Part V: Managing Yourself And Your Game
Lesson #82: Be Bold with Your Strengths

I've often been accused of playing golf too aggressively. That's a bad rap. I admit that I play an aggressive shot now and then, but so does everyone. The fact is, my 'boldness' is simply a reflection of the confidence I have in my game, based upon experience, practice, and a knowledge of what I can do.

I've spent a good deal of time at racetracks, talked to professional race-car drivers, and driven high-performance cars for many years. As a result, I have a great deal of confidence in my ability to handle a car, and when I get behind the wheel I like to stretch my skills to a point that is equal to that confidence. Equal to but never beyond..

Likewise, on the golf course, I like to stretch my shotmaking skills, to choose the shots that I know I have played successfully time after time. That's not being overly aggressive, that's playing up to your potential.

The best strategic advice I can give you is to take note of your own golf skills and then take advantage of them. You may not be a scratch player but surely some aspects of your game are stronger than others. In these areas, be aggressive. If you have a good short game, think 'sink' on every pitch and chip you face; if driving the ball is your forte, don't feel you have to lay up on the holes where everyone else does. Display confidence in your competence, and that competence will continue to grow.

Illustration by Jim McQueen

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