I’ll be frank. I love the game of golf, but I’ve got a long way to go — lot’s of room for improvement. Yesterday was the first tournament of the season for my local club. Weather was gorgeous, and my golf partners, very friendly and infinitely patient with my golf game.

As there were six different groups, the golf pro started our group out on the 18th hole – a very long par 5 that has a very large tree right in the middle of the fairway. I’ve been able to make it to the tree in two, but not yesterday. First ball was ok, in the rough but very playable, second, third, fourth— I was beating my ball against the trees on the far right of the fairway. Once you get in those trees it’s hard to get out. My second hole was no better. After heading off to the left rough, my second shot criss crossed the fairway and landed on the far side of the footpath. Now I swear I was aiming right down the middle. It had to be the golf gremlins that sent my third ball flying deep into the woods. By the time our team got to the green, I had found my ball and put it deep in my pocket. I had to take a 9 on the first two holes. A disaster.

Thankfully, my three golf partners played well, especially one who was totally in a putting zone. She could not miss. By the time the round was done our team had a very respectable score, but very little thanks to any contribution on my part. It was one of those rounds you want to bury and forget.

But I can’t. What went wrong, and how can I learn from the disaster? What can I do to fix my game?

First of all – it’s still early in the season, so I still have some “rust” on my game. I had intended to get to the golf course early and warm up by hitting a bucket of balls, or at least spend some time on the putting green. But I overslept and had no time for practice or stretching. That was my biggest mistake. Without proper preparation, my body needs a good five or six holes, just to know it is out there playing golf.

Second big mistake: I’m trying to change my golf grip. (See a previous post that describes how a new grip can change your game!) But you should never try out new things during a round. Testing a new golf grip, or swing is best done on the practice range. All during this first round of the season I was trying and testing the new grip. I’m just not used to it, and that, I’m sure contributed to most of my problems.

Third – and finally — I need to take a few lessons to straighten out my game. I’ve got the distance, but no direction! My game is totally inconsistent. And my short game is in need of major repair.

I owe it to myself and to my fellow golf partners to get to the golf course early. Stretch and warm up. And if I want to learn some new grip – I had best do it at the hands of a qualified teacher, and stop experimenting during my next round of golf.

When you have a disastrous round of golf, what’s your remedy for dusting yourself off and trying again?