#Golf Tips for Breaking 90 - You're Almost There!

For golf beginners, there are certain milestones which, when achieved, make playing the game even more fun; breaking one-hundred is one of those moments. The satisfaction of knowing you can get from tee to green in double versus triple digits is the first goal of many to conquer for newbies.

To break 100, what is the best course of action?

PGA Pro Ron Labritz states that, "instead of going out to work on your full swing, work from the green backwards."

In other words, work on your putting, then chipping, until you get to your driver, which should come last in the rotation.

Once you can honestly say that your short game is getting into shape, get out onto the golf course and take stock of the positive results.

What about breaking 90? The next goal in golf is where the focus and attention turn more to improving your tempo and the execution of shots according to Lynn Marriot and Pia Nilsson.

Dean Reinmuth says that it's not necessarily about breaking 90, its celebration time whenever you shoot a score better than your current personal best. Also, play shots that have a high success rate, learn to manage your emotions and "use shots that you can perform with a high degree of consistency and will accomplish what you need."

My husband, Barry, has been working on his game and is now regularly in the 80's. I asked him how he did it; here are a few of his golf tips.

1. Stay focused on every shot
2. Always take the low risk, smart shot
3. Don't let an errant shot blow up the hole - get back in play and quickly forget the bad shot
4. Have fun and play the round with a light heart
5. Keep accurate score for the hole but don't total your score until the end of the round

Correct practice makes perfect...don't just hit golf balls at the driving range - have a purpose, play smart and you will see that score hit 89 and lower before you know it!

Comments for this golf blog are welcome below and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Three Reasons to Play #Golf as a Single

As a small business owner, if the opportunity arises and all bases are covered at work, the time may be perfect for a round of golf - you just might not have anyone to play with on such short notice.

Men may not have a problem with going out as a single but I have heard from several golf beginners and women that they feel uncomfortable walking over to the starter and getting paired up with a stranger. Well, fear not and get moving! Aside from the obvious benefits of exercise, fresh air and sunshine, being paired up has its advantages.

Here are three good reasons why you should go out and play golf as a single:

1. New Playing Partners: You never know who you may meet going out as a single golfer. Whether you are a business owner like me, a divorced dad, a single mom, or someone looking to make a new friend, a new group gets you socializing in one of the most pleasant and fun settings anywhere.

I have met several people throughout my years on the course whom I now consider a friend - I have even met a few people who have helped me in my career; it all started with a handshake and an introduction.

2. Competition: Having a handicap makes the game fun and even. The scoring system is designed to allow all level of player to compete. You can actually see where your game is in comparison to people you don't know and how you compete in a situation that is unlike your normal routine. This scenario also teaches you how to play your own game and maybe get in the zone.

3. Improves Your Confidence: If you are worried about what people think when they meet you at the tee or how you might perform during the round, think of the confidence boost you will receive after you take the plunge - this type of activity will take you out of your comfort zone where you know what to expect and give you the impetus to become more comfortable with taking risks.

Have you ever played golf as a single? Let us know about your experiences in the comments section of this golf blog or on Twitter tagging @Golf4Beginners.

Photo: Wikipedia