustration. But when you play each shot with care — whether you're +1 or +11 — you stay in the flow.

Jack Nicklaus said it best:

“The most important shot in golf is the next one.”

✅ Action Step

Next time you’re on the course, try this: Don’t add up your score until the 18th hole.

Instead, treat each hole like a new game. Reset. Focus only on what’s in front of you. You’ll be amazed how much freer — and sharper — you’ll feel.

And who knows… you might even surprise yourself with the number at the end.

🏌️ Glossary

Mid-handicapper: A golfer whose handicap index typically falls between 10–20.

OB (Out of Bounds): A shot that lands outside the legal play area, resulting in a penalty.

Chunked: A mishit where the club hits the ground before the ball, causing a short, poor shot.

Flow: A mental state of being fully immersed and focused in the task at hand.

🔖 Hashtags

#GolfMindset #PlayBetterGolf #StayPresent #GolfTips #GolfBooks #GolfLife #MentalGame

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