| There are many factors that can contribute to | | | | play like bunkers. |
| helping to lower your golf scores and reduce your | | | | It is important to play high percentage shots that |
| handicap and course management is one of them. | | | | you know you can pull off more often than not. If |
| This is an often overlooked aspect of golf as people | | | | you find yourself 275 yards from a hole and have |
| seek to develop a perfect swing in order to play | | | | never hit a 3 wood that far then do not try to pull |
| better golf. The fact is that proper course | | | | of a miracle shot on the course. Instead just lay up |
| management can make a huge difference and it | | | | safely with a shorter club and then use your wedge |
| really is a big part of the mental game of golf. | | | | game to get the ball close to the hole. Do not forget |
| Every course has it unique challenges and every hole | | | | to take the hardness of the greens into consideration |
| is also different. It is important to know what your | | | | when hitting your approach shots. After the first |
| strengths and weaknesses are first. When you play a | | | | couple of holes you should be able to get a good |
| new course analyze each hole and come up with a | | | | idea of how much roll the greens have. |
| game plan. Your game plan should have an element | | | | You should always hit the shot you know you can hit |
| of flexibility, for instance if it is windy then you will | | | | rather than some shot you saw a pro hit on tv. Also |
| need to adjust accordingly and hit lower shots and | | | | be sure to swing within yourself and under control as |
| choose longer clubs, you may hit more punch shots | | | | this will help to promote more accurate swing |
| that stay under the wind if the wind is in your face. | | | | mechanics. Also when checking for wind direction on |
| If the wind is helping you might decide to go ahead | | | | a hole it is best to look at the tops of trees instead |
| with a driver on a par 5 and go for the green in 2 | | | | of just throwing up some grass in the air since the |
| shots instead of using a 3 wood. A good tip to follow | | | | wind at ground level may be swirling due to trees |
| is to analyze each hole from the green looking back | | | | and hills whereas the golf ball will be more affected |
| to the tee. This view will let you see the hole better | | | | by the wind higher up. |
| and will allow you to pick better landing spots on the | | | | Before each round make sure to come up with a |
| fairway that will give you a better and flatter lie for | | | | specific game plan and club selection off the tee for |
| easier approach shots. | | | | each hole and stick with it. If you made a decision to |
| When hitting approach shots into a green you are | | | | not go for a specific par 5 in 2 shots then do not |
| generally better being short than long unless there is | | | | change that plan and hit your driver just because |
| water or some other hazard short of the green. | | | | some of your playing partners decided to go for the |
| Most courses are very unforgiving if you go long on | | | | green in two. The biggest key to course |
| a hole as you will usually find yourself in the trees or | | | | management may be simply playing the high |
| even out of bounds. The pin positions on a hole | | | | percentage shots that keep you out of trouble and |
| should influence how you hit your approach shots. For | | | | allows you to hit the most fairways and greens in |
| most amateurs it is good advice to pick the fat part | | | | regulation. Use some of these golf course |
| of the green instead of shooting at tight pin | | | | management tips to help you play better golf and |
| placements that bring water and other hazards into | | | | shoot lower scores. |