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Patience Pays
 Why is it that so many tour players seem to peak well into their careers, as exemplified by Mark Omeara's first major championships last year at the age of forty-one? The answer most often given is maturity, and the hallmark of that is patience. Following is an example of one golfer's discovery that a little patience can go a long way toward lower scores.
Steve had been playing golf for just three years, but had been taking lessons regularly. Still, he had never broken 100. His pro suggested a lesson with me and told me Steve had a pretty good swing. He told me that his short game wasn't great, but he two putted most of the time. So what caused him to take so many strokes?
Impatience! Being a relative beginner, he would mis-hit quite a few tee shots each round. Each time that happened, feeling he had a long way to go, he'd try to get it all back in one mighty blow. A disastrous tactic, of course. This would lead to the succession of topped shots and screaming slices that come of swinging with all one's might, as well as the injudicious decisions to play shots that most pros couldn't pull off. After we discussed of these habits and their futility, he agreed that he'd accept the consequence of each mis-hit and not compound the disaster by trying to get more on the next shot than could be reasonably expected.
Here's an example of the game plan we devised: A topped tee shot that goes 125 yards on a 400 yard hole leaves 275 yards. Usually he would try to get as close to the green as he could with a three wood (and risk lots of bad results as pointed out above). Instead, he was to accept the consequence of the poor shot and play the hole as if it were a par five. This meant taking a club that would put him in comfortable range with his pitching wedge or nine iron. He hit nine iron 120 yards, so all he needed was a 155 yard shot to the middle of the fairway, a relatively easy, low pressure shot, probably with a six iron or even an easy five. This way he would be almost assured of a five on the hole, have a chance to make a putt for a four, and have removed the possibility of a seven or higher.
His next time out, Steve began by taking a nine on the first hole. This served as a wake-up call; he remembered the game plan we'd agreed on and proceeded to shoot 95, breaking one hundred for the first time, and doing it by a large margin.
Try applying a little patience to your own game and get the payoff of lower scores.
Other Articles by Dr. Parent
- Accentuate the Positive
- Beware of Trying
- Putt with Imagination
- Patience Pays
- Confidence in Mind and Body
- Be Decisive
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