Right, admission time for me.  Towards the end of the round (last 4 or 5 holes!) I seem to lose focus and concentration. My swing appears to speed up, my body gets out of sync, and generally, I make silly mistakes and put myself in trouble, which tends to ruin the scorecard, and put myself in a bad mood!

What I would like to know, is what do you guys (and gals) do to keep the concentration going, and keeping yourself composed and in a regular rhythm.

Make sure you have an energy drink in your bag. In most cases it lack of fluids.

Energy juice is a great suggestion for the last few holes.  Not only does it give you a wee boost but it helpds you focus due to the caffeine.

I like those previously stated like to carry a energy drink, but also i tend to find when i am sucking on a worthers original sweet it tends to calm me down and i take more time assesing my next shot ect. give it a try and see if it works for you too

I have found that a 1.5l/2l bottle of water does just as well as a energy drink. I also take a bit of pasta round as well to eat half way round.  Keeps your brain hydrated and keeps engery levels up as 3 hours into in a round, its not just the mental side that will start to wain.

prepare yourself before the round, you need to be looking to last at least 9 holes before you would begin to feel fatigue setting in, take enough food to keep yourself topped up and liquid, water can be as good as the energy drink, food wise i choose between chocalate bars, sandwich, pizza, pasta, pastry, flapjack, banana.  you have to decide which food and how much you require to keep yourself topped up, but don't wait until you feel fatigued before you have a nibble.  have it planned where you can have a quick bite, you are not there for a picnic.  the warmer the day the more liquid required.

try to relax after your last stroke and before your assess your next shot.  You cannot be expected to concentrate for an entire round, relax, free your mind between shots. 

Also, play at your own steady pace, its not a race, just try to be as fit as you can.

There is some useful info here on hydration & nutrition http://www.englishgolfunion.org.uk/page.aspx?sitesectionid=492&sitesectionti
tle=Nutrition+and+Hydration

It really is amazing that we ever produced golfers of the calibre of Henry Cotton and the like in days when hydration and nutrition were not on the menu.

I used to play 36 hole scratch events carrying my bag and never considered the idea of putting a bottle of water in the bag. Beggars belief how we used to perform to a much better standard in those days than we do now.

JP

people were fitter, had more stamina and did not burst into tears if they cracked a nail.

We have grown a different type of people today compared to yesteryear. 

todays golfer has to be prepared to be on the course for 4 hours plus now.