How Golfers Shooting in the 100s Can Lower Their Scores

Golf Monthly Shares Tips for Lowering Your Handicap
Get Long Putts Within 90cm of the Hole
Use Practiced Clubs and Aim Safely for the Green

Golf is not an easy sport. Even after a good performance, you can quickly find yourself back to shooting in the 100s. If you become overconfident, the game will immediately punish you. It's no surprise that some weekend golfers lose interest and leave the course. Recently, the American golf media outlet Golf Monthly shared tips for beginner golfers to lower their handicap within a year. These are methods to reduce your score.

The first priority is to reduce three-putts. Long putts often cause anxiety. Even after reaching the green in regulation, golfers worry about making a three-putt bogey. Simply cutting your three-putts in half can significantly improve your scorecard. During practice, focus on putting the ball within 90 centimeters of the hole. The goal is not a hole-in-one, but to make the second putt easier. If you can control your distance, you will see remarkable results.

When in danger, escaping safely is the priority. Photo by AFP News Agency

For golfers who typically shoot in the 100s, making a birdie is not easy. Missing the green is common, and most shots land around the green. You need to focus on shots within 50 yards. Instead of a lofted shot, a chip-and-run is more effective. Practice approach shots from various lies within 50 yards. This builds confidence in getting the ball onto the green. Even if you miss the green in regulation, you can save a bogey by finishing with an approach shot followed by two putts.

Use the clubs you have practiced with first. Choosing a club you haven't properly tried can cost you strokes. Rather than picking a club based solely on distance, select the one you hit confidently at the practice range. This is a way to reduce mishits. You should also approach the course strategically. Golf is a game of risk management. Strategic choices and execution are essential.

You need to minimize disastrous holes. Risky shots can lead to catastrophic results. There is no need to force a shot when your ball lands between trees. The odds of pulling off a "hero shot" are low. In situations where you could settle for a bogey, you might end up with a quadruple bogey. When facing a crisis, remember the 80% rule: ask yourself, "Which shot am I 80% confident in?" Lay up and aim to make a decisive shot on your next attempt. Instead of going for the pin, safely target the center of the green.

When you're in trouble, escaping should be the top priority. If your ball lands in a bunker near the green, focus on simply getting out. If you can't escape the bunker and take multiple shots, your score will suffer. In hazardous areas, minimizing damage is best. Escaping from tricky spots can save you strokes. At the practice range, work on shots from deep bunkers, thick rough, and difficult chips.