How to Use Course Management

Course management is a skill and it’s only by gaining experience and actually getting on the golf course that you will develop your ability in this area. We all make mistakes, but you have to learn in order to avoid making the same mistakes in the future and increase your chance to score well.

You should always play to your strengths.

Positional Play

Try to look at the angles, easiest is usually best. Observe the position of flag before you get to the green. It is an easier shot to make if you have the right angle, so if the flag is on the left of the green, coming in from the right of the fairway is best.

It may be that the hole is near a hazard or a bunker, in which case a shot to the middle of the green will be the sensible play. The flag may be at the top of a slope, if this is the case it is better to play below the pin as this will give you an easier putt.

Try to think of where you would like your shots to be when you start the hole and play to those positions. Being on the fairway is easier than being in the rough.

Hazards

On some holes you may find hazards that you can’t get over. It’s sensible to lay up short in this case. A common error in ‘laying up’ is to use too much club so ending up in the hazard! If you’re going to lay up, then don’t mess with with hazard, choose a club which will allow your ball to finish short of the hazard.

Dog Legs

When playing dog legs it it always tempting to cut off too much. Is is usually a better plan to be too wide off the tee than too narrow as this will ensure that you have a good view of the next shot without obstacles in your path.

Recovery Shots

No matter how carefully you play you will often find yourself in positions which require an ‘escape’ shot of some sort. Always take the safe option - it may be the chip out sideways - but it wont land you in more trouble, and if you play the shot correctly it will get you out of trouble. Don’t be tempted to ‘have a go’ unless you are feeling very confident or it doesn’t matter!

The same applies to bunkers, take enough loft to get you out of the bunker. This is the object of the exercise - not to try for the longest shot and in doing so hit the top of the bunker and land back in it!

You need to assess your ability and correctly play the course according to make the most of that. Getting that elusive score is what keeps us coming back week after week…………….