Course Management

Tiger

Tiger

Money List Winner
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
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rub-of-the-green.blogspot.com
Hi Guys,

Due to the snow I've been doing a LOT of reading recently. I've got Bob Rotella (Not a Game of Perfect) on the go and re read (Game of Confidence over Xmas). There's also the obvious addition of the Feb edition of GM.

My swing is starting to come together for full shots on the wedges through to short irons. Not had a chance to work on the mid irons yet - but they are next. Spent a lot of time practising my putting (over 50% according to Scoresaver 2) and once the snow clears will be spending a lot of time on my chipping and half pitch shots.

Here's the question. Having read the Bob Rotella books and the GM interview with Jack Niklaus - I've shelved any plans to buy a hybrid and instead am going to work backwards from green to tee. Effectively when I get the ball 150 yards (in) from the flag I want to be really accurate and efficient. I'll worry about distance off the tee later.

I've heard a lot mentioned about good course management but don't know of any good reading material. Whilst the snow is preventing golfing for the foreseeable anyone know a good read? Could be an internet article or a book.

Thanks in advance,

T
 
Tiger,

I am currently reading 'Dave Pelz Short Game Bible'.

I must say, I am finding it fascinating reading, and would recomend it(even though I am only 1/4 through it).

I too only took up golf this year, and like you have been working on the short game.

BushFinder
 
I can't remember reading too much on this either and I think the reason there is so little theory written is that course management is so subjective. It's very easy to measure if a drive hits a fairway, a putt goes in or an iron shot hits a green. It is much more difficult to know if you have played the "right" shot as opposed to a "good" shot that might in fact have been an outside bet to succeed. Being such a key part of the game it's perhaps surprising their isn't more out there.
 
I have both Short Game Bible and Dave Pelz Putting Bible on my bedside unit at present, not much space for anything else, pretty weighty tomes. Both books are very good, unfortunately too much science in places
- "lumpy donuts" anyone ? :D :D
 
RickG and Bushfinder thanks for the tips I'll take a look at both your suggestions.

Fyldewhite I know exactly what you mean. It seems the only way to get any advice on course management is to play a few holes as part of a lesson. The problem with that is I can only getting significant benefit when I'm a mid handicapper who strikes the ball consistently. They cost so much money that I'd rather hold back on that for now.

Things is I'd have thought that there would be something out there on how to read a course. For example I don't know why designers put certain traps in certain places, but understanding why could help me learn how to strategically out-think the course designer and play to my strengths.
 
Hi Tiger,hope u had a good festive break and i'm glad u got the Rotella book.Focussing on the short game does wonders for us who are new to the game,but I worry that by the time u get some long clubs u will drop so many shots getting to the green your short skills will be wasted! I think its time to get a 3 wood,this will really open up the course for u,good luck! :D
 
It's hard to have a set method or outlook on course management, especially as a highr handicap trying to improve. It's all about understanding your own game and playing to your strengths, which will vary as you practice more. It's not always about being cautious about choosing which shot to take as this can lead to negativity. For example if you've been striking your short irons well don't think twice about attacking the pin even if there's a risk involved. On another occasion you may feel less confident with short irons but very confident with chipping, so play a less aggresive shot and if you're left with a chip you feel good about getting up and down.
Obviously it's not something that can be summed up in a paragraph (which is why you're looking to read up on the subject)but thats my way of thinking when im on the course.
 
but I worry that by the time u get some long clubs u will drop so many shots getting to the green your short skills will be wasted! I think its time to get a 3 wood,this will really open up the course for u,good luck! :D
Click to expand...

Hey Deke, appreciate the concern. To be honest distance isn't something I worry too much about and neither does my pro. When I'm striking the ball well on the range the 6 iron is carrying 170 yards. My issue is dispersion (a little) fat/thin (a lot). If I can eradicate that the way I see it even with a 6 iron I can reach a par 5 in three hits and a fair few par 4's in two.

My fear is that if I get a hybrid/3 wood now it will just become my go to club on every hole and I'll neglect developing my skills with the long irons. I'm praying that patience will be a virtue and not the hallmark of stupidity!!!
 
Hi,
I'll have to disagree with your logic here a bit, course managament would be for the long game rather that the short game so if you don't own any woods you don't really know what to hit off the tee to avoid trouble eg Driver 3 wood Hybrid, I used to be driver off the tee all the time but in my old age and learning how to play our course will now use 3wood and hybrid on some holes u really have no choice its iron off the tee iron to lay up, in your long term goal to get down to scratch you will have to become a good driver of the ball you cant waste shots off the tee and you will have to take advantage of par 5's by hitting them in 2, so I think you should but a driver now and spend a small bit of your time learning how to hit it while spending most of your time on your short game.
Mike
 
Whilst the detail is specific to each player the general rules apply to all levels, "stay out of the black and in the red" or something like that!!??

What you need to figure out Tiger, is what you are good at and, more importantly, what you aren't good at. Then you can figure out how best to get round your course bearing these things in mind.

Then, with the knowlege of your course layout, a course planner and maybe a DMD you can plot the ideal route to cover every hole and also, just as importantly, where you must not hit it.

There is a web thing called earthtools that is quite handy too, it has a distance feature which can go straight onto the satelite picture of your course, I'm sure there are other similar sites.
 
I was told by a golf pro that to walk the course in reverse that is to plan your shots from the green to the tee box this gives you a better perspective on shot placing and hazard positions. Next time your on the green look back down the fairway and see how different the course looks i bet you will see an alternative or more preferred path than the one that was taken.
 
Robo and Beck great points - thanks guys. At the moment I am rubbish at chipping but solid with my putter and 8 iron so I guess I need to leave myself about 140 yards to the green and then work back from there.

Will definitely start to look back after each hole, though with all the stats I am currently logging writing something else down could be a nightmare! Got a memory like a goldfish.
 
I guess the simple thing about course management from 150 yards is to learn where to miss if you aren't going to hit the green. At the majority of clubs, trouble is usually at the front of the green and so its essential you know how far you hit each club to carry things like streams, bunkers left and right or ponds. Similarly if there is trouble behind a green (OB or a hazard) and a flag is at the back do you want to be taking it on. Choose a club for the middle portion and hope to make a 15 footer.

Also you need to work out what your stock shot is and play to it. If you hit a fade aim at the left hand edge of the green and let it come back. If you hit it dead straight you'll have a simple chip or putt from the fringe. The opposite applies for a draw.

Also, don't go chasing flags particularly in competitions. Many greenkeepers incorporate "sucker" pins that attract players but are usually on heaviliy conotured parts of the green or very close to serious trouble. Middle of the green everytime will make life much easier.

I've read the Pelz books. I didn't rate the putting one too mcu as it was way too technical for me and I'd rather see and feel a putt rather than focus on the mechanics. Bizarrely I liked the short game book and have worked hard on the concept of learning to control distances with a clock face drill. What I would say though is that the short game and putting is as much about seeing the line and judging pace as technique. Learn a solid chipping and pitching swing and then trust it
 
This pre-season I am going to work constantly on 100 yards and into the pin to within 7 foot, also practice my 3, 5 and 7 footers with putting until I am great at it.
 
Most of the golf books recommend you spend the biggest majority of your time from that distance anyway. It is just that a lot of people would rather practice hitting the ball a distance. I will also be trying to practice in this area as much as possible. Good luck.
 
For me course management is one of the biggest most important parts of the game and for a beginner to be thinking about it shows a great understanding for the game IMO!

for me it does not matter what club you are using but to learn to hit the club you are hitting where you want leaving you the best attempt you can at the next shot

It is a great advantage to have to know how far you hit each club and having the confidence not to take the driver go to the 3 wood or even 3 iron on a hole. But there is IMO no way to teach this as no two holes are the same.

Dont know if that makes much sense but it did when i was typing it :o :D
 
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