Any golfer can produce a good round, but to play consistently is the hardest part of the game. Whether you try to shoot an under par score or try to break 90, the goal is the same — to play your best golf that day. To play consistently, you need consistent planning. The best players have a specific system for practice, preparation, and mental approach so they can play well almost every day. In this article, you will learn how to develop greater mental and physical consistency. How
you practice, the pre-round
warm-up routine, pre-shot preparation and control over your emotions are important.

1. Proper warm-up
Warm-up is a great time to loosen up, feel confident, and get your mind and body ready to play. It is also a great
way to develop consistency
in your pre-game preparation. The warm up is not the time to work on your golf swing, try new equipment, or focus on something else. A warm-up is used to: (1) loosen up and physically warm up, (2) focus the mind, (3) instil confidence, and (4) gain a feel for your swing and tune up on the greens.

2. Proper game plan
A game plan is a strategy used to attack the golf course. What should it involve? Given the layout and distance of each hole, a player should plan how to play each hole. Decide on
the club ahead of time. Know the percentage play and pick a target. Decide what pins you can shoot for and when to play to the centre of the green. Once you make up your mind, stick to your plan.

3. Control emotions
I often see players become rattled when they hit a couple of bad shots. The fact that you hit a bad shot or had a bad hole is not ‘wrong’. The problem starts with how you react to it. Even the best players hit bad shots sometimes, but they are able to let go and play on with composure. If you get easily upset and carry that with you, be prepared for the emotional roller coaster. To get off the
bogey trail, you must first learn to forget the bad hole with coolness and composure.

All this is definitely easier said than done, but if you train your mind for a couple of weeks, your performance is certainly going to improve in the days ahead.
(The author is a golf
instructor and golf director
at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu.
He can be contacted through
prodeepak@hotmail.com)