| There are many times that you will feel discouraged | | | | from them. You won't. Get a golf training DVD and |
| with your game of golf, however, nothing is worse | | | | practice as much as you can in the backyard or on |
| than false discouragement which can destroy your | | | | the driving range. Tip 3 Do not increase your betting |
| interest in playing golf forever. | | | | when you will have to come from behind to win. You |
| Crash! The clubs hit the floor in the corner of the | | | | will just get more upset about losing more money on |
| changing rooms. Thump! The sound that the golfer | | | | the golf course! Tip 4 Do not bet against poorer |
| made, dropping heavily onto the bench after another | | | | golfers if they demand handicaps which will almost |
| bad round. "I am gonna sell those darn clubs and get | | | | certainly ensure their winning. Tip 5 Do not attempt |
| a new hobby!". The ensuing silence was punctuated | | | | golf shots you do not have in your bag. Unless you |
| only by the others, changing as quietly as they could. | | | | practice a tricky golf shot, it is almost certainly going |
| They recognised the signs of false discouragement | | | | to fail under the stress of playing it cold in a comp. |
| but knew better than to speak at that time. After all, | | | | Tip 6 Do not lie about your golf score or true |
| this latest defeat was aginst a gal who could beat | | | | handicap. It is better psychologically to win in a lower |
| the club pro 50% of the time so losing by 8 strokes | | | | flight than to lose in a higher one. Play at the right |
| was really a good achievement. Trouble was, the | | | | level for your skills. Tip 7 Do not concede any putts |
| golfer had been playing better players regularly for a | | | | to yourself or your opponent that can be missed. |
| couple of months now and had not won much. False | | | | You may think you are playing badly, when in reality |
| discouragement (which is discouragement not based | | | | you are playing your regular game. Tip 8 Do not pull |
| on facts) can place you in a position of defeat. | | | | against your golf opponent. Tip 9 Do not play with |
| Repeated defeats are not good for your ego. You | | | | people who increase your anxiety. Avoid being |
| must have some successes to keep from getting | | | | stressed if you fluff a shot that you normally make. |
| discouraged. 30 minutes later in the 19th, over a glass | | | | It is OK not to be perfect! And here is a bonus tip - |
| of carrot juice (OK then, I admit, it was really beer), | | | | keep a journal so that you can see how well you are |
| the golfers buddies plucked up the courage to talk. | | | | really playing golf, especially important when playing |
| From that conversation came these practical golf tips | | | | out of your league. So when you are feeling |
| that any golfer can use to avoid false | | | | discouraged, think of the good shots that you usually |
| discouragement ... Tip 1 Do not play with golfers (on | | | | play. Get things in perspective, if you played Tiger or |
| a regular basis) who are better than you are unless | | | | the Great White Shark, would you expect to win? |
| the handicaps are such that you win at least half of | | | | Hey, golf is supposed to be a game of fun...keep it |
| the time. Tip 2 Do not limit yourself to players who | | | | that way and you can enjoy it for the rest of your |
| always outdrive you in the hope that you will learn | | | | life. |