GOOD strategy is a key element of success in all
sports. In golf, sound planning can often save you
shots during a round when your ball-striking is not as
pure as it should, or could, be.
When given the opportunity to choose between an
aggressive ‘go for it’ play or laying back into a safer
spot, most amateurs tend to choose the aggressive
one. Of course, pulling off a difficult play is a great
feeling for any golfer but if you really want to shoot
lower scores, you need to learn when to be aggressive
and when taking a risk becomes a dumb play.
It is important that you are realistic about your own
capabilities and, bearing these in mind, play higher
percentage shots. This is good strategy.
The most common place for amateurs not to use
good strategy is on a short- to medium-length par-5
where they reach their drive and then toy with hitting
the green in two to set up a rare chance at eagle.
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Pic 1:
Click image
to enlarge |
Here, I am 220 metres from the flag, putting the green
in range for the second shot, which would be the case
for most golfers with a handicap between scratch and
15. The shot is a semi-blind one with only the top of the
fl ag visible beyond the crest of a hill and an outcrop of
dense tea tree that cuts into the fairway (pic 1).
When faced with such a shot I have seen amateurs,
some with a handicap as high as 27, pull out their
3-wood or even a driver and try to blast an approach
over the trouble and fi nd the green. A lost ball and
several shots later they walk to the next tee annoyed.
If your goal is to shoot the lowest score possible, you
have to think how many times out of ten you might
expect to execute an aggressive play like the one
outlined. If you can’t imagine making the shot at least
seven out of ten times, seek an alternative play.
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Pic 1:
Click image to enlarge |
The alternative shot to the one mentioned is to lay
up on the crest of the hill about 60 metres short of
the green (pic 2). Hitting a mid-iron to a wide area
of fairway will avoid all the trouble and leave enough
distance to hit a solid wedge shot from a good flat lie
that can be knocked close to set up a birdie chance.
When pros lay up short of trouble, most calculate
how far they need to hit their second to leave a third
shot at a distance requiring a fuller swing, so they don’t
have to second-guess how hard to hit their pitch.
Anthony Summers is a member of the PGA of Australia and
the Australasian PGA Tour. He finished 26th on the 2007 Order
of Merit, which included a tied 10th result at the MasterCard
Masters at Huntingdale.
For more on this story purchase a copy of the November 2008 Issue of Golf Australia.
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