Golf Tips: Course Management

Provided by Dave Kendall Academy in Ypsilanti

   One aspect of playing consistent golf is getting to know what you can do reliably and only play shots that you are good at.  Course management involves being able to realistically predict the outcome of your shots.

   Ask yourself these questions before you play a stroke. If I hit a solid shot with the club I have selected, where is it likely to go?  If I miss hit or misdirect this shot with this club, where is it likely to go? Is there room for either outcome?   

   If not, maybe I should not be using this club.  

   There is no rule that says that you are obligated to aim at the flagstick.  If the flagstick is located near trouble, you would be well advised not to aim at it, but only as close as you dare, without getting into trouble.  

   The golf legend Ben Hogan was said to have made the comment when asked why he made so few holes-in-one, this was because: "I very seldom aimed at the flagstick."  He aimed to the side that had the most margin of error.  Each shot is planned to make the next shot easier than the previous one.

   In most cases I will not play a shot to the green unless I believe there is a high probability that I will hit the green, or little danger for a miss.  If the probability of hitting the green is low, I will play to a safe area where the distance and angle make for an easy next shot.

   Mistakes and high scores usually come from consistently playing shots that have a low probability of success.  Playing easy shots that have a high probability of success breed confidence and less multiple stroke penalties.