COMMUNITY

I don't usually plan ahead of getting to the course but I DO play a more conservative style when there are greens I know I can't reach in regulation. Particularly long par 4's. If I have over a 200 yard approach shot that means I'm hitting a hybrid or 3 wood. These are clubs that for ME aren't "target shooting" clubs. I'd play a shot like this to lay up in the fairway short of the green and the typical front greenside bunkers with a 4 or 5 iron and give myself a chance at an up and down. I still might make a bogie but the result is usually worse if I try to hit a target that is out of range.

If I'm playing a course I've never played before, I will use Google Earth and the scorecard to get a sense of the course. This helps in tee-box selection as well. When I'm playing the course and I see pin placements that are termed "sucker" pins, I'll play away them to a safe area that gives me a better chance to post a lower score on the hole. I also don't try shots that I don't have in my bag. It's better to play the safe shot than to attempt something that the percentages aren't high in pulling off.

I have done this before, check out my blog section for a few examples. Mostly to get a feel for courses I'm playing for the first time. I have actually mapped out hole-by-hole which clubs I want to use to reach specific yardages to the green. I also use Google Earth extensively to get a feel for the layout and sometimes even print out the overhead views to bring with me to the course.

I have found it useful to work backwards from the green to see if I can reach say a comfortable 9 iron shot with a 3 wood. The overheads are also great for seeing where hazards are which may not be obvious from the tee. As far as using 3 wood off the tee, that's been kind of hit or miss for me. I know I should do this more but mostly if I'm hitting the top of the bag well longer is better and if I'm not hitting the top of the bag well then longer is even better than that.

Don't know that it has helped my game by a specific number of strokes. I know I feel a little more comfortable knowing where the next tee box is located. What has helped my scores is learning to hit the tee ball straighter and using the face of the wedge to hit the ball instead of the blade. Two putts are silver and bogeys are gold!

I had the same type of feeling until I saw this. When in doubt, refer to someone smater than you.

I like that quote!

My goal is to play as many high percentage shots as I can in a round. The driver is definitely a risk/reward club, but it's the lowest percentage club for accuracy, even on the tour. I'm hoping that I can turn my driver into more of a weapon through repetition, but I am learning that there is a Plan B or Plan C available on most holes, unless the long yardage on a hole requires hitting a driver or 3w (I still want GIR's with a chance to 2-putt for par). On an 18 hole round, though, how often is hitting driver actually required for a chance to get on in 2? My guesstimate is between 3-5 holes (coming from a guy currently playing the intermediate tees). Penalty free rounds are welcome at all times! It's not flashy by any means, but if it helps my handicap...

That all depends on yardage and how far and accurate you are with your shorter clubs.

Daniel, I think it's great that you are exploring course management and sharing your experience.

For me I've found that only about 25% of my course management is ahead of the round. Most of it occurs during the round as I discover tee and pin placements for the day, other conditions, and assess the situation for the shot at hand.

As you continue down this path I think you'll find that course management isn't so much about playing conservatively as it is assessing the situation and your abilities to determine the play that is most likely to give you the best result.

I used to play a fairly conservative game. My gameplan was to maximize the potential for pars, reduce bogies and hopefully eliminate double bogies or worse.

The trouble with that plan is that you eliminate opportunities for birdies and almost certainly eagles.

Right now I am in a struggle...my worst club is my 3 wood, which I tend to hook. It really only comes into the occasion when I am looking to push the envelope to hit a par 5 in two shots. My my course you can really go at 2 of the par 5's without major risk...holes #2 and #12 have severe penalties for missing left or right...either OB or water...pick your poison.

When I played a lot of golf several years ago i played a more aggressive style. Driver on any hole I could hit it, try the hero shots to keep birdie in play, etc.. It worked and I was around a 3 hdcp. When I started playing much less (damn wife and kids) I was still trying the same style but results were much worse and I ballooned into double digits. At the time, I was playing a lot of golf while traveling so I did not know the courses and got myself in trouble. When I started playing a more conservative style, my scores fell quickly and better yet I wasn't having to try to save a score. I hit a lot of 2H and 4I off tees and a few more 7 and 8 irons in to greens instead of wedges. I play more to center of greens or miss where I have a easy chip. A lot of the golf I play now is at courses I know pretty well and know how I can play a hole and how I should play it.

Thanks for all of the feedback so far gents! Many of your comments are right in line with what I expected to hear.

There are so many variables on a given day that can impact how a round is played. That's what makes the game so challenging and fun!

If I had a mulligan this season, I would have taken the time early on in the season to draw up a plan or two (one conservative, one a bit more aggressive) for how I'd like to play each of my local courses.

It shouldn't take all that long to make a blueprint, and once finished, should only need a minor adjustment here or there along the way. Sounds like a good investment (at least in theory)!

A long time ago, someone in this site recommended to me this Webpage Bluegolf.com I don't remember how I did but just create an account and sign in, You'll fine basically every course in google earth style, from the top and you van measure every distance from the Tee to hazards, bunkers or whatever you want, it's pretty cool in case you want to plan ahead a round of golf. Good Luck

One thing that really helped my management was a piece of advice that a good friend gave me before a big tournament about 4 years ago. He asked me what yardages I was the most comfortable hitting into greens. 160 and in my game is solid so we decided that my target distance for most par4s should be in the 95-150 range which will put something between an 8i and 60* wedge in my hand. If I hit my tee shot in that target zone then I have a great shot at par or better.

I would argue that a driver is more often than not the better play off the tee box over a 3 wood. There is more technology and forgiveness in a driver. Perhaps choking down and shortening the club a bit would help some.

Not always, but usually if I am going to miss I would prefer to miss longer off the tee and closer to the hole.

At my club we have OB in play on nearly every hole with houses lining most fairways so that isn't the case at my home course.

If your problem is making solid contact, yes. If you are fighting a slice with the driver then the 3W is a great option.

This really brings in a good question.

In my daily life I take few chances, my life depends on it.

On the course I take a lot of chances. Any round without a birdie, regardless of score, doesn't satisfy me. I love the thrill a birdie more than I hate the pain of a bogey or double. Triple is another story...