improving the golf game

They say that until you start playing golf with some stakes involved, you will never be able to improve your game. I've been playing golf on and off for close to 15 years now and sometimes I'm super at it and at others I can't wait to finish the game fast enough. My coach suggested that I start putting something at stake to really get serious about the game, as nothing like losing money to make you concentrate more, isn't it? I have tried it just a few times, it has seemed to work, although it could just be the newness of the concept.