Course Management

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PARlance wrote: »

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

I like that, its crude, but actually fairly sensible.

I don't know that I agree with the comment around, if your handicap is high, just switch the brain off & swing at everything. On the 1 day in 20 when everything clicks, maybe you have a great round. But on the other 19 days, you'll just end up getting angry & frustrated. I think people enjoy golf more when they're playing & scoring well. And I think that using a bit more strategy will end up with improved scores, and as a result, more enjoyment of their golf.

I think at the higher handicap level (18 & up), a sensible approach is to try make sure that you are on the green in one less than par. You have at least one shot of every hole, so on in 1 under par means a 2-putt is 2 points in a stableford comp. If the odd 1-putt drops, you end up with a 3-pointer.

Before someone takes it too literally & says I'm suggesting someone doesn't go for the green on a par 3 off the tee, or not take on a green on a par 4 if they're in the middle of the fairway with a short iron in their hand, etc... I'm not suggesting that. I'm suggesting that if you can, as PARlance eloquently put it, make sure you get out of trouble, and give yourself a chance of getting on the green with your next shot, then, I think, on average, your scores will improve.

When I took up golf I would have taken a more direct, have a lash at it, approach. Back then my handicap was higher (started at 22) and found that I when I switched my strategy I started to consistently hit buffers & pick up cuts.

Now, I am trying to be much more conscious of my strategy when I play. Though the targets have probably shifted. If I find myself in trouble, I might still employ the target of getting on in one under par for the hole, and trying to at worst make a bogey. But that is more a reactive strategy. My strategy now is more to try reduce my chances of finding trouble hitting balls in to greens, so I tend to not take on sucker-pins, take my distance to the back-side of the green, and my line at the centre of the green. I'll play more aggressively with targets with a wedge in my hand.

I also try to leave myself a club in to greens that I'm happy with on holes, like trying to leave a full wedge in on approach to a par 5, rather than leave a 70-80yrd pitch.

I think I had a pro say it at a lesson something along the lines of playing with an approach that his conservatively aggressive. In essence, play your golf with conservative targets, but hit aggressive shots at those targets (I'm paraphrasing a lot there, but hopefully it makes sense as a concept)

slingerz wrote: »

What are you playing off? I would think it may be the case where you are probably not meant to be able to get on in 2 in that case.

I play off 10. Lowest i have been is 9. I compensate for my lack of distance in a good short game.

slingerz wrote: »

Well with a good short game a more prudent approach would be to lay up short in two and look to get up and down for par?

that probably would be the best approach. certainly would mean more chance of being in a decent spot for my 2nd shot on a tight long par4.

There's a lot to course management besides the go-for-the-green scenarios. There's a lot can be learned from snooker players attitude of always thinking 1 or 2 shots ahead.
What will my next shot be?

How does 300 yds break down - 2 x 7 irons, 6 iron & 9 iron, 5-wood/wedge? Combinations will be different for players of different abilities, even for same player on different holes/courses/competitions or how their currrent form is.

I think the important thing is, and the point the OP is making, is think about it, consider your options, don't just grab the biggest club always.

If I think my way around the course I do much better. There's holes I know I can give myself a birdie attempt and make par otherwise, then there's others I'll happily take a bogey.

I'm off 18 and don't hit the ball very far. From 100-110 I can usually hit the ball fairly close.

For example

First Par 3 in Bunclody is a 3 wood for me off the whites so I'd usually hit short of the green and left so I don't end up in the water. Gives me a short chip up the green and a decent chance to make par. If I go at the green I'm bringing the water into play and would be unlikely to make bogey if I do end up in the drink. The risk v reward isn't worth it.

The 6th is similar, I hit 3 wood off the tee to get to the corner and 110-120 into the green. Would be disappointed walking off unless I made par.

On the 9th I'd hit 5 wood (iron if a strong wind helping) to leave myself 100 to the green. If I hit driver I'm risking missing the fairway as the rough tightens up around where I'd land my driver and even if I hit the fairway I'm leaving myself a distance I'm just not comfortable with.

Saying that I'm still struggling to hit 36 points but that's more consistency as I'm not playing often enough at the moment.