April 6, 2009 -- If there is one lesson to be learned from the 2009 Shell Houston Open, it is that wind is a four-letter word! Well, maybe there is more to be learned than that, but this week did display how much the wind can affect even the best players in the world. The scoring average on the final day was one of the highest in recent memory, and the headwind on the 18th hole effectively turned a par 4 into a par 5. To win the tournament, Paul Casey had to battle the elements, scramble from some difficult spots, and keep himself out of trouble on the final hole after J.B. Holmes hit his drive into the water. More than anything else, though, Casey had to be mentally tough enough to handle some very difficult conditions, and that is the focus of this Lesson Learned.

I'd like to offer a few tips to players preparing to go out to play a round in high winds. My focus is not so much on the technical side (such as playing the ball back in your stance or de-lofting the club), but rather on the best way to approach the task. Here are some things to keep in mind the next time you play in Texas, Florida, or any other area where the wind tends to be a factor.

Strong winds were a factor during all four days of the Shell Houston Open. (Photo: Getty Images)

1. Attitude is Key. Remember that conditions are difficult and that scoring will be a challenge. Knowing that, your choice is either to embrace the challenge and enjoy it or to struggle with it. As we saw in the Houston Open today, a tough wind may require you to change your expectations as far as score and the number of perfect shots you will hit during the round.

2. Be Ready to Scramble. As we saw during the final round, all of the players were really struggling to hit fairways and greens. The ability to get out of tough situations, especially around the green, can be the difference between winning and losing. Paul Casey's sand shot at the 14th hole, which led to a great par save, shows just how important scrambling can be. Lag putting is also an important skill on a windy day because it is tougher than usual to get your approach shots close to the pin.

3. Be Conservative. Aim your shots more toward the middle of fairways and greens on a windy day. Aiming at pins leaves very little margin for error if a gust of wind decides to blow at the wrong moment.

4. Swing Easy. When playing in the wind, plan to take extra club and swing a little bit easier. This will cut down on backspin and prevent the ball from ballooning straight up into the breeze.

5. Remember your Physics. One of the things that people forget is that the laws of physics dictate that the wind will hurt your ball more in a headwind than it will help in a tailwind. This is because the ball is in the air much longer in a headwind, and so it is acted upon for a longer period of time. Just remember that a hurting wind hurts more than a helping wind helps.

6. Be Patient. As we saw with Paul Casey in the final round, the key is to focus on one shot at a time and just plug along. Paul stayed in his game plan and focused on hitting solid shots while not trying to be perfect. This is all you can ask for in tough conditions.

I hope these tips will help you out the next time you decide to play golf on a gusty day. Remember, even the pros have trouble scoring when the winds pick up, so don't get down on yourself if you don't have your best round. Keep these things in mind, though, and you should be able to have an enjoyable experience regardless of what Mother Nature throws at you.

Paul Kenney is a teaching professional at Scarsdale Golf Club. Paul is the Director of Education for Kinetic Golf Associates as well as a TPI level 2 golf professional. Paul can be reached at pkenneypfk@aol.com