We’re all looking for easy ways to shave strokes off our score, and while most golfers are quick to offer you a swing tip or a hot new driver that will add 20 yards off the tee, the easiest and most immediate way to become a better player is through effective course management.
To put it quite simply, course management is another term for your decision making process throughout the course of an 18 hole round. Should I lay up? Which side of the tee should I hit off of? What club should I hit? What position do I want to leave myself in?
Golf is a game of calculated misses in which the majority of factors that will affect your shot must be taken into account before you even hit the ball. Work on some of the things listed below and watch as your scores go down without setting foot on the practice range (NOTE: You should still go to the range if you want to get better. This is just an article outlining some of the mental decisions you can make that will make you a better player.)
Learn the Rule Book – You wouldn’t play a game of basketball without knowing what you can and can’t do with the ball. Golf should be no different. Learning the rules is without a doubt the most important thing you can do on your way to becoming a better player.
You rarely, if ever, will meet a golfer that consistently plays well without knowing the rules. Most golfers think the rule book is a list of consequences for penalties but it’s really there to give you options, even if you haven’t incurred a penalty. Don’t just take your playing partner’s word for it. LEARN THE RULES!
Aim Correctly off the Tee – If you’re like most golfers, picking a particular side of the tee box to tee up on doesn’t cross your mind, but it should. Teeing up on the wrong side can mean the difference between a ball in the fairway and a ball out of bounds.
A good rule of thumb is to always tee up ON the side of trouble. If there’s OB on the right, go to the right side of the tee, aim away from the trouble and hit. Your ball may not end up in the fairway but you can be sure you won’t be hitting another one off the tee.
Manage your Approach Shots – One of the most difficult shots to hit in golf is the high, soft landing flop shot and if you have trouble doing it (everyone does), don’t put yourself in a position when it’s your only option. You can do this by managing your approach shots.
If the pin is tucked away on the back left side of the green, you don’t want to leave your shot to the left because you’ll have nothing to work with. Think about where you want the ball to be in the event that you do mishit the shot. Take the hardest shots out of play and those big numbers will disappear.
Play your Ball Flight – Jack Nicklaus was a huge advocate for playing whatever ball flight you have on that particular day. If you notice that you’re hitting a little fade off the tee on the first two holes, then play it. Don’t try to fix your swing on the course; you’ll only cause additional problems. Wait until after your round to iron out your issues.
Take your Medicine – Sometimes you just get unlucky; your ball bounces off three trees, someone’s golf cart and ends up in the water. Deal with it. Perfection is unattainable in golf.
You’re going to make bogeys. Don’t compound mistakes by trying to hit miraculous shots. Sometimes the best option is to simply take your medicine and move on to the next hole.