The last few weeks saw lots of tips and guidelines. Intense though they were, I hope they kept you busy on the driving range and helped you on the course. So, while you're diligently practicing, let's turn to a very different perspective.

If most golfers were reasonably consistent with their game, this sport would be more fascinating. Look back over your performance and ask yourself if you've ever maintained some semblance of consistency over a period of time. If the answer is never, which it most probably is, read on.

Even at the highest levels of golfing, consistency is one of the most elusive aspects of the sport. It is something everyone strives for by working and practicing hard. Often I compare golf with life: some days are so cheerful, some so bland, others miserable. Even then, there are plenty of similar happy moments, which is the essence of everyday living.

Golf mirrors this. One day you play 5 under your handicap and you are happy. The next morning, you start off with a perfect drive on the first tee then mess up from the next hole onwards. Some days you play good, some days passably and often you play terribly.

How many times have we sworn enough is enough and thrown our clubs into the cupboard muttering, "This is crazy, I quit"? But we can't really bring ourselves to do so. After all, we are human and have the curious capacity to keep trying though we fail. Anyway, live with the frustrations of today and the hopes of a better tomorrow, it keeps you alive.

On the PGA tour back in 1996, during one of the biggest golfing events, the Augusta Masters, the world's no 1 golfer then, Greg Norman, shot a 9 under par 63 on the first day. Going into the final round on the fourth day, Norman was leading by six shots. He ended up shooting 78 (15 strokes worse than his first round) and lost the tournament. Talk about inconsistency!

I often hear from club golfers on how the day before they played so well, yet the next day they totally lost their touch. Trust me, this is all part and parcel of the game.

It does not imply that bad games are inevitable but you must always practice and try to improve. It's like life, you keep working harder and sooner or later, you'll find it's not so tough after all.

You might be wondering if there is a lesson in all this rambling. But here's my pearl of wisdom: to perform consistently, you need to be confident and confidence comes with a lot of practice. They are directly proportional. Trust me, I've been playing golf for over two decades and have found that life is like a golf game.