Assessing your current skill level is a crucial first step in the journey to improve your golf game and cut strokes off your score. To effectively gauge where you stand, begin by analyzing your recent rounds and identifying patterns in your performance. Take note of your scores, the number of putts, fairways hit, and greens in regulation. Keeping a detailed scorecard will not only help you track your progress but also highlight specific areas that require attention. By reviewing your performance data, you can form a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses, which serves as a foundation for a tailored improvement plan.

Next, consider your short game, which often has the most significant impact on your overall score. Assess your chipping, pitching, and putting skills by practicing various shots from different lies and distances. Measure your ability to get up and down from around the green, as well as your putting accuracy from various ranges. Use a simple scoring system to evaluate your performance during practice sessions, noting how many attempts it takes to get the ball into the hole from specific distances. This self-assessment will reveal whether your short game is a strength that you can leverage or an area that requires focused improvement.