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I never realized it could be such a big difference.... last week was the first time I was joined up with some other people due to slow group in front.... suddenly my concentration level was elevated and I broke 90 for the first time (4 months into golf). Today I went for another round, was wild for the first 9, shot 12+, then the guy behind me joined, I raised my level instantly, shot 6+ for the back 9..... maybe this is the competition blood, I just feel so pumped up when I am playing with someone, versus when I am alone I am much less desciplined with my swing (not a good thing for a new player like me).

Not a huge problem, but I'd like some tips to play better when I am alone... in other words keep a high level of concentration.

by the way, shot my first birdie ever on the 9th hole, ~ 350 yard par 4, 200 yards 4W off the T, hit 5i about 7 ft from the pin and made the putt with slight break, that kinda made the front 9 look a little better, could have shot 14+ with my "usual" bogey on that hole.

Congratulations on the birdie...that had to feel good. My main advice would be to find a playing partner or two, but inevitably you'll be playing alone again so the problem is how to maintain focus by yourself. It's easy to say "remain in the present" but hard to do. If you try to maintain constant focus for the entire round you'll probably wear yourself out. So the trick is to be able to muster your focus before your pre-shot routine.

Golf is a wonderful mixture of business and pleasure...first comes work, then the enjoyment. We play this game one shot at a time so when you get ready to hit just realize that hitting a quality crisp shot is job one, you've got nothing else in the world to do at that particular moment than to try to hit the best shot you can. The last shot no longer matters and the next one isn't worth considering yet because you don't know for absolute certain where this one will end up. Same thing goes for the hole...the previous one is history and the one coming up can't happen until this one is complete. I can't remember which pro said that good golfers have a short memory...but good focus when the time is right. Once you've executed your shot, savor the moment, good or bad. Relax and smell the roses until it is time for the next order of business. Then you'll have the energy to focus just long enough to drain that 10-footer, bask in the glory for a moment, and then on to the next....hole? NO....shot!

Shade

It could be that you have a higher level of concentration when playing with another or that your natural competitiveness kicked in...or a combination of both. Regardless, congrats on the sub 90 round.

Congrats on the round! Weird.. I play worse in a group.

I'm the opposite. I feel I play a lot better when I play alone. I think it may just be the people I play with (my brother can be quite a distraction sometimes, and I think he'd say the same about me), but my scores are a lot better when I feel I don't have to keep up with someone else and just play my game.