For you folks who want to know how your golf game is progressing, but don't like to keep alot of stats you might want to try this. Just keep track of your first putt on each green. By that I mean was it for a birdy, par, bogey, or other. That first putt can tell you alot obout your game.
Example if your first putt is for birdy, then you have a GIR, and you played that hole in fine fashion.
If your first putt is for par, then you most likely need to work on your apprach game. Maybe your tee shots are not what they should be, leaving you some tough second shots. If you make that first putt for par then you have an up & down
If your first putt is for bogey, then you need to focus on various parts of your game. Most likely your short game could use some help right a way.
The "other" first putt could mean your game is in need of some serious help in all areas. Then again if that "other" first putt is for an eagle, then your game, at least for that hole, was right on the money.
At the end of 18 holes your score card might look like this: 4 for birdy, 10 for par, 3 for bogey, and 1 for "other". This is what my first putt scoring looked like last weekend. I shot an 11 over 73 on a par 62 course. My putting was off, my apprach shots were were not very good, and I lost 4 shots on that one "other" hole. It was not pretty....lol
Vey important point with stats. I am a true believer in it. It can tell you instantly what part of your game needs the most attention. I use an extra scorecard and put from top to bottom in the player spaces: Fairways hit-greens-putts-up& down-sand saves. Then as I play I mark a plus if I hit it and a minus if I fail. Then add up the totals and divide by number of regulation attempts. I.E. hit 12 fairways out of possible 14 (4 par 3's) equals 85%.(12 divided by 14) I never mark the score and think only about the strokes and hitting broader targets. I just mark as I go. It will put my mind more on making plus signs instead of thinking of a score number. I will know also what my score is just by figuring out that a hit G.I.R. and a 1 putt on that hole will be a birdie. I love doing the numbers. I can always tell what went wrong and why and if I need to groove a putting stroke or work more on hitting fairways. Sometimes I even mark where I missed if it was short or left,right,long and so on.
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Golf is my rush
FH, that is a novel idea. I should be more concerned about stats and study from Ron. Maybe when my index goes a little lower. I just keep track of # of putts. But I'm going to try your idea, thanks.
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I'm out on the back nine.
I like counting that first putt since it is pretty eas. I used to count GIRs, Fairways Hit, Sand Saves, Up & downs, OBs, and Putts. For some folks this is the way to go to know the shape their game is in, and what they need to work on. Most of the professionals use these same stats. I even made up my own score card with these topics already on the score card. My problem was when I would keep these stats during a round of golf, I started paying more attention to marking my stats down, and less attention to what was more important, which was just golfing. I got to the point where I just stopped keeping stats, and just kept my overall running score in my head as I played. i would know that I was 4 over par after 8 holes, but I wouldn't remember that poor shot back somewhere that cost me. What had happened, good or bad was a done deal, and the only important shot was my next one. Since putting is very important part of saving strokes in my own game, I started keeping better track of them. I already know that my driving, and long approach shots are the weakest part of my game. FHs
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Golf Should Be Played.......No Watched
It's brilliant, and I'm using it. Also, I began marking my balls with three dots. Just three dots across the dimples, next to the numbers, in black marker - you'll never guess where that idea came from ... (Mr. Visualization, ahem) ... every time I look at my ball, I think of ball position, one click left or right - don't go too far front or back.
All solid, indigenous stuff from 19th hole. I really like the blog format here, by the way, you can go back and edit your own blogs to keep track of your mental progress. I looked at one of those other golf forums ... which shall remain unnamed, as it was not notable ... there was a distracting number of threads, and the personal blog is not central - of course, putting one's own thoughts into writing, getting some feedback from peers, and being able to REVIEW one's mental progress conveniently - what can I say, more genius at 19th hole. (No I'm not the owner or moderator).
I hope folks will take full advantage of the blogging to record their own progress - you can see my own pitiful archive at my "Winter" blog. In that case, you could just give me ***t for spending so much time at golf.
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I'm out on the back nine.
Something else you can do with your score card that will give you more info on your game, and allow you to stay more focused over the entire 18 holes. I read about this in a golf book, and I may have already posted this info on here before. Not sure. The idea was brought about due to the belief that higher handicap golfers have a hard time keeping their focus over an entire 18 hole round. Some pros use the 3 groups of 6 holes,
Divide your round of golf into 6 groups of three holes. Or 3 groups of six holes if you wish which is what the book described. If one set of 3 holes goes poorly for you, you have five other groups of three holes to improve on. In other words once those three holes are over you are starting another group of three. You now have a new 3 holes to focus on. This prevents one bad hole from ruining the rest of your round. On the up side if you are playing well for a three hole stretch, there is no reason to believe you can't play well for another three hole stretch.
As for stats, this 6X3 grouping will tell you what kind of physical shape you are in over the course of 18 holes. Fatigue is more of an issue than most golfers think. Pehaps your first three holes, on a consistant basis start off poorly. You might need to spend more time warming up. Maybe your last three holes are lacking something, which might mean you have grown tired, or are getting stiff after 15, or so holes. Maybe an exercise program might be in order to get through those last three holes. Myself, on the average, I play my best golf during the middle 12 holes. I usually either start off poorly on the first three holes, or finish poorly on the last three holes. FHs
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Golf Should Be Played.......No Watched
Tenthtee I love the 3 dots on your ball very cool.
Froghairs, funny you should mention the pairing of holes or groups. Beleive it or not some pros actually play their game according to groupings. A mental guru in Reno area ( Tom Kubistant) that I have worked with, told me about the grouping of holes. I started with the first 6 were to find out where my game is, the second 6 were to attack the course and play aggressive, then the last 6 were governed by how well I played the second 6. Either continue to attack or ease off and get it home safely. It worked for a while but I soon found that I can tell how my game was going by the 3-4 holes and then get on my horse from their and ride, plus the fact of trying to "protect" what you have kind of has a negative affect on your swing and mental thoughts. Sort of puts bad images into your head if you are not swinging well. You need to really always see a positive shot in your mind before you execute a shot. Sure you can play safe by hitting to the fat parts of greens and fairways and not cutting doglegs and trying to hit over water from 250 yards out.
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Golf is my rush
Very solid stuff, guys. I think I will try to think about three groups of six holes during my round with the men's group tomorrow morning. I had a fantastic practice round today, some things are really coming together.
Fatigue is a problem for sure, although if you play enough, it seems the mental stuff for me centers around either over or under confidence.
I do think you are onto something, Ron, with regards to aggressive play depending on how course management/results are going during the round.
It never occurred to me to sort of take mental stock during the round in terms of segements - funny how in golf, one little idea can give a lot of perspective.
So with regard to that, and 3x6, I am off to the hot tub to visualize three sets of six, ball position, and aiming (square ball contact) in prep for tomorrow's round. Have only played a few times with these guys, after today's excellent practice, I'm concerned they are going to think I am a sandbagger!
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I'm out on the back nine.
sandbagging.... Just tell them every dog finds a bone now and then.You mentioned fatigue, and I get hit with that too with not having played in awhile BUT what hits me the most wether I played a lot or not is mental fatigue. Tom Kubistant out of Reno told me to bring some nuts and fruit during the round. I will snack the nuts( or trail mix) on and off the whole time, but when I get to holes 7-8 I will eat some fruit and skip the hot dog till the end of the round. The fruits energy will kick in about holes 10-11 and carry me to the finish. Drink plenty of water too( I know boring). A sandwhich at the turn with wheat bread is fine too. ( no not a hot dog sandwhich, I heard that).
Save the Gatorade till the end due to its sugar contents. When I played in Laughlin in 115 degree heat we had 1 person drop at hole #8 from drinking gatorade instead of water. Yeah you would think this is the athletes drink but the doctors at the hospital in Bullhead City told us Gatorade is the worst thing to drink during the round from the sugar in it. BUT at the end of the round when indoors cooling off for the evening it was highly recommended to drink to replace electrolytes,salt, and body sugar.
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Golf is my rush
Water, Water, and then more Water is the best wat way to stay hydrated, which will help with mental fatigue. Something folks forget to do if they are not use to warmer weather is to start hydrating themselves the day before they start their out of doors activity. I have lived in the desert southwest all my life and have first hand knowlege of accidental dehydration. I have never been helped of the golf course, but I have endured the painfull muscle cramps afterwards. In my case I get a 'hollow" hearing sensation in one or both ears. That is my first warning sign. The next thing that happens to me is my toes start to cramp. Another sign is when you notice you are no longer perspiring, which by then is most likely too late. Diabetics are more prone to dehydration if they are not controlling their blood sugar levels correctly.
Below are some links on dehydration, and the more dangerous heat stroke
Iget to golf with a lot of tourist in the summer months. Alot of these folks arrive here from cooler climates. These are the people I see have the most problem with dehydration. If not dehydration then they are wearing the wrong type of clothing, and/or too weak of sunscreen. By the first few holes these folks are lobster red, and will be losing a layer or two of skin in the near future. Any drink with sugar, caffeine and/or alcohol in it can cause you grief in hot weather. I have read that some foods can contribute to dehydration if they have a high sugar/alcohol content. None of these items help to keep your body hydrated. in fact they will tend to help dehydrate a person since they do not replenish body fluids as fast as the body is sweating it out. When I am out of doors, I am drinking sugar/caffeine free juices, and iced water with some lime juice mixed in with it. Caution should be used to drink slowly during the round of golf. If you drink ice water to fast, you run the risk of a major head ache. In addition to golf, I do alot of back country hiking (with my camera) in the summer months. Staying hydrated is big issue for me. FHs
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Golf Should Be Played.......No Watched
Great point on hydrating the day before, I completely forgot about that when writing my reply. I too have heard too many people say " well I had a bottle of water yesterday", thinking that was good enough. Absolutely not. I know I have not done as much as I should hydrating and with living in the desert I should know better. Shame shame shame as Gomer Pyle USMC would say.
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Golf is my rush
Good stuff everyone! I like to keep fairways, greens, putts and up n downs. Our pro told us to separate the round into 3 6s. I like the idea of 6 3s better.
If you want a hydration drink that's no bad for you try Ceralyte.com. My family has some serious intestinal issues and this company is recommended by Mayo. They have now created some athletic powders along with serious medicinal rehydration aids. There is no High Fructose Corn Syrup, as in Gatorade, which is the poison. If ONLY it were really sugar! But it's not...it's chemicals. Try Ceralyte.
My game is pretty dead the last 6 months...but I'm going to the gym so I'm getting more fit. I hope it all comes together soon!
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Work gets in the way of golf...
I made up my own notebook (pocket sized) to keep track of the score, par, fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts, and side notes. When I get home or later that night I enter all the info into a spreadsheet and run the numbers for that day, and continuously over time. I know sounds a little neurotic but hey, it is worth it to analyze your game and see where you need improvements.
.You mentioned fatigue, and I get hit with that too with not having played in awhile BUT what hits me the most wether I played a lot or not is mental fatigue. Tom Kubistant out of Reno told me to bring some nuts and fruit during the round. I will snack the nuts( or trail mix) on and off the whole time, but when I get to holes 7-8 I will eat some fruit and skip the hot dog till the end of the round. The fruits energy will kick in about holes 10-11 and carry me to the finish. Drink plenty of water too( I know boring). A sandwhich at the turn with wheat bread is fine too. ( no not a hot dog sandwhich, I heard that). 
