1. Practice

To become an exceptional golfer, it all starts and ends with practice. There is no substitute for working at the game. However, practicing the wrong things can be counterproductive, not helping lower the scores , or even harm your body. Simply put, practicing bad habits will hurt your game like nothing else.

Establish a routine and stick to it. Simply playing golf, even on a championship golf course, isn't enough to make you an exceptional golfer. The best way to ensure you hit fairways, get approach shots close to the hole , and hole putts, is to put in the required hours on the range and on and around the  practice green. And when that practice is structured and directed properly, you will eventually reach your potential as a golfer.

2. Patience

It's said that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to develop a particular skill, so don't expect to master a new technique in short order. The plan should be to build your game one step at a time, remembering to apply patience all along the way. Patience is a great tool that can be beneficial to use during a particular round as well. 

3. Equipment

In today's game, having the proper equipment can help separate a player from the pack. Whether it's clubs or grips or golf balls, be sure to find the tools that will allow you to play your best. Know your game by being familiar with your strengths and weaknesses. Finding the right combination of clubs, shafts, ball, etc. can help mitigate weaknesses. Once you have maximized what your game can get out of equipment, then you can be confident that nothing is missing in that regard.

4. Confidence

Confidence is perhaps the most important characteristic of an exceptional golfer. Not every shot will be perfect – in fact, few will be – but confidence in your ability will allow you to make the free, and correct swings that will undoubtedly help  your score. Confidence cannot be faked. Confidence comes from all the hours of practicing the right things, over and over again.  And, confidence breeds more confidence. One successful round of golf can lead to another, and so on.  Golfers that are playing with confidence don't see the trees, they don't see the water or the bunkers. They see themselves hitting good shots flying towards their targets.

5. Control of Emotions

Exceptional golfers understand that their mental approach to hitting the ball is as important as any other skill set within  the game. They never get too low after bad shots, and they never get too high after a great one. The best golfers stay in the moment, which is easier said than done. The key is to be in the mental state to best analyze and execute the next shot.  After all, a hole, a round, and a tournament are all made up of individual shots. Staying focused on one shot at a time pays great dividends in this game.