Course Management

‘It’s only 230 to clear the water, I’ll easily clear that’… says every amateur at the weekend who then dunks it straight into the water and makes double bogey. So, if you want to lower your scores and get your handicap down, sometimes it isn’t all to do with your technique. You can simply change how you attack or in this instance, play safe, to start putting more pars on the card. Here are some simple tips to help manage your way round a course better:

Do you always need to hit driver? No. If the fairway is tight, or there are bunkers in play at the exact distance you hit your driver, why do you still pull out the big stick? Keeping the ball on the short stuff is going to make like a lot easier and bring scores down, rather than having to chip out sideways from behind a bush. Take a second to analyse the hole and think does it really require driver or can I play a bit safer with an iron. 

Lay up or go for it? There is a time for both options. If there is water to carry 230 yards away, then you’re better off laying up. If there is plenty of space and no hazards in your line, swing away and get as close to the green as possible. But again, you need to take a second to analyse your options. 

Where is the best place to miss? This is something tour pro’s will always say is the biggest difference between them and amateurs. They know where the best place to miss is. That’s right, the best golfers in the world play for their misses. You don’t want to leave yourself short sided on a green, so play to the middle and know if you miss its not going to leave an impossible up and down. 

Next time you are out there, just take a few seconds to think, is this really the right option? You will soon start to shave off shots.