Golf is an old, wonderful, and — of course — frustrating game. No matter whether you're competing in a sanctioned tournament or just hitting the links with your normal Sunday foursome, you are really only competing against yourself. Putting the tiny ball into the faraway hold — 18 times in a row — is the only way to complete the course, so if you get into a bad funk, it's going to be a long day.

To avoid a bad outing full of self-doubt and letdown, it's important to stay loose, enjoy the great outdoors, and have a little bit of fun. The following are just a few ways to make sure you get the most out of your next 18.

Relax and Have a Drink

One thing that makes golf so great is how relaxing it is. At its best, the game itself is secondary as you revel in a carefree day under a blue sky away from work and obligation.

It's also delightful because it's one of the few (semi) active sports where having a few beverages can actually improve your performance. You'll get more exercise than fishing and more sun than darts, but you can still stash a beer or two in your golf bag and ease your nerves. Relax. It's just a game. Put your relaxation ahead of everything else.

Put Some Money on It

Nobody wants to lose their paycheck on the course, but putting a small wager on each hole will add excitement, enhance the competition, and keep you focused on your scorecard. The key there is not be too focused on the numbers, but when there is no trophy at the end of the day then you can at least exchange a few dollars along with bragging rights on the 19th hole.

Chances are, if you play with players around your same level, the cash will all even out after a few outings anyway. But by giving a dollar per hole (or a bit more depending upon you income level) to the winner will make everyone have a bit more riding on the outcome. Another good idea is for everyone to give a dollar to the player who gets closest to the pin each hole. Be creative and come up with other ways to make things interesting.

Putt Everything

Unless you're Phil Mickelson or Ernie Els, there are a lot of holes in your game. For most, this means short play, and chipping is one source of dread for almost every golfer. Hitting the ball with a wedge is just hard, and even when you strike it truly you still have to get the distance just right.

Too many people try, and fail, to leave the perfect chip a foot from the pin. Instead, admit your limitations and putt from the rough. On a well-maintained course, the area surrounding the green — even in the fairway — is a more-than-suitable surface to putt the ball straight. So leave the wedge, and the headache, in your bag and practice on one area of your short game that actually has some hope of improving.

Play With a Less Experienced Buddy

They say that if you're the smartest guy in the room — find another room. This applies to the sporting world, too, and you will have a hard time improving if you are always the best player in your foursome.

But it also can be great to occasionally be the seasoned veteran who is helping out a friend that is just starting to get into the game. For one thing, you will be able to relax a bit, knowing that you don't have to hit every shot perfect to win the hole. And as you impart some of your wisdom to your novice buddy, you will be amazed at how much you can pick up yourself.

Often, the flaws in your swing and overall approach come down to ignoring the fundamentals. So as you tell your friend some basic pointers, it will be a refresher course for you as well. Don't worry about the extra playtime that comes with a newbie shanking a few balls into the water. Embrace the role of the teacher — and remember that its all fun and games on the links.

Change the Rules

Typical stroke play is fun — but it can get tedious. Mix things up your next time out. Partner up for some best-ball, match play, or skins action. Try two-ball, four-ball, or Pinehurst style, in which you and your partner alternate shots.

It will relieve some stress to know that not every shot is life or death, and the team aspect of banding together to defeat your rivals adds a lot to what is traditionally a challenge in solitude.