Because most people want to improve their game, this article outlines a few things you should do to take your game to a new level.  Let's first understand why you are not playing to the best of your ability:

What The Average Player Usually Does

Once the warm weather nears, the excitement of the new golf season is fierce.  Those who have said to themselves that "this is going to be the year" are chomping a the bit to get it done.  The first thought is that buying some new equipment will be the answer. This may help a little but shooting great scores is not as simple as just buying new equipment.  If it was, you wouldn't be reading this tip.

Another thing the average player may do at the start of the season, is to go to their local pro for a lesson or 2.  Unfortunately, after one or 2 lessons they don't see any immediate improvement so they become discouraged.  Once discouraged, this person starts to think about buying new equipment again looking for that "miracle cure".  This is a never ending cycle that results in no one making substantial improvement.

What the Average Player Should Be Doing

What the average player should be doing is working on their game now, throughout the winter and regularly hereafter.  Why now?  Isn't it too cold out?  Learning the proper swing fundamentals, short game technique, mental game and physical conditioning takes a little work so starting now will get the average player ready to go at the start of the season.  If you start in the spring, you'll be using prime golf time to make changes.  Why not makes changes to your game now so that you can beat your friends next season? If you're someone who really wants to improve your game here are 10 things you can do:

1.  Write down your goals with a timeline so you can track your progress.  Goals are very important.  If you set your goals well in advance, it will motivate you to accomplish them.

2.  Choose a qualified teacher.  Different teachers have different theories about the golf swing.  My theory is based on the Iron Byron swing machine.  I have people copy the 3 elements of the Iron Byron because it is a machine that was modeled after golfing legend, Byron Nelson's golf swing.  Other teachers have different theories about the swing.  If my method sounds interesting then visit my other website www.swingmachinegolf.com to find out more or use the internet, golf channel, library or bookstore to find a teacher's theory that you can relate to. 

3.  Once you've found the right teacher you can: 1) take a few late season lessons to get you started, 2) take some online lessons (some teachers offer this service where you send them video of your swing for analysis) or 3) purchase that teachers books or videos so that you can work on their method through the winter.

4.  Set up a practice station at home with a piece of 4' x 4' carpet on the floor with a full length mirror (available at Home Depot under $20). Position the mirror close enough to allow you to watch yourself swing and check your new positions.  On the 4' x 4' carpet, lay down some lines of masking tape to indicate your alignment and ball position.  People think that you have to hit balls to get better which is simply not true.  Remember, you are trying to make changes to your swing.  If you can regularly practice your new swing positions towards a mirror, you will have the new swing positions perfected by the time spring rolls around.

5.  Set up a putting and chipping station in your basement or garage with a plastic practice hole and a long piece carpet (15' - 20' )that represents the putting surface.  Use a piece of carpet ( 2' x 4' ) with a thicker pile at the other end to hit chip shots into the hole.  Remember, the short game is vital to scoring.  A little practice throughout the winter will go along way next season.