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How To Use Course Management |
By:
June-Ann Jones |
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How To Use Course Management
June-Ann Jones
Course management is a skill which you can only develop by getting on the golf course and gaining experience. Inevitably you will make mistakes, but by learning from these and trying to avoid them in the future, you will maximize your chances of scoring well.
You should always play to your strengths.
Positional Play
It may sound logical but always look for the easiest way to the hole. When you are standing on the green, look at the position of the flag. If the flag is on the right edge of the green then coming in from the left side of the fairway will leave the easier shot.
If the hole is cut near a bunker or hazard, a shot to the middle of the green is often the best play. Is the flag at the top of a slope, in which case you will want to be hitting your putt up the slope if at all possible.
Try to think of where you would like your shots to be when you start the hole and play to those positions. Being on the fairway is easier than being in the rough.
Hazards
Some holes will present you with hazards that you cannot get over. The sensible play would be to lay up short. Many times, when 'laying up' a common error is made and too much club is used with the result of ending up in the hazard. If you decide to 'lay up' then it is best policy to choose a club which will not allow your ball to reach the hazard.
Dog Legs
We all think we can hit further than we actually can and therefore the temptation to cut off 'as much as possible' is a real one. In most cases it is better to be wider off the tee than too narrow as this will keep you out of trouble and give a better view.
Recovery Shots
No matter how carefully you play you will often find yourself in positions which require an 'escape' shot of some sort. Always take the safe option - it may be the chip out sideways - but it wont land you in more trouble, and if you play the shot correctly it will get you out of trouble. Don't be tempted to 'have a go' unless you are feeling very confident or it doesn't matter!
Make sure that when you are in a bunker, you take a club with enough loft to get you out. That is after all the whole point - if by trying to make a long shot you cannot get out of the bunker because you land back in it, then it costs you more shots.
Course management is the ability to accurately assess what your current ability is and then making the most of it. This is what keeps us all guessing and coming back for more each week..............
Can you find a magic way to reduce your handicap? Read more great articles by June-Anne Jones about skills and techniques to help improve your golf. More articles on
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article67615.html |
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