8 Golf Game Strategy Tips for Better Course Management

8 Golf Game Strategy Tips for Better Course Management

by Bradley Turner Keiser University College of Golf Director of Online Golf Instruction – MBA, PGA

There are so many variables that golfers must consider when playing a competitive game of golf. The skills required to play at a high level are enormous and likely unrealistic for most of us. However, you can maximize your golf performance by implementing sound strategies that match your golfing ability. Read through these eight strategies to help improve your course management, and you will start to shave a few strokes off your handicap.

General Strategies

1. Possible or Probable?

When you are standing on the first tee, you will likely anticipate a good round on the links. Addicted golfers are optimistic, which is one reason why they play a lot of golf. Optimism is a wonderful attribute in a golfer, but it also acts as a double-edged sword. Optimism breeds possibility, but golf requires probability. What is most likely going to happen on the golf course is what will probably happen.  Therefore, I would caution against aggressive play and simply play the odds defined by your own golf skills. Be realistic in shot selection throughout your round of golf. On the other hand, the fun in golf for some players is hitting that highly improbable shot perfectly onto the green.

2. Know Your Yardages

Do you really know how far you carry a golf ball? If you have a range finder, then you should be able to start charting your distances. Whenever you hit a solid iron shot, measure the distance from the ball mark on the green to the flagstick. For example, you measure the shot to be 165 yards to the flagstick. You hit a solid 7 iron shot and find your ball mark five paces short of the flag. You carried the 7-iron 160 yards. Disregard any shots that were not struck properly as you are focusing on the carry distance of well-hit golf shots.

Strategy Off the Tee

3. No Straight Drives

I love the sight of a perfectly straight drive placed down the middle of the fairway. Who doesn’t? Surprisingly, some of the all-time greats like Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, and Tiger Woods don’t like the sight of a perfectly straight shot. Hogan called a straight shot a slight miss because he was always trying to play either a tight draw or soft fade to his intended target. Nicklaus liked to play a fade, so he aimed down the left edge of the fairway, intending to hit a 15-yard fade to the center of the fairway. If he overdid his fade by an additional 15 yards, he would still be on the right edge of the fairway. If the ball did not fade at all and flew straight, he would find his ball on the left edge of the fairway. Making sure the ball curves in the intended direction will result in hitting approach shots from the short grass. So go ahead and hit that repeatable left-to-right tee shot. Jack would love to see that.

4. Find the Widest Part of the Fairway

This appears to be a no-brainer, but many amateur golfers always pull out the driver, assuming it is the club of choice on all par 4 and par 5 holes. A good friend of mine played on the PGA Tour for a few years, and his strategy was to hit as many fairways as possible. Playing from the short grass is easier for virtually every golfer. Whenever possible, he would determine the best club off the tee to maximize the width of the fairway. Of course, the distance of the hole will have some influence on club selection off the tee. The driver is not always the smart play, so go ahead and hit a 3-metal or hybrid to find more fairways.

Strategies Hitting Approach Shots

5. Red Flags/ Yellow Flags/ Green Flags

A red flag is usually tucked against the edge of the putting surface with a hazard or bunker nearby. As the color red implies, it is advisable to stay clear of the flag. A yellow flag will require some caution, but if you are playing with confidence, then you may shoot for the flag. The best strategy is to aim for the center of the green when playing to a red or yellow flag. A green flag is a go flag, take dead aim and try to hit it close, knowing that a miss-hit will not leave you with a difficult up and down.

6. If There Were No Flags on the Green

What would you do if the green superintendent forgot to put the flags out one day? What would be a good strategy for your approach shots? The easy answer is to keep the ball in the middle of the green. This is an excellent idea for most golfers on approach shots from the fairway and short wedge shots from 40 to 80 yards. I think many golfers could shave a few strokes off their game if only the DID NOT know where the hole location was positioned on the greens!

Strategies to Improve Short Game Performance

7. Avoid Short Siding

All short pitch shots are not the same. Some can be extremely difficult, while others are relatively easy to execute. Good course management is understanding areas of the golf course where you do not want to find your golf ball! Inexperienced golfers may not understand the importance of missing the green on the proper side. Short siding is a term used to define when a player is missing the green in a spot where there is very little room to land and stop the golf ball. This usually requires a very high lob or flop shot, a very dangerous shot in the wrong hands.

8. 50 Yards and In

I am sure you have heard that defense wins championships in football and basketball, a sentiment with I which I agree. In golf, your defense against high scores is a good short game. Without a solid short game, it is very difficult to get yourself out of troubling situations. There is no substitute for spending some time around the practice green hitting short pitch and chip shots. My suggestion is to get to the course an additional 15 minutes early on your next round and spend that time hitting chip and pitch shots. If you make this a new part of your pre-round warmup routine, I think you will find yourself managing your way to lower scores.

If you’d like to study with Bradley Turner and other PGA Master Professionals, contact the College of Golf today.