We should implement The Point System, a new, positive scoring system for the casual golfer based on counting only good shots. Unlike the current system that is biased towards negative shots, this approach makes golf more enjoyable and less frustrating, and can also help casual golfers play better.

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Golf should be fun, right? But often it isn’t. And it can be particularly frustrating for casual golfers who don’t put in extra practice time on the range or spend hours on the putting green. I think much of this angst is caused by the traditional scoring system for golf. It’s simple and sensible, particularly for professionals. But it’s biased.

It’s biased towards bad shots. Or perhaps more precisely, it weighs bad shots more heavily than good shots—if you hit good shots the best you can usually do on a hole is a birdie or eagle, but if you hit bad shots they can add multiple strokes to your score in a hurry. And while this may be appropriate for professionals who are competing in a sport that demands precision, it causes unnecessary stress for the rest of us who don’t play that often and just want to have fun. We want to keep score so we can “see how we’re playing” and keep improving (or maybe just tell ourselves we’re improving). But the current scoring system gets in the way of the fun. So we need a new system, a positive one for the casual golfer that helps us track how we’re doing and encourages us to try to improve, but takes the frustration down a few notches.

I’ve developed a system I call “The Point System” (TPS) that meets this need. It’s pretty simple:

Rather than counting every stroke over the course of a round with the goal of keeping the number as low as possible, I count only good shots with the goal of hitting as many as I can. For every good shot I hit, I get a point. Bad shots don’t count—I don’t get any points for them, but I don’t lose points either. It’s as easy as that.

Hit a good drive on a hole? Get a point. Hit the next shot into the water? No points (but not a negative in any way, no penalty strokes). Hit the following shot up onto the green a few feet from the pin? Another point. Miss the putt? No points (but not a big deal—no need to get angry about a double bogey that ruins the round). Feel good about that sweet drive, and don’t chuck the putter into the lake after the three-putt.

Here are the guidelines I use to determine which shots are worth a point:

• Drive (par 3): on the green
• Drive (par 4 or 5): solid shot, in the fairway
• Approach shot (par 4 or 5): on the green
• Second shot (par 5): solid shot, in the fairway
• Made putts longer than 5 feet
• Two-putts for birdie or par
• Chips to within 2 feet

In addition to points for individual shots, a birdie is worth an extra point and an eagle is worth two extra points. I haven’t had a double-eagle (albatross) lately, but for those of you who get them regularly, feel free to add three points.

There are some gray areas:

• If I hit a drive very solidly and it just barely dribbles into the rough, but I’m still set up for my next shot, I give myself a point. If it drifts more than a few feet into the rough or my next shot is obstructed in some way (in deep grass or blocked by a tree, for example), no point.
• If I hit my drive on a par three onto the green 20 feet from the hole and then two-putt, I give myself 2 points (one for the drive and one for a two-putt that gives me a par). But if I miss my drive, chip onto the green 20 feet from the hole, and then two-putt, I don’t give myself any points—not a good drive or chip, and no glory for a two-putt that’s only a bogey).

I think it makes sense to adjust the system somewhat based on general skill level. For example, for my 10-year-old son Ryan a solid, straight drive on a par 3 that doesn’t reach the green would be worth a point. Same with a shot out of a sand trap that’s hit well but dribbles off the green. On the other hand, a scratch golfer may choose to give herself a point for a drive on a par 3 only if it’s within about 15 feet (a legitimate birdie opportunity) rather than just for being on the green at all.

Based on my initial test rounds, a good score is 30 (15 for each 9 holes). 32 or better is very good.

TPS has worked very well for me so far. First and most important, it has enabled me to approach golf with a positive attitude on every shot. Rather than worrying that I’ll hit a bad shot out of bounds that could cost me two extra strokes, I focus on trying to hit a good shot so I get a point. If my shot goes out of bounds anyway, it’s easier for me to recover and focus on the next shot: after all, the next shot gives me a chance to get a point! And while I still want to make those putts for par (and birdie!), it feels different if I miss and just think, “Shoot! I could have gotten a point.” It seems to take away the sting a bit more—and then I start thinking about getting a point with a solid shot on my next drive.

The other benefit is that I’ve actually scored better—I’m using TPS, but I also track my score using the traditional method (though I don’t add it up until the end and try not to worry about it). The biggest difference has been towards the end of a good round. I used to think, “Wow, if I can just par this last hole I can shoot 79!” and would immediately get nervous and often screw it up. But now the goal on the last drive of the round is the same as the drive off the first tee and every shot in between: hit one good shot to get a point. I’ve been surprised how much this has helped me relax and focus in a positive way.

I’ve shared TPS with some of my playing partners recently. They’ve been surprised, amused, and skeptical at first. But it has been interesting for me to see how quickly they start getting ready for their next shot saying, “OK, let’s see if I can get a point here!” It works . . . and makes it easier to feel good about the game, worry less about the bad shots, and celebrate the good ones more. It’s just more fun—and isn’t that the whole point anyway?