If you want to break 80 and can’t seem to break away from your fixation on shooting par for each hole, then create your own personal par. Let’s face it, we are all so wrapped up in the idea of par that, by default, it becomes our goal for the hole as soon as we step on the tee box. Usually, this fixation on scoring par is our downfall in breaking 80.

If you shoot around 80 or break 90 on a regular basis then you can score a par on every hole on the golf course. At one time or another, you have parred every hole on your home course if you have played it enough. I’ll even venture to say that you’ve probably birdied almost every hole on that course at one time or another. I’ve birdied every hole on my home course multiple times. Unfortunately, these experiences lead us to falsely believe that we can par all the holes in a given round. You may not start with the expectation that you will shoot 72 but as you get to each tee box your goal becomes par for that particular hole. You might as well have set out to shoot 72 from the very get-go.

To break 80, we need to leave this kind of thinking behind. Take out the scorecard for the course and pick out seven holes. You can pick out the seven hardest holes according to the scorecard or the seven most difficult according to your personal experience. Or you can even pick out the seven hardest based upon the conditions on the day you play. If the wind is particularly strong, you can choose several holes based on the fact that you will be playing them into the wind. Or maybe several holes result in sidehill lies after the tee shot - pick those. Or go by the most difficult greens when you choose. No matter how you do it, pick the seven most difficult holes and add one to the stated par on each of those.

Cross out or obliterate the stated par and write your new par on the scorecard. Change the total par to 79 from 72. Change the par for each nine holes as well. This is your new personal par. After all, we are not trying to shoot 72 yet. We are trying to break 80. You can even change the par to 76, 77 or 78 if you want a little cushion.

Now learn the new par for the holes that you have changed. Consult your revised scorecard after every hole and say out loud your new par before you begin the hole. From this point, you must play the hole according to your new par. If you added a stroke to a par 4 that means you must play the hole so that your approach is your third shot.

Let’s take an example. I’m looking at a scorecard with a 398 yard par 4 and it is the number one handicap on this particular course. The hole is a dogleg right. The tee shot is from an elevated tee and requires a fade (normally). From the fairway, you usually have a long to mid iron into the green. It’s important to avoid the rough. Let’s say, with my new par of five, I want to have an approach shot of 120 or so yards to the flag. I’m now left with 278 yards to get to where I want to be. I need to cover this ground in two shots. Obviously, I don’t need to pull a driver and try to hit a 278 yard fade. For that matter, I probably don’t need any of my woods or long irons off the tee.

I can break it down as simply as two 140 yard shots to get to my approach spot. I can hit two mediocre seven irons to get to where I need to be. If you miss either one, you still won’t be too far off - it is only a seven iron.

Remember, our goal is to break 80. Forget about par on these holes. Check your ego at the clubhouse. If you do this, I guarantee you will have a great shot at breaking 80.

Looking for more tips on how to break 80 - see my publication, 79 tips to break 80 in golf.

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