John,

I know what you are saying, i have had that problem myself as have most others i am sure. What worked for me was to create a discipline of routine at the range, and then force myself to bring this discipline to the course. Get into the habit of approaching each shot with the same routine until it becomes second nature. Look at the pros, same routine on every tee box and fairway. Setup, grip, stance, look at a target line and let the swing happen. Dont clutter your mind with different thoughts on the course as this will only lead to a breakdown of your confidence when things go wrong. From what you say, I would think you are expecting too much and maybe trying to correct the problems through the first few holes. Try this routine and see if it helps. However, dont expect an auto fix as it will take you time to get a god habit going. After that, well, I hope you see an improvement.

Regards,
Robert

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"Play to your ability, not your expectation"