The PGA Tour’s Qualifying School ends today, and the top 30 finishers will earn the most treasured ticket in the game, the PGA Tour Card.

This has to be the most grueling week in golf for aspiring players. Just imagine playing six rounds of golf, the outcome of which will determine your livelihood for the coming year. Have you ever had so much riding on a couple of rounds of golf?

You may never have to deal with this situation, but there can be a lesson here that just might help your game.

The key for these guys is to stay patient. They’re playing six rounds, or more than 400 strokes, which is a lot of golf. The players who stay patient and deal with each shot as they come will have the best chance for success.

Take a hint and learn from this example to improve your game. When you are playing golf, it is important to just play one shot at a time. Don’t try to force shots you may not be comfortable with.

Being patient also means not trying to make up for a bad hole or a poor shot on the next one. If you make a bogey, try to make a par to balance yourself out. Don’t try to always make a birdie on the next hole to make up for the last mistake, because you might compound your error and make yet another bogey.

Patience can be an elusive virtue for all of us and can be most difficult for a golfer trying too hard to become consistent. Practice being patient.

You can do that on the range or the course, but the real key is your pre-shot routine. The more you ingrain your routine, the better you will be able to focus on the next shot at hand.

You may not be trying to qualify for the PGA Tour, but you can sure learn from those tour wannabes and help improve your own game. Work on your routine and strive to be patient by playing one hole at a time and one shot at a time. You will see a difference in your attitude — it’ll be going up, but your score will be coming down!

Holiday shopping

Here’s a caution for holiday shoppers looking to buy clubs for that someone special: Custom fitting is the key for getting the correct clubs. Gift certificates are the best option so your special someone can find a club fitter and get the correct fit.

If you’re planning to give an actual club, make certain that it can be exchanged or be fitted after the holidays. Successful Santas always want to ensure that golfers get that perfect club, which will perform well and stay in their bag for a long while.

Shawn Kelly, the head pro at The Ridge Golf Club, can be reached at (530) 888-7888.