Being a good golfer results from a lot more than your final score. It's about your skill, knowledge of the game, athletic ability, understanding of golf etiquette, and sportsmanship on the green.

There are three key areas of study that will take you from a mediocre golf player to a great golf player. They are athletic ability, skill and etiquette. Keep reading to learn the fundamentals of these golf elements along with a few tips on how to improve.

Athletic Ability

Admittedly, golf is a low-impact sport, but it still requires a healthy amount of walking, the strength needed to hit the ball a lengthy distance and your ability to stay focused during a round.

Though a surprise to many, the better shape you're in, the better your golf game will be. Golf may seem like a simple game, but it requires more exertion than is apparent on the surface.

Brisk walks or work around the house are great ways to maintain and improve your cardiovascular health. With a balanced diet and regular exercise, you'll see your golf game improve noticeably.

Another two facets of health and fitness that are critical to a game like golf are mental sharpness and vision. For example, if your game has been inexplicably becoming progressively worse, try having your eyes checked.

Skill

Like most sports, the key to skill development in golf is practice. By setting and adhering to a regular practice schedule, you're setting yourself up for success.

If you don't have the funds or time to indulge in multiple rounds of golf every week, opt instead for a trip to the driving range or an afternoon spent practicing shots with your putter.

Balance your practice with ongoing education about the game. Remember, golf is as much about strategy as it is about ability, so read the occasional golf magazine, watch an instructional video, take a lesson or even just stop by the pro shop occasionally to check out new technologies.

Etiquette

One of the most important, yet most often overlooked, facets of golf is golf course etiquette. How you behave on the green reflects on your understanding of the game as well as you as a person.

Golf can be a solitary sport, but it's often played competitively and because it's a gentlemen's sport, good sportsmanship is key. A great golf player is quiet when others are lining up a shot, allows faster players to play through and always has respect for his fellow players.

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