| First of all there is no secret about how you win a | | | | effort to save par. Most of the time this only |
| handicap golf tournament. You win because you have | | | | compounds the mistake and creates a disaster hole. |
| the lowest Net score. The Net score is your Real | | | | If you do this just once in the tournament you could |
| score minus your Handicap Index. The USGA | | | | loose the tournament. Do it twice and you will |
| handicap system allows players with different skill | | | | definitely loose the tournament. |
| levels to be able to compete with each other. It is | | | | In my opinion, this strategy may be the difference |
| the fairest way get two players to a level playing | | | | between winning or loosing the tournament. When |
| field. The system is not perfect. Mainly because your | | | | you play conservative golf you are more likely to |
| handicap is a mathematical formula that takes and | | | | score at or below the average of your last 10 best |
| averages your last 10 best scores. If you as a player | | | | golf scores. Just remember that your competitors |
| can turn in one of your better than average rounds | | | | scores are likely to be higher than normal because of |
| of golf you stand a better than average chance to | | | | tournament pressure. |
| win the tournament. | | | | This is a very simple strategy and ironically most |
| This is my winning strategy. Try to play a round of | | | | players never use this approach during tournament |
| golf equal to or better than your average score for | | | | play. Everyone thinks they have to play their career |
| your last 10 best rounds. You should know what this | | | | best round in order to win. |
| score is before playing in the tournament. If you can | | | | Most of the time this just isn't the case. Although, if |
| post this score or better you have a good chance of | | | | someone does shoot a career best round you |
| winning the tournament. I know that I may have | | | | haven't a chance to win that tournament. |
| over-simplified this winning strategy. But, If you just | | | | I based this strategy on the experience of playing |
| follow my suggestions you may just find yourself in | | | | quite a few years as a member of the Northern |
| the winners circle at the completion of your golf | | | | Illinois Mens Amateur Golf Association. NIMAGA |
| tournament. | | | | hosted handicap golf tournaments monthly during the |
| It is a fact that the average scores for golf | | | | golf season. A high percentage of the over 500 |
| tournaments are usually higher than a normal round | | | | regular members never in their life time win a |
| of golf. This is a good indication that most players | | | | tournament. I was fortunate to have won 4 times, |
| put more pressure on themselves during | | | | tied and lost in a playoff 4 times, and finished in |
| tournaments. | | | | second place numerous times. Although not foolproof, |
| The better player understands this phenomenon and | | | | I can attest first hand that without adopting my |
| adopts the following philosophy - Take What the | | | | tournament strategy I wouldn't have won a single |
| Golf Course will Give You on any Hole. This means | | | | tournament. |
| that if you make a mistake on a hole don't turn that | | | | Here is my challenge to you. Eliminate triple-bogeys or |
| mistake into a disaster. Accept a bogey or even a | | | | worse from your tournament and see if you can |
| double bogey as the best that you can do on that | | | | break through into the winners circle. |
| hole. Don't try to make an impossible shot in an | | | | |