Once a golfer gets the basics of the swing down and can negotiate his way around the course in a way that won't prove embarrassing, he starts to look at his score for 18 holes and tries to figures out ways to lower that number. Competing on the golf course requires a constant desire to improve and concentrate on every shot. It also requires studying to learn how to perform the many specialized shots that are required.
Step 1
Keep the ball in the fairway off the tee. If you want to lower your score, you don't have to hit monster 300-yard drives on a consistent basis. However, you have to keep the ball in the fairway. If you are a golfer who sprays the ball off the tee and you are regularly going into the rough or the woods to hit your second shot, you are going to have a hard time putting a low number down on the scorecard. Hit the ball straight off the tee to lower your score.
Step 2
Learn the nuances of the short game. Pitching and chipping well can mean the difference in chopping 5 to 10 strokes off your score in every round. Wedge play is essential. A pitching wedge can be used on any shot of 120 yards or closer and the gap wedge and lob wedge can be used on close-in shots to get your ball closer than 15 feet to the pin. Pitching the ball high and landing it softly is essential to any golfer's development, but don't ignore chipping. Taking an 8- or 9-iron and hitting a low-skipping shot that runs up to the flagstick can also serve the purpose of lowering your score when conditions on the course are hot and dry, making it difficult to pitch.
Step 3
Hit the ball from the bunker with confidence. This is one of the key differences between effective golfers and those who struggle. A shot from the bunker will cause some golfers to panic because they have no idea how to take sand and get the ball out of the hazard. Other golfers relish the opportunity of hitting behind the ball and having the sand explode into the ball and knocking it out of the bunker near the flagstick.
Step 4
Walk up to your ball, take one practice swing and putt it when you are on the green. You may also want to get behind your ball, study its path and look for breaks and crevices, but the point is that you don't want to stand over your ball and wait for inspiration before putting. Those who stand over their ball for more than 15 seconds often have significant difficulties on the putting green. If you walk up to your ball with confidence, take one practice swing and then go aggressively for the hole, you have a better chance of becoming an efficient putter.
Step 5
Move on to the next hole. If you made a mistake on the last hole by hitting a shot out of bounds or missing an easy putt, put that hole out of your mind the moment you walk off the green. If you want to lower your score, you have to think about the next shot, not about the one that went wrong earlier. A productive mental attitude with a vision of what you have to do next is vital to putting a lower score on the card.
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