Contributed by Tim Brugger, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Golfers, like all athletes, are on a never-ending quest for the perfect game.

From the course, to equipment, clothing and even the weather, there are lots of variables in a game of golf. All of which impact your score. There are some factors you have control over, so do your utmost to bend them in your favor.

Here are the top ten ways to improve your golf game:

10. Selective memory

Short term memory loss is usually a sign of either old age or dementia. In golf, improving your game absolutely requires you to forget your last shot, particularly if it was a poor one. The old links adage “you’re only as good as your last shot” rings true. And if you’re still holding onto the shot that got away, the odds of the next one being any better are pretty slim.

9. Don’t over hit

Don’t over hit the ball, drives or long iron shots. We all want to win the long ball contest at the company golf outing, but trying to do so will, inevitably, ruin your game. Over hitting a golf shot is one of the more common reasons novice and experienced golfers alike misplay shots. When golfing, remember the story of the tortoise and the hare, or the saying slow and steady wins the day, and all those other tired clichés that speak to a methodical approach to the game.

8. Do more, think less

Don’t over think every shot. Trying to remember the 47 points to a good golf game you just learned watching the “How to Play Golf” video your kids bought for your birthday will leave you tied in knots. Focus on one or two things sure, but don’t over do the cerebral part of the game.

7. Embrace routine

Establishing a regular routine before addressing the ball will help get you into a nice rhythm. Watch the PGA and LPGA players before they address a shot, they almost always follow the same routine, much like a basketball player before attempting a free throw. For those of us who are superstitious by nature, if a routine isn’t working, try another until you find one that does.

6. Don’t get complacent

The game of golf is about as far from riding a bike as any activity could be. Once you begin getting comfortable playing a round, stepping away from the game for a few months and expecting to pick up where you left off will undoubtedly leave you disappointed. Golf is a game that requires regular, consistent practice to not only improve, but to maintain your game.

5. Don’t watch the ball

Keep your head down all the way through your swing. For us novice golfers, watching a drive take off down the middle of the fairway can make the whole day. Unfortunately, while it’s fun to watch a nice shot, the odds of actually hitting one decreases every time you look up to watch. Rely on your playing to partners to tell you how well you drilled that 300 yard drive.

4. Focus on form

Squeeze a towel between your left arm and body prior to hitting a drive or iron shot. If your follow through is as it should be, the towel should remain firmly lodged even after the ball is away. This is a good way to ensure you keep your left arm straight and close to the body, as it should be. It’s great for wiping down your face as you stare down the tricky 5-footer to see who’s buying at the 19th hole too.

3. Invest in clubs

Golf clubs, as many know, can get very expensive. With the latest technological gadgetry, it’s not uncommon to see drivers going for $500-$600 a pop, and more. That’s why this is almost painful to say, but they really do make a difference in your game. This is particularly true of the oversized woods because they can minimize, or sometimes even eliminate, poor mechanics that should have resulted in a wicked slice or hook.

2. Muscle control

Using as little body motion as possible, especially head, shoulder and knee movement, will help increase the chances of striking the ball cleanly. This is especially the case if you fall into the trap of the #9 item on our list, trying to over hit the golf ball. With the body moving all over, and swinging as if your life depended on it invariably ends up looking more like a swing Albert Pujols would be proud of than Phil Mickelson.

1. It’s all good

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Relax! Golf is about 20% physical and 95% mental, or something like that. Enjoying a nice afternoon walk on a beautiful course will all go to waste if every shot is treated as if you’re playing in the final round of a major. You may have seen what happened to Rory Mcilroy at the Masters, the pressure got in his head, and his game went out the window.