Have you ever whiffed a golf shot? Maybe duck hooked it into someone’s house lining the fairway smashing a window? How about missed a one foot putt? Any of those are super embarrassing but there is nothing more humiliating than doing that in front of your buddies. I don’t care if you are a golf beginner or a seasoned PGA Tour player, it’s happened to us all.

Here’s the quick and dirty of 4 ways to keep your cool after making one of those mortifying golf shots so you don’t look like a damn fool:\

ONE: Don’t let go of your golf club. I guess that’s my way of politely saying to keep your anger buried deep within. Throwing your club, cussing at a decibel 10+, or reacting as if you have never done something like this ever just fuels the fire for ridicule. …plus, we all know you’ve made a crap shot like this before so there is no use pretending you are a perfect golfer.

TWO: Make fun of yourself. Poke a little fun at yourself… FIRST. If you call yourself out first then it takes the sting away a little if someone else tries to give you trouble.

THREE: Drop another ball and take another go at it. You can’t track it for your score but at least give yourself the opportunity for redemption.

FOUR: Consider adding in some practice time to your schedule. Maybe you’re not much of a range golfer or a practice green golfer but if you want to avoid another humiliating outing it’s time to actually practice. You won’t get better unless you play more. Period.