Hey Bagger,
I am still a relative newbie as well, but one major thing I find in this game is this:
Take your time when you are on the course!
For me, this game is a lot more cerebral than most others. Sure, you could drag hairy knuckles across your desk and just "smash, ugh, smash..." but it seems to me the more
thought I put into a shot, the better the result. Also, start to know the different shot types,
massive help when you figure the right shot to take. Just my two cents worth, but I love this site, and this game! See you on the links!