Importance Of Golf Course Management

[KrudlerAce]

Playing in my weekly Saturday competition today it was other example of golfers that don't get their course management right.

Par 5, 7th hole and myself (single handicapper) and a 33 handicapper both pulled our drives to the left into the rough. The rough was also a bit wet due to recent rain. Our balls finished only a few metres apart. I hit pitching wedge just trying to put it back onto the fairway close enough to get to the green in 3 ... I managed to do this nicely.

The 33 handicapper hit 5 wood and tried to muscle it out of the thick rough. 3 Shots later he finds himself one fairway to the right hitting about his 6th shot. He got to the green in about 8 and picked up and washed the hole. I put my 3rd shot on, 2 putted and walked away with par.

My point is you should always play smart and to the conditions of the golf course. There was nothing to be gained from the 33 handicapper pulling out his 5 wood. Sure he might not have also made par had he taken a more lofted club to get to the fairway but I'm sure he would have made 6 or 7 at the worst and it wouldn't have been so bad.

2 golfers with 2 different mindsets and ways of approaching the golf shot.

[BrianW]

Re: Importance Of Golf Course Management

33!!! We are only allowed handicaps to 28 for men in the UK, only Ladies get 33's
I agree fully that the distance between our ears is the most important on the golf course. I learned long ago that on par 4's and 5's that the driver is not always the best club off the tee and as you suggest when in the rough or trees take your medicene and get back on the fairway.

Good advice Krudler.

[KrudlerAce]

Importance Of Golf Course Management

Thanks Brian,

Yes I think 27 should be the maximum but they changed the rules here in Australia in the last year or so. Believe me though this guy needed 33 and then some.

It never ceases to amaze me these guys on the golf course that display poor course management. They seem to be obsessed with always pulling out fairway woods no matter how their ball is lying in the grass. I think a lot of it has to do with ego as well, particularly with guys. I learned a long time ago that it's not 'how' but 'how many' that you write down on your score card. This is what matters most to me!

Cheers

[BrianW]

Re: Importance Of Golf Course Management

Yes, testostrone has a lot to answer for in golf :-)

[bdbl]

Re: Importance Of Golf Course Management

33!!! We are only allowed handicaps to 28 for men in the UK, only Ladies get 33's

I asked my club for 36; they refused, not on gender grounds but because during my current S***k attack I'm not playing to that

[BrianW]

Re: Importance Of Golf Course Management

I asked my club for 36; they refused, not on gender grounds but because during my current S***k attack I'm not playing to that

'SharK attack', thats some water hazard :-)

[LowPost42]

Re: Importance Of Golf Course Management

Now now gents, it seems that you single digits have never experienced the frustration of having an index north of 20.

I understand the reasons why a high capper pulls the club "to get me there". I simply doesn't compute to them that Par or Bogey is an OK score. You make birdies to score well - TV says it all the time. Plus, once, he hit this shot that was arrow-straight and 230 with that 3 wood; so it's the right club in case it happens again. I mean, if he nuts it, he doesn't want to fly the green!

It was only a few short years ago I was that golfer - inexperienced and uneducated, as likely to blade the next shot as I was to chunk it as I was to hit it somewhat OK. So the idea of laying up was moot; and borderline stupid. Why add a stroke to lay up when you may just chunk the next one anyway? You may as well try to rip it out 'cause if you get lucky, then you can chunk the chip, blade the next one, leave the next one in the bunker before the miraculous out and subsequent 3 jack.

That said, yesterday my drives on the par 5's ended up left of left, so the 7 iron layup to ~130 was the play. I ended up bogeying all the par 5's (even with the layup I still couldn't hit the green!) but it was certainly better than the uncertainty of trying to warp a 3 wood to greenside.

[rogue]

Re: Importance Of Golf Course Management

I also think people alwasy play for their best shot all the time with regards accuracy. I am a professional golfer and coach and I would only ever dream of aiming at the pin if i am firing on all cylinders. Most of the time i aim 10 meter right of the pin as i always hit a draw shot. If i play amzing shots all the time i finish 10 meters right.... NOT GOOD. I actually prefer it when i hit my average shot - after all an average shot is what you hit most of the time or it wouldnt be average.

A good player scores their best when sometimes they are hitting it their worst.