How important is the drive ?

[Golfmmad]

To me driving is very important,not only for confidence but on my relatively short tight course, position is key. With water, ditches, bushes, trees and deep rough, not forgetting bunkers. If you're not hitting straight and on line it's hard to make par, and there are bogeys a plenty!

Golfmmad.

 

[Whereditgo]

To me driving is very important,not only for confidence but on my relatively short tight course, position is key. With water, ditches, bushes, trees and deep rough, not forgetting bunkers. If you're not hitting straight and on line it's hard to make par, and there are bogeys a plenty!

Golfmmad.

I totally agree. After a few typical novices problems with a slice my driving has become very reliable, which really helps to take the pressure off the 2nd shot. Played my first ever club comp today and hit only one fairway and that with a 3 wood. I managed to score ok on the shorter par 3's and 4's but was in deep 'doodah' on all the longer holes, 3 off the tee 3 times lots of trees, deep rough and OB to find.

Before anyone asks why I didn't go back to the 3 wood for all the tee shots - I did after 5 or 6 horrors, but by then I couldn't even hit that

A 3 putt would normally be considered to cost you 1 shot whereas a wayward drive into deep trouble can easily cost 2 or 3. The quotation in the OP is probably more accurate for low handicappers than for someone of my (limited) ability IMO.

The driving disaster didn't spoil my enjoyment of the day though! and I will be back for more punishment soon lol

 

[Parmo]

I don't see it as important, I think being in the middle at 200-220 far more important on each hole.

For the first time yesterday I left my driver at home, I used mostly my 4 iron and a hybrid on a couple of holes and though a scramble I played very well compared to a driver which can work but more often than not leaves me in trouble and ruins cards.

So or the forseeable future I shall be dropping my driver in favour of irons and hybrids off the tee.

 

[viscount17]

I'm in a similar position to nomad, get a decent drive then a rubbish second, though I think it's more to do with long sticks off grass as if I just go out with a 3 or 4-i in the bag I can still get decent tee-shots away.

so not so much the driver as the tee-shot that can be make or break.