* BY MIKE BARGE * Mike Barge is the Director of Instruction at Hazeltine National GC and a Class A member of the PGA of America. TIPS FROM THE PROS Flat Stick Philosophies Better golf scores begin with improvements in the mental side of putting. G reat golf is about great scoring, and so much of that boils down to great putting. We all have the ability to putt better, even with small tweaks to our mechanics, green reading and attitude. Consistent ball striking is difficult, even for tour players, so relying on short game and putting can turn poor rounds into good rounds. The ability to aim the putter and start the ball on the line you've chosen is the genesis of great putting. And that can't occur until you have read the putt and determined the direction of the break and the amount. There are a variety of methods golfers use to read greens, and I'm on board with anything that works for you. You have to trust what your feet and eyes are telling you about slope and terrain and be decisive. But great putters don't start their stroke until they visualize the ball rolling into the hole. And you can't worry about the next putt. Sports psychologist Bob Rotella advocates enjoying oneputting more than you hate three-putting. Getting the ball to the hole with the proper speed and giving all your putts a chance to fall is the only way to great scoring. mngolf.org Fall 2024 MINNESOTAGOLFER 9 PHOTO: MATT SEEFELDT PHOTOGRAPHYhttp://www.mngolf.org