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		From Teeing Ground To Green Reprinted from April 2006 Issue -by JOE MADAY Five Essentials To Improve Your Performance On The Course When I go out to play a round of golf, I’m always hoping for a good round. Unfortunately the outcome, more often than not, is not what I hoped for. Somehow I never shoot the scores I envisioned before teeing off. I actually track my rounds using a database (Intelligolf) to help me evaluate where and how I could have saved strokes and avoided those mid-summer snowmen and three putt holes, but alas the “perfect round” continues to allude me. During one of my self-deprecating monologues, I stumbled across some advice that seems to make good sense and I offer it up here. Let’s face it, the advice is cheaper than going out and buying a new set of clubs, a new putter, or lessons from someone who really knows how to cure what ails me. And, it’s worth a try. Supposedly, these 5 easy tips will pare 4, 6, or more strokes off your score the next time you play. Put The Proper Fuel In Your Body Before You Leave Home Most golfers don’t give this a second thought. They either don’t eat at all before they leave home, or they eat something that is not going to give them the long-term energy they need to sustain them throughout 18 holes of golf. Whether it’s breakfast or lunch, before you leave for the course, you need to consume a complex carbohydrate and a good protein source. That combination will provide the best use of your energy for a long round on the links. An example of a good breakfast would be a bowl of oatmeal and a couple of eggs with a piece of fruit or juice. For lunch; a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with a piece of fruit. Put plenty of lettuce on the sandwich and avoid using mayonaise or butter. As The Folks At Camelback Say, “Hydrate Or Die!” Drink copious quantities of water before leaving home. Try to consume up to a gallon of water before you get to the course. This will help you absorb and digest your pre-game meal and hydrate your muscles for optimal performance. Don’t take this lightly. Dehydration causes cramping, energy loss, lack of focus and concentration and fatigue later in the round. And remember that’s before you get to the course. Once there, you should be drinking water at every hole. Adult beverages, although liquid in substance, don’t count. Water, aqua, H2O! Warm Your Body Up ProperlyBefore Hitting Your First Ball Give yourself at least 30 minutes before your tee time to do some movement-oriented stretches that will prepare your body to perform. Exercises like arm circles, partial squats, toe touches, etc. Then take some half swings with a 7-iron. After that, you can hit some wedges. Preparing in this manner will make your hits on the range much better, which builds confidence. Don’t Wait To Stretch You should be constantly moving your body and stretching your joints while you play. I find myself complaining of my tight lower back or shoulders during the round. With all that complaining, you’d think I’d do something about it. Stretch those tight areas while you’re playing. You’ll see a marked difference in your swing as the round progresses. Snack While You Play We’re not talking a full meal at the turn with a beer. Bring some fruit and nutrition bars to eat every 4-6 holes. As you supply your body with the proper nutrients your energy levels stay balanced and you can avoid those mental lapses late in the round. You may have heard this stuff before. But if you follow this advice, your score will show it. These pearls of wisdom should be performed every time you play. It’s called pre-game preparation and performance maintenance. And speaking of maintenance, remember your golf etiquette—replace your divots, repair your ball marks, rake the bunkers, and love the game. I’ll see you here, next month, in The Entertainer. About the author - Joe Maday is a member of The Northwest Golf Media Association. He is also the Co-Founder of The Brotherhood of The Dimpled Orb™, b.o.d.o.™ Golf, and the b.o.d.o. Tour™. He has competed as a regular player on the b.o.d.o. Tour™ and was the Commissioner of the Tour’s august body of brethren. If you have any comments about this article, questions on where to play, or problems with your game, you can reach Joe at his e-mail address: bodogolf@televar.com.