If you are a "golf junkie" like I am, you are always looking for ways to improve your game, since you are reading this you probably fall into that category. One of the easiest ways to improve your golf game is to keep your stats. Let's face it, if you are not trying to improve your game what's the point? I often find myself playing golf with high handicap golfers ( not that there's anything wrong with that), but I find it interesting that a lot of times they don't keep their score. How can you expect to improve your game if you don't keep score? Seniors are notorious for this, but senior golfers are on most occasions on a different agenda, a lot of senior golfers are just out for exercise and commodore, and God willing, I sure hope I make it that far. For the rest of us that are trying to play better golf, keeping stats on your game is a must.

Talk to most golfers on tour and they will tell you exactly where they stand in almost every category. The main reason for this is so they know exactly what they need to work on to improve their scoring average. At the 2006 U.S. Open Padraig Harrington finished 1 stroke behind Phil, Monty, and Jim Furyk for third place, the difference in his check was $245,000.00. If he cuts 1 stroke per day off his score he wins by 3 strokes. For the players on tour the meter is always running.

Keeping your stats also helps keep your focus throughout the round. Even if I am not playing well on a particular day, I still keep my stats, that helps me from "bailing" on the round. The best way to keep your stats is during the round, but if you don't like doing it during the round, make sure you do it right after while the round is still fresh in you mind. . Before the round grab an extra scorecard.

Here are stats that you should keep:

Fairways Hit

Number of putts

3 putts

1 putts

Greens in regulation

Short of green

Over green

There are several golf statistics programs, the one I recommend is IntelliGolf. Once you have compiled your stats for a few rounds you will be surprised to see patterns in your game. Now all you have to do is focus your practice sessions on your weaknesses. If your intention is to play better golf, keeping your stats is where to start.