The Bogey Proof Blueprint Game
We call this game the "Bogey-Proof Blueprint." It's not about shooting the lowest score possible; it's a strategic mission to eliminate mistakes and protect your scorecard at all costs.
## The Bogey-Proof Blueprint: The Game
The rules are simple, but the mental challenge is significant. This game fundamentally shifts your measure of success from the final score to the quality of your process on every single hole.
Objective: Play a full round with the single goal of making zero bogeys or worse.
Scoring: Instead of a numerical score, you score each hole as a "Win" or a "Loss."
Win: Par or better.
Loss: Bogey or worse.
The Goal: Your target is an 18-0 record. A round of 18 pars is a perfect game. A round with 4 birdies and 4 bogeys, while still even par, is a 14-4 record—a less successful outcome under these rules.
The Mindset: You are no longer a score-chaser; you are a risk manager. The "hero shot" is the smart layup that guarantees a par putt, not the 1-in-10 shot over water. A bogey is not a minor setback; it's a complete failure of the mission for that hole.
## The 'Why' Behind the Game: Training The Discipline Code
This game is a practical application of the core principles we focus on. It's a crucible for forging the disciplined mindset required for competitive golf.
Pillar 1: Extreme Ownership: This game forces you to take 100% responsibility for your results. A bogey isn't "bad luck" or a "bad bounce"; it's the result of a flaw in your strategy or execution that you must own. You begin every analysis of a "Loss" with the question, "What could I have done differently?".
Pillar 2: Process Over Outcome: Success is redefined. The final score is a lag measure you can't control in the moment. Your new lead measure—the thing you can control—is your adherence to a bogey-avoidance process on every shot. A perfectly executed process that leads to a tap-in par is a greater victory than a sloppy, undisciplined process that luckily results in a birdie.
Managing the "Chaos": Coach Ryan Crysler constantly emphasizes the need to manage the chaos of on-course play. This game is a direct simulation of that challenge. It trains you to prioritize smart, high-percentage decisions that minimize big numbers and keep your round under control.
## Key Principles for a Perfect Record
To succeed at the Bogey-Proof Blueprint, you must adopt the tactical mindset of a strategist.
Plan Each Hole in Reverse: Your mission planning starts at the green. Identify the ideal spot for your approach shot—considering pin location and hazards—and then determine the tee shot required to get you there. This replaces the undisciplined "hit driver and see what's left" approach.
Commit to Conservative Targets: Your doctrine is "conservative target, aggressive swing". You must commit 100% to a confident, athletic swing, but you aim it at the fattest part of the green or the widest part of the fairway. Avoid "flag hunting" at all costs, especially when pins are tucked near trouble.
Know Your True Capabilities: This requires brutal honesty and Extreme Ownership of your data. You must know your actual carry distances and shot dispersion patterns, not your idealized ones. If your 7-iron has a 20-yard left-to-right dispersion, aiming at a pin 5 yards from the right edge is a strategic failure before you even swing.
When in Trouble, Eliminate "Big Numbers": Your primary objective when you're out of position is to ensure you can still make a par or, at worst, have a simple up-and-down for par. The goal is to guarantee you make no worse than bogey. Chipping out sideways to the fairway isn't giving up; it's a disciplined tactical decision that keeps you in the game.
## Post-Round Debrief: Own Your Round with Clippd
The game isn't over when you sink the last putt. The final, crucial step is a disciplined debrief to create the feedback loop necessary for improvement.
Analyze Every "Loss": Open your Clippd app and analyze the Strokes Gained data for every hole you marked as a "Loss." The data will provide the objective truth.
Ask Why: For each bogey or worse, ask the critical questions:
Was this a strategic error? (e.g., wrong club choice, aiming at a high-risk target, misjudging the wind).
Was this an execution error? (e.g., poor contact, failing to commit to the shot).
Was this a mental process error? (e.g., rushing the pre-shot routine, letting frustration from a previous shot carry over).
Create Actionable Intelligence: This analysis, which Coach Crysler requires of his players, fosters accountability and self-awareness. Your findings directly inform the goals for your next practice session. If you lost three holes due to poor wedge play from 50-70 yards, you've just identified the Wildly Important Goal for your next practice.
By playing this game, you're not just playing a round of golf. You're actively training discipline, resilience, and strategic thinking—the very skills that separate elite performers from everyone else.
