At least once a year I have my worst round of the year. Today was such a day and it was not much fun. I started out with three double-bogies in a row followed by five bogies and a lucky par on the ninth hole. That's a big bad 47 which is eleven over par for the first nine holes.

I was playing from the back tees for the first time this year, but that is no excuse. It was just one of those days where everything went wrong, and I could not make a single putt.

The back nine started out alright with two pars in a row, and then I had another double-bogie when I four-putted. It was grin and bear it from then on, and somehow I managed to keep my cool and shoot an even 40 for the back nine.

The final result was nothing to be proud of: 47 + 40 = 87. It could have been worse, at least I broke ninety.

I kind of amazed myself by remaining fairly calm and collected most of the way. I decided to treat it as an interesting learning experience. Turn around the misery and transform it into a worthwhile experience.

First of all it gave me a chance to keep my cool despite a highly frustrating round, especially the first three holes. Then again, I saw it as a unique opportunity to try out some challenging shots which I would normally not be able to practice if I were hitting every ball straight.

For the next time I am better prepared because I am familiar with that awful feeling. Imagine I am playing a stellar round of golf and going for the course record. Now if I flub a shot I can keep calm and recover. That is the true spirit of golf which will help me score a winning round.

Golf can be so much more enjoyable if you have the right frame of mind. What at first seems to be a terrible disappointment is really a brand new challenge waiting for you to overcome.

Hopefully I will not have another worst round of golf for a very long time.