I had the opportunity this week to spend two days at the annual Summit of The Proponent Group, an organization of the top golf instructors in the world. Being surrounded by 140 of these talents is quite a treat. In a dinner conversation, several of these coaches who work with younger golfers were discussing how to get these kids to think differently ... or just THINK ... on the golf course, and focus on the probabilities of success when they face tough shots. Or any shot for that matter.

The conversation centered around making smart decisions about what you want to do with the golf ball on each shot. What would constitute "great" and also "safe", and assess your probabilities of executing either to satisfaction. In my observation of young golfers, but also many average players, I see them too often attempt the very low odds shot that might produce the desired results, rather than the safer shot that has a much higher probability of leaving the ball in a good spot for the next one.

These coaches were commiserating that they just cannot get these young strong players to really engage their brains before they get over a shot. In competition, all that matters is the cumulative score for the full 18 holes. And it takes a lot of great shots to make up for one poorly-chosen attempt at greatness. Low scores are much easier to manage if you take the doubles and triples off the card.

So, what I'm trying to share with you today is that we all could use an occasional "reality check" for our golf strategy. Based on your handicap, how many real "birdie holes" are out there? I suggest that unless you are a scratch or better, there are none. For an average 15 handicapper, there are only 2-3 par holes ... unless you make a bunch of big numbers, where you have to have more.

That conversation with the coaches yielded the idea of challenging the kids ... and ourselves ... to pick a realistic target score, and then approach each hole as to its contribution to that total. If a kid is trying to break 80, for example, he/she needs to make ten pars and 8 bogies. That's all. No birdies required. None. Zilch.

We all could take a little dose of that advice from very accomplished teachers. What if you approached each hole this weekend a little differently. What if your thought on each tee was something like: "What strategy gives me the best chance at avoiding bogey or double, but a reasonable chance to make par?"

I would like to hear your thoughts on this, please.

Terry Koehler is "The Wedge Guy" and President of SCOR Golf- The Short Game Company.

Click here to learn more about Terry.