COMMUNITY

It is actually quite simple to cut those nasty double and triple bogeys out of your round, if you are committed to doing so. What you need to do, is focus on where you are most comfortable from for your 2nd shot.

Personally, that for me is anywhere between 60 to 170, so that gives me options. I can hit anything from a Lob Wedge to a 6 Iron.

But, you also need to play the hole on some occasions. Maybe you have a 400 dogleg right. Well, then you have 4 options off the tee. Driver, 3 wood, 3i hybrid or your 4-iron. I know I can hit a draw about 195 carry, so I could go with two 4-iron shots. Or, I could go with driver and have about 115 left. But, that is risk if you aren't careful.

Weigh your options. See your shots. Keep it in the fairway. The more fairways (or just off fairways) that you have will result in an easier 2nd shot.

Today, I had 4 double's and a triple. Why? Well it is quite embarrassing for the triple. Topped my tee shot, hit my next shot fat. I hit a tree on my third. I barely hit the limb pushing it out to the right 80 yards out. I didn't hit my SW, instead stupidly I hit my Lob Wedge thinking I could hit it hard,not thinking it was an uphill shot with the pin in the back. One bad chip, and one putt. Now, this would have been easier without topping the tee shot, but we all do it every now and then.

For the doubles, I had a bad tee shot and two stubbed chips leading to a 2 putt for a 7 on a par 5. The 3rd hole, I just hit a fat shot once from the fairway and into the water. No big deal. I almost saved the bogey. I then proceeded to go bogey, par, bogey, par and par to finish the 9. But, I didn't pay attention to my yardage on the 10th hole par 3, got unlucky on the 13th, and there is that.

So here is what I want you to do to cut those out (I will be doing this, too):

- Weigh your options on the tee. Leave a good fitting shot for your 2nd shot.

- Do not be careless. Check your yardages, no matter how often you play the course. I play Boscobel once or twice a week, and I misread the yardage.

- When you hit in the water, don't get cute on your drop 4th shot. Just hit it and try to chip it with a make-able bogey putt.

- Know what kind of shot you are hitting that day. Be sure to adjust to what you are doing on the course. Work on it at the range later if it is bad.

Do these things, and I do believe you will cut those dreaded bad holes out of your rounds. Hey, that cost me at least 11 strokes today, robbing me of a 78. That could be you tomorrow, or another day.

Just remember, stay calm and control the ball.