COMMUNITY

You're not *really* competitive if you are not focusing. The amount on the line, whether it'd be money, bragging rights or what have you should make no difference whatsoever in your approach, if you are truly competitive: the only goal then is to WIN!

Well how do you score when you're playing in a tourney that you really want to win? I screw around for the most part and make stupid mistakes because of complete lack of focus. But when the club championship rolls around it gets my complete, undivided attention. I've only had two over par rounds in my last 3 club C's. I never play that well over the course of my casual rounds.Focus is everything.

That's the type of focus I am talking about. I am completely focused when it comes to competing, but when it's a usual, casual round with friends it is hard to keep that same focus. Of course I want to beat my group every time, but I would rather enjoy the company and the course than zoning in completely on my score.

Listen closely, as this was the best advise ever given to me:
DRINK MORE BEER.

^^ Spoken like true genius. Someone has the game figured out!

I have often wondered if what has just been described (the focus, not the beer) is a form of sandbagging. Comments?

Interesting, as I'm definitely guilty. I guess I've never really thought about it because I despise handicapped matches and generally don't play them. I guess if I was going to keep an honest cap I should be 100% focused on every shot but it's not gonna happen. I'm playing off a 1 anyway but a lot of the rounds that don't start well, I end up screwing around, I'll hit 2 or 3 balls, take 1 foot putts and practice on the course, so I don't record those scores. So come to think of it, I might be rocking a vanity cap because of my lack of focus.

You need more SKILL than Focus. You hit the shots with Skill not with Focus. You play the game with Skill and Focus. No one can Focus 100% of the time. Play the shots with skill and Focus.

I think you can have a skill level and it can be hurt or helped based on the type of focus you choose to take. Tournament golf is 100% focus and in order to conquer nerves you need to channel your focus into a form of "relaxed" golf. Too much intensity is not good typically, it's the guy who can channel emotions well that typically comes out on top. Trev Dandy is a guy who can do that well (using him as a good example). Great player who won his Club championship last year by taking the right approach with a good game and stepping up to pressure. Learn to use your focus to play loose, not tight.

how so??? sandbagging is deliberately shooting high scores to gain a higher handicap. how does being focused during a round achieve that? or are you suggesting the opposite? not being intensely focused during a casual round results in inflated scores?

So, the funny thing about this topic is goes to the age old adage, I'm going to try harder. Like a baseball player is going to really focus and it will make him hit better (or at all).

Focus in golf is mental approach and attitude. If you ask any PGA Tour pro if they are more intense or have an intense focus, will they score better and the answer is always NO. The golfer who finds the right balance and is able to play relaxed will score better ALL THE TIME. It's about playing relaxed and keeping nerves in check.

Bang on Jay. Focus doesn't mean that you grind on every shot until you're mentally exhausted. Focus is staying relaxed in the moment and being able to commit to the shot at hand. Focus is a completely different from intensity.

I don't equate focus with intensity.

For example. If I know I play better relaxed, than part of my focus needs to be on staying relaxed. By focus I am thinking about preparing for a round and playing said round in such a manner where I can score to the best of my ability. This includes course management. If I go for the green in 2 on a par 5 and my 3W finds the water hazard do I try again from the same spot or take a drop at the hazard and hit my next shot with a wedge? The second option will almost always result in a lower score.

I'm not suggesting that "sandbagging" is always on purpose. I think at times we get caught in the moment and unitenionally do so.