Back-to-School Planning Your Golf Game for 1999 by Adrian Davies I am certain many of you were successful in different ways in 1998 and all deserve a pat on the back. But now it's time to start making your 1999 New Year's resolutions happen. Let's turn those resolutions (at least those that pertain to improving your golf game!) into a reality. The information I give my players on how to improve their golf game is just a small part of their success. They control their golf game by using good technical instruction and sound lifestyle guidelines. The following golden rules will help you achieve your goals for 1999: Goal: Take it one shot at a time, don't dwell on bad shots. We all have them. Stay focused. Discipline: Take your time. Stay with your routine. Don't give up when things go wrong! Learning: Don't tinker with several methods. Trust your teacher and give it the time it needs to work. Old habits are hard to break! Knowledge: There is NO PERFECT SWING. Don't fight your natural abilities. There are no two alike swings on the Tour. Don't listen to golfing advice from well-meaning friends, it causes confusion. Stay with one professional, trust him, and work together periodically. This will keep you ahead of the pack. Mental: A strong mind is necessary to cope with the unexpected things that often happen at the worst of times! Keeping cool when it matters shows control and wisdom. Patience: Always remember...it's 18 holes, stay the course! Fitness: A balance of stretching (injury prevention) and stamina (cardiovascular) will help maintain concentration and improve confidence. Take Randy Myers' advice...it's priceless! Adrian Davies is a professional golf coach to PGA, European, Nike, LPGA, Asian, Japanese, Australian, South African, and Golden Bear Tour players. He is based at St. Andrews in Boca Raton and can be reached at 561-470-9253 or e-mail him at pgacoach@aol.com