Need some advice

Question
I should be sleeping right now because I have class in less than 7 hours but I need some help!!!

I play for a very good High School golf team in North Carolina. I played in the 2006 State championship last year as  the 6th man on our team. Well this year we returned everybody and we're much better than last year.

Well over the past couple of weeks I have been shooting 40,41,42 on 9 holes on average. Sometimes i'll sneak a 39 in here and there but usually do go above 42 or 43.

Well I am trying to take my game to the next level but I cannot seem to get over the hump. Right now I am usually 7th overall on my team and I need to get into the top 6 to compete in the matches so a shot here or there a round means a lot.

My biggest porblem in my opinion is my mental game. I know i have the potential and talent to shoot around par. However as much as I try i seem to have 1 or 2 bad holes that put me at the 40 mark on 9 holes.

When i do not hit my driver well i tend to put better and hit better irons which will keep my score at around the 40 mark but sometimes when i hit my driver well i cannot put worth a lick. It's aggrivating as he**.

Anyway just seeing if you had any advice for me. Hope I gave you enough info.

Thanks,
Kevin

Answer
thank you very much for the question.  i was a little shocked by the info that you have given me.  its funny cause you sound like the exact golfer that i was.  i remember trying so hard to get into the top 6.  i was there constantly and i played number 3 once in awhile.  i would usually shoot in the 40s and then sneak a 38 or 39. and its amazing because i always knew that my ball striking was good enough to shoot par.  but it seemed like one or two bad holes would just kill my score.  which would be around mid 40...  and its so funny because on days that i hit my driver really bad...  i seem to hit quality iron shots and make a putt here and there to keep me in the low 40...  but when i do drive it perfectly, my iron seem to screw me up and still shoot in the low 40... isn't that frustrating?  you came to the right place because i have been there.  and i said THAT I NEED TO WORK ON MY MENTAL GAME. I NEED TO GET HELP.  NOT A SWING COACH.  did i get help? no.  did i eventually get in the 30s? yes!!!  did i start all the time?  yes.  how?  here is the solution... FORGET ABOUT 40 and 30.  its obvious that you have a little pressure to shoot in the 30s.  i know that everytime you play, you always think about that 39 or 38.  cause you DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET IT DONE BUT JUST CAN"T SEEM TO GET IT.  the solution is amazingly simple but it will take awhile to see the difference in the scorecard.  try to forget about the score.  espcecially when you make bogies... if you make 3 bogies in a row, then forget about it.  instead, concentrate on the shot that you are hitting... concentrate on getting the ball on the fairway, concentrate on hitting it on the green.  when you have a birdie putt, don't think about the fact that you need to make it because it will give u a cushion to hit a 39...  DON"T.  instead... just read the green, take a practice stroke, and hit it.  don't worry so much about the outcome...  don't worry about three-putting for par.  just concentrate on that ONE SHOT.  ONE SHOT AT A TIME. maybe you heard the phrase before...  and guess what?  forget about the fact that you have weak mental game...  aknowledging the fact that you have a weak mental game is obviously not good.  just play golf like you would take a practice round but put every effort into hitting shot.  and have fun. BUT DON"T CHAT SO MUCH unless its your style to chat and have fun.  you can laugh, but make sure it won't affect the way you perform.  i know you wanted help on mental game... but let me bring this info after my personal experiecne... i kept track of when i was able to hit my 39.  here is the secret.  PUTTING. if i never, ever three putt during nine holes... then i can expect to have 98.  i had 3 one putts and it GREATLY helped my scoring.  work on your chips too. once in awhile, you will miss the green so get that chip within 5 feet and really practice getting the five feet in the hole.  and even work on your lag putts so you never three putt.  but here is the secret..... if you DO THREE PUTT, then forget about it and move on to the next hole.  take out your driver and just rip it down the middle and you have a new start and a good opportunity to make birdie or par.  hope i helped.  remember, don't ever get frustrated when you have a bad hole, shake it off and don't pressure yourself to shoot below 40.  i have a student who is junior in high school and he is also in that stage when he is trying to shoot below 40.  he has myspace and you can hook up with him if you would like.  talking about it with someone can help.  search for stanley chun if you wish to talk to him.  good luck and if you have any other questions, then let me know.