On the Green

Let's talk about beginner/new golfers and what happens when they play on the golf course for the first time. I actually believe some of their shots are better than on the range. The reason for this is the specific picture that is visually laid out in front of them. For the first time a fairway is clearly defined; this is the mowed area that leads to the green where everyone hopes the ball will end up. This is the first "hurrah" if the ball is in the fairway after the drive.

Now the naysayer critical of every imperfect shot will probably "poo-poo" the length that the ball went or the flight it took to get there; thinking that there is something wrong with what he or she did. To the contrary I say "fairway is fairway" and new golfers should especially be happy with the results. After all, you could be in the water, rough, sand, bare ground or in a bush or behind a tree just to name a few bad spots.

I find new golfers do not see enough of the positive in what they do and pounce on the negative with great enthusiasm and frustration. If you are a beginner/new golfer or a friend of someone who is, please try to encourage them to find at least one positive result in what they do. For example I would praise them for getting the ball in the fairway, advancing the ball closer to the hole, and perhaps even getting the ball airborne. A positive attitude makes all the difference in the world and helps your own game improve faster than anything else you could imagine.

Once the first shot is completed and assessed, it is time to plan the second shot. The ball is now resting in a new spot with a new lie and distance from the hole. The planning process must include: (1) what type shot will I make now (putt, chip, pitch, get out of sand, or full swing with wood or iron), (2) what club should I use, (3) where do I want the ball to end up, (4) and at what should I aim?

Once that planning is done the pre-shot routine begins that includes: grip, stance, posture, ball position and aim and alignment. Once prepared it is time to visualize your specific spot or target for the last time and "swing." Watch the ball all the way till it stops, and then find something positive about what you did. Now you get to ride or walk to your ball, see the actual results and begin to plan again for the next "new" shot. This process continues until the ball is put into the hole.

Golf is a game of one shot at a time and each one warrants a "hurrah" or "whoops" and hopefully it was fun doing it. Beginners please, please plan to have more "whoops" when you first begin to play. Golf is a game of mistakes; the one with the fewest and least penile mistakes usually scores the best. Golf is definitely not a game of perfect and the ones that realize it the quickest have the most fun and eventually learn to score very well.

Enjoy your golf; find something positive and smile at your results!

Joyce Wilcox is a teaching professional for Topsail Greens Golf Club and an LPGA Class A Member.