Play for bogey, make par?

[RGDave]

I went and played today, despite the rain (tipping it down for 5 holes) and then the wind (gale force).
I needed to sort myself out on a few holes...having wrecked most of my last 10 (?) cards on 5 specific holes.

What does "playing for a bogey mean"?....does it mean boshing the big dog, then playing safe when it goes wrong? or does it mean literally playing par 4s as par 5s and maybe even a 3 as a 4?

So, last weekend I made 6/6/NR/6/6 on 4 par fours and the "last" par 3. On stableford adjustment, that's like 5 doubles, in my mind it was simply 12 shots gone on 5 holes. NOT GOOD.

Anyway, since today was not exactly easy scoring, it made sense to try the ultra-conservative approach.

I played all four par 4s as 5s and the par 3 as a par 4.

Todays score? 5/6/5/4/4......so only the 5 over for the five holes. 1 par, one double, 3 bogeys.....




Teeing off on the 411 yard par 4 with a 5 iron raised a few eyebrows. Not as many though as taking a 9 iron to a 200 yard par 3 over a pond!!!! I laid up short of the pond, then hit a 1/2 SW to 12 foot......suddenly it seemed quite sensible. The rest of my group played for the green and the best score was a double.

Give it a try! seriously.....but don't cheat.

If you are playing a par 4 as a par 5, don't do it in half measures. I've never bettered a double-bogey 6 on the 16th hole (not off white) and today, I played 4 iron, 6 iron, 30-yard pitch, single putt for a great par......played for a 5, made a 4!!!

Shame the rest of my game was rubbish......still didn't get 36 points

 

[PhilTheFragger]

There may be some merit in your comments,

How many times have you taken a driver to a straight 450 yard par 4 and put it in the trees, or topped it and it didnt reach the ladies tee.

whereas if you had taken 3 half decent 7 irons, you could be on the green for 3, 2 put for a net par.

Its called percentage golf, with a long drive there is more chance it will go wrong than with a steady 7 iron.

Or am i talking out of my hat?

 

[Sneds]

I agree with this to a certain extent, but I certainly wouldn't be playing a straight 450yd par 4 like that, unless it was a very narrow fairway with danger around.

I only play one par 4 as a par 5 at my course and it's because it's very narrow with OOB on the right. All the other holes I just play as they are. x

 

[RGDave]

I agree with this to a certain extent, but I certainly wouldn't be playing a straight 450yd par 4 like that, unless it was a very narrow fairway with danger around.

I only play one par 4 as a par 5 at my course and it's because it's very narrow with OOB on the right. All the other holes I just play as they are. x

Yes, well obviously.....

"very narrow fairway with danger around"....that's exactly what I'm talking.



Maybe I should have explained.....

 

[RGDave]

........whereas if you had taken 3 half decent 7 irons, you could be on the green for 3, 2 put for a net par.

Or am i talking out of my hat?

I'm not recommending the 3 x 7 irons idea....because 3 7s might reach 440-480 yards, but you've got to hit the green with the 3rd 7 iron.....not that easy really.

I'm suggesting taking a sure-fire bet off the tee (5 wood, hybrid, 4/5 iron, whatever, given the width of fairway) then "laying up" as you might on a par 5.

For example, the 411 yard hole I've been making 6s and 7s on, (either due to wayward drive or wayward 2nd) I went with a 5 iron, an 8 iron short of the ditch then a pitch.....two days running (did the same yesterday).

As it happens, I could take 2 x 7 irons on this hole and leave a PW! Good thinking....I'll do this next time

 

[Sneds]

I agree with this to a certain extent, but I certainly wouldn't be playing a straight 450yd par 4 like that, unless it was a very narrow fairway with danger around.

I only play one par 4 as a par 5 at my course and it's because it's very narrow with OOB on the right. All the other holes I just play as they are. x

Yes, well obviously.....

"very narrow fairway with danger around"....that's exactly what I'm talking.



Maybe I should have explained.....

No I knew what you were saying, my response was directed at Phil more.

The one hole that I play as a par 5 is a long hole which is dogleg left. I need a driver to reach the corner and it has a big tree protecting cutting the corner with your second shot. I try to take a 4 iron, 8 iron lay up and pitch on. x

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've got to say I agree with the methodology but I think a lot of us, myself included, who tend to play a lot at our home track become blinkered into taking the same club everytime. It wasn't until I started hiting some ditches with the driver that the penny dropped and a 3 wood and a bit of run would put me no worse off than a normal drive in windy or winter conditions. Funnily enough I hit more fairways and made better scores. Cometh the change in weather though and rather than stick with it and hitting 5 wood at the green or laying up and making a "safe" bogey out comes the driver again and back come the doubles. I need a serious look at my course management again!

 

[RGDave]

Cheers Homer. The only drawback to making the firm decision to play a hole as a "real" par 5, is that you have to be prepared to make a 6. I made ONE today. 1/5 ain't too bad.

On the 6th hole (449), I played 5 wood, 7 iron and had more left than expected (into the wind )

Took a 9 iron from PW distance (115) and pushed it 2 yards right of the right edge (10 yards right??).

Pitched/chipped to 6 foot, missed and tapped in. Only played 1 poor-ish shot really and made a double. In hindsight, I should have gone with a rescue here to get to under 90 yards.

 

[kid2]

I've got to say I agree with the methodology but I think a lot of us, myself included, who tend to play a lot at our home track become blinkered into taking the same club everytime. It wasn't until I started hiting some ditches with the driver that the penny dropped and a 3 wood and a bit of run would put me no worse off than a normal drive in windy or winter conditions. Funnily enough I hit more fairways and made better scores. Cometh the change in weather though and rather than stick with it and hitting 5 wood at the green or laying up and making a "safe" bogey out comes the driver again and back come the doubles. I need a serious look at my course management again!

Hey guys.
Just logged on .
Iv been playing like this for the past 4 rounds as my pro has said to me to go out and play for all bogeys and if you get some pars its a bonus.
On 3 of the 4 cards iv handed in iv had over 34 points which isnt bad scoring.
I felt as though there was no pressure on me playing holes when i wasnt trying to par them and it seems to be working so far.Iv ditched the big stick on some holes except for the par 5's and the way iv tackled these is that i usually hit a drive and hit 2 irons into the green wich gives me a chance of 3 putting for 2 points ........
Now someone correct me if im wrong but anytime you come off a course with over 34 points its pretty good shooting....
I am aware as the handicap starts to tumble that the par 5's are usually the first holes that your shots are lost on so a different method of attacking the greens for these will arise which means that instead of the 2 irons after the drive it will probably mean either a 3W or a 5W for the 2nd shot but until then im going to enjoy playing with the pressure off.

 

[RGDave]

Iv been playing like this for the past 4 rounds as my pro has said to me to go out and play for all bogeys and if you get some pars its a bonus.
On 3 of the 4 cards iv handed in iv had over 34 points which isnt bad scoring.
I felt as though there was no pressure on me playing holes when i wasnt trying to par them and it seems to be working so far.Iv ditched the big stick on some holes except for the par 5's and the way iv tackled these is that i usually hit a drive and hit 2 irons into the green wich gives me a chance of 3 putting for 2 points ........
Now someone correct me if im wrong but anytime you come off a course with over 34 points its pretty good shooting....
I am aware as the handicap starts to tumble that the par 5's are usually the first holes that your shots are lost on so a different method of attacking the greens for these will arise which means that instead of the 2 irons after the drive it will probably mean either a 3W or a 5W for the 2nd shot but until then im going to enjoy playing with the pressure off.

Good comments. I don't necessarily agree about the par 5s being the first holes to attack. I go for the short par 4s to be honest. I also don't know whether the theory should extend to par 3s. The only reason I used the idea on our long par 3 is that there are tress left and right of the pond, so even if you've got the "carry" to get over, the ball will almost certainly land in the trees and leave no (2nd) shot to the green.

The easiest way to make a 5 (on a par 4) is to take a big club, play something sensible up to/close to the green. We all make "safe" bogeys this way, for sure. But sometimes the drive itself is the problem on a tight course. Although my course is really tight, there are holes where a player might take a 5 wood or long iron then hit a 3 wood second shot!

 

[kid2]

Just as an example here but the 1st hole on my course is 320 mtrs off the white slight dogleg right OOB on the right
heavy rough on the left and a tightish fairway to hit..
Now i did normally hit a driver off the tee which left me with usually around 70-80mtrs to the green but as this is an awkward distance for me iv been playing it lately with a 5W off the tee which leaves me with around 100-120 mtrs which is my pitching wedge range
Iv hit this green 4 out of 4 the last 4 rounds and have bogied it twice and parred it twice which im pretty happy with....
Iv taking this thinking onto the rest of the holes and so far its paying dividends but iv really got to sort out my putting.....
When iv got this mastered i think i can really attack the course properly....

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Point of Order

What is all this talk of meters in the last reply
Now I admit I am not an experienced golfer, but on all the courses I have ever been on,I have only seen yards YARDS, not meters.

I know its only 3 inches different yard/meter , but on a 450 yard hole that is loads different, could be 1 or 2 clubs

Heck its hard enough already without having to have a degree in mental maths to complete a round
and still get some points

 

[RGDave]

Just as an example here but the 1st hole on my course is 320 mtrs off the white slight dogleg right OOB on the right
heavy rough on the left and a tightish fairway to hit..
Now i did normally hit a driver off the tee which left me with usually around 70-80mtrs to the green but as this is an awkward distance for me iv been playing it lately with a 5W off the tee which leaves me with around 100-120 mtrs which is my pitching wedge range
Iv hit this green 4 out of 4 the last 4 rounds and have bogied it twice and parred it twice which im pretty happy with....
Iv taking this thinking onto the rest of the holes and so far its paying dividends but iv really got to sort out my putting.....
When iv got this mastered i think i can really attack the course properly....

yes, well a 320 metre hole is like a 350 yarder. On 350 (we have 2) I always go with a 3 wood, no matter how "safe" I'm playing, unless it's a dog-leg left, in which case....I'm in trouble!!

 

[Bigfoot]

I got down to 17 by just using this policy and only using a 3 iron off most tees.

Regarding meters, I have just played in France and it is quite easy to add ten percent onto the meter distance. We played a team stableford competition and won so it can't be that difficult.

On another tack, one of the opposition had a Bushnell and gave me distances. Really impressive.

 

[RGDave]

I got down to 17 by just using this policy and only using a 3 iron off most tees.

Good man. Where're you playing?

 

[Bigfoot]

Wharton Park, Bewdley but I took to the driver to get to 13!

 

[kid2]

Point of Order

What is all this talk of meters in the last reply
Now I admit I am not an experienced golfer, but on all the courses I have ever been on,I have only seen yards YARDS, not meters.

I know its only 3 inches different yard/meter , but on a 450 yard hole that is loads different,

Heck its hard enough already without having to have a degree in mental maths to complete a round
and still get some points

Just giving you the facts Phil.....
Alot of our courses here in Ireland still use metres......Dont ask me why Im just used to dealing in them now....

 

[justhitthething]

Wharton Park, Bewdley but I took to the driver to get to 13!

Here we have it in a nutshell. Its not about playing to bogey, its about playing to your handicap. Effectively we should be targetting nett pars on each hole. This could be a 4 5 or 6 on a par 4 depending on your handicap and the stroke index.
I have no doubt that this is the best way to reduce your handicap. It is also without question the best way to win handicap Matchplay matches.

 

[Robobum]

Here we have it in a nutshell. Its not about playing to bogey, its about playing to your handicap. Effectively we should be targetting nett pars on each hole. This could be a 4 5 or 6 on a par 4 depending on your handicap and the stroke index.
I have no doubt that this is the best way to reduce your handicap. It is also without question the best way to win handicap Matchplay matches.

Disagree with this totally.

On every tee box, regardless of the par, Stroke index or hole length, ask yourself one question......

How do <u>I</u> get the ball in the hole in the fewest shots possible allowing for the strengths and weaknesses in my own game?

It's not a question for high handicap or poor drivers etc, it's just course management and a question that all players should be asking.

 

[Sneds]

Here we have it in a nutshell. Its not about playing to bogey, its about playing to your handicap. Effectively we should be targetting nett pars on each hole.

Disagree. Just try to get the best score you can. I think if you have a few holes that you're having problems with (like the OP) then you may look at how you're playing the hole and try something new. x