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Course Management

GolfNut33

This topic really gets me going.

I would consider myself fairly decent at course management but the amount of lads I see making horrendous decisions on the course is incredible. For example; I was playing along side a 18 HC last Sunday. Playing a longish par 4 (think 410 yrds) slightly uphill with a pond in front of the green. He hit a poor enough drive and he had about 200 yrds to the green and about 180 to carry the water. He took out a 3 wood and proceeded to plonk it straight in to the drink. I would have guessed it was a 1 in 20 shot to get it on the green. He proceeded to scratch the hole. A simple lay up would have almost ensured he'd get maybe 2 points but at least 1.

I have multiple examples of this kinda of thing, even know a low HC lad who is equally as bad at plotting his way around the course, goes for every Par 5 in two and goes for every pin no matter where it is and only to miss out on wining sometimes by a few points/strokes and wonders why he can never get over the finish line.

Golfers spend huge money on equipment and lessons to gain a shot or two improvement but neglect possibly the easiest way to improve their score through course management.

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PARlance

Try not to hit it into trouble and if you do, just make sure you get it out.

IK09

Ive been back playing golf for all of 3 weeks but it seems to me that its really hard to comment on course management.

I can see why the "safe" approach would be best for some people. I love the feel of the higher irons 7-P. So for me I would have no problem laying it up to a spot where my game is stronger.

I can also see why someone else would try and go straight for the green, maybe theyre not comfortable chipping and maybe they are excellent with a putter.

In my probably oversimplified and under informed opinion, its difficult to judge someones course management without taking into account their specific game.

Dbu

GolfNut33 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies lads, a lot of good points made.

It's just that I see some many bad decisions being made that i think its something that can be improved on relatively quickly and a lot of effort goes in to lessons and club fitting (correctly) and course management tends to be forgotten.

All well and good if you are a low handicap golfer and can hit every iron and wood out of the centre and know how far they travel.
If you are a high HC golfer, just go hit it and enjoy it

GolfNut33

Thanks for all the replies lads, a lot of good points made.

It's just that I see some many bad decisions being made that i think its something that can be improved on relatively quickly and a lot of effort goes in to lessons and club fitting (correctly) and course management tends to be forgotten.

DuckSlice

My course management is terrible and its something I need to improve on.

An issue I have is I only hit my 3 wood 210/220 which on a long tight (440ish yards) par 4 leaves me trying to hit a hard 3 wood to get on in 2. so I usually go with the driver. My home course doesn't have any tress and is a an open enough links so I don't have to think much about course management but when I play other courses it kills me.

I think an issue with a lot of the higher handicapped golfers I see is the don't know how far they hit there clubs. taking irons for par3's they cant reach with their driver etc.

mike12

I'm not sure a 18 will score much different over the year no matter what he does.

He can still be on the green in 4 and make his point or 2.
If he lays up no guarantee he will hit the green in 3 so has to get up and down for 2.
He still has to get over the lake so can still go in and then it's a definite scratch.
If he is crap wedge player then he should go for it 100% of the time.

Mantis Toboggan

slave1 wrote: »

I always use driver, most forgiving club in the bag

Depends on the course, I used to be like that but my new course is narrow with lots of trouble, hitting the fairway is crucial, it's not a long course.

newindublin

I too think I we should all base our golf off playing like the number 3 ranked player in the world, because that's clearly who this thread is aimed at.

slave1

Horses for courses, sure I cringe when I see Rory taking a “safe” iron off the tee and the ball flies straight into trouble

newindublin

slave1 wrote: »

I always use driver, most forgiving club in the bag

Driver is the club you hit the furthest, if you are a high handicapper (like me) it has the most potential to go the furthest in the wrong spot. For someone advocating course management I find this pretty contrary.

One thing I am trying to work on is swallowing my pride and hitting 3 wood off the tee more. In fact, I was able to do this over the weekend and feel pretty good about it. My driving started well in the round, but later in the round started to creep into my old bad habits. When the holes got tight I pulled the 3 wood and kept it in play and scoring. Wide open holes I let the driver rip, knowing I had room.

slave1

I always use driver, most forgiving club in the bag

megabomberman

The example provided by the OP is a cast iron case of poor course management.

Where I really find it tricky is whether to play the 5 iron/rescue off the tee on the tightish 370 yard par 4 or just roll the dice and attempt to drive it to within the wedge distance.

Most YouTubers seem to advocate for an only use driver when absolutely necessary approach, for the high handicappers.

slingerz

Played with some plus handicappers last year as they prepared for senior cup. Really interesting as they selected different clubs to me on a number of holes.

Completely changed my approach to one hole and made the world of difference to my average score on that hole afterwards

slave1

I see this time and time again with high handicappers I play with, they hook or slice a drive (which I can do too) and instead of taking a wedge walk into the rough with a 3 wood to get it up to the green, a pro would not get it up to the green from where they are, the ball ends up ploughing through the long grass 20 or 30 yards and same shot again.....pretty soon the hole is scratched
Bad drive, take a wedge, get back into play...

callaway92

I get your post, OP; but for an 18 handicapper, course management is tougher than 'going for it'.

Going for it at least gives them a bit of freedom with the shot.. Playing for the middle-of-the-green etc suddenly starts putting thoughts/specific targets in their head and can work against them..same with laying up - There's as-much-a-chance of holding back on shot and hooking it etc.

slave1

Seve OB wrote: »

If that shot OP described above was a 180 yard par3 it would be no different to the above scenario. does the OP always lay up somewhere safe, chip on, 2 putts and walk away happy with 2 points?

If that's the way you think golf should be played it would get very boring very quickly

That old blast from the past;)

Mantis Toboggan

It really does depend on the level of golfer and the risk/reward element of every shot.

My track course management is huge, it's narrow with plenty of trouble both off the tee and around the green. I've struggled since joining as my mentality is to go for everything. I've changed my game this year to nearly always go for the safe option especially in competition.

I like the 7/10 rule. If I'm confident of hitting the shot more often than not then I'm taking on the shot. But I agree that good course management can make a huge difference. I see plenty of players which I've been guilty of in the past fail because they're taking on the wrong shots repeatedly because they're not thinking enough about what they're trying to do.

Seve OB

If that shot OP described above was a 180 yard par3 it would be no different to the above scenario. does the OP always lay up somewhere safe, chip on, 2 putts and walk away happy with 2 points?

If that's the way you think golf should be played it would get very boring very quickly

Seve OB

Dbu wrote: »

Best score I ever had, was when I decided on the first tee to 'go after everything' or as my buddy would say'just hit it'
Over thinking was my wrecking me game

snap.
but I do see the OP's point.
But no point in going for shots if you aren't on your game. some days you take your medicine and sometimes you let fly. so many different factors in play

But with regard to the low handicappers, esp the one he mentioned, they should be going for everything if it is in their remit. if it doesn't come off so what. if they were to lay up all the time they probably wouldn't be so low.

GolfNut33

Dbu wrote: »

Best score I ever had, was when I decided on the first tee to 'go after everything' or as my buddy would say'just hit it'
Over thinking was my wrecking me game

You'll have the odd good score but your consistency will be poor.

Dbu

Best score I ever had, was when I decided on the first tee to 'go after everything' or as my buddy would say'just hit it'
Over thinking was my wrecking me game