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The temptation to "do a Sergio" has undone more scorecards than it's made |
"Comparatively few golfers ever show that they are aware that the golf architect tries to design a course that rewards an intelligent golfer and penalizes a stupid one" |
Tommy Armour |
Tips on game strategy II
By Alex Nicolson PGA
There are three beliefs that often hinder an amateur's game management.
Belief number one: "I'm not consistent enough to bother planning a shot - what's the point?".
This golfer spends little time asessing the shot he is about to take on, because experience tells him that the ball rarely goes where he wants it to. He is, however missing the point of smart game strategy. Like every other game-improving skill, game strategy doesn't guarantee that the shot will work, there are too many other variables involved to get a 100% success rate on choosing the right shot. The point is that it significantly improves your chances, and your average score will be lower. Moreover, picking the right target and the right club puts your swing under less pressure. The result? You find you have more control over the ball than you thought.
Belief number two: "Think positive, I can play any shot"
This golfer has a different mindset, but it will prove just as damaging as the above belief. As he faces up to take on a low raking hook with a two iron around a tree, up a hill and onto an island green, he thinks because he saw Sergio pull off this shot off once, he can do it too. Bob Rotella's advice on this is simple:
"Hit the shot you know you can hit, not the one you think you should".
To know what is a shot you can hit, ask yourself honestly if you had ten goes at it, how many times could you pull it off? If the answer is less than seven, then play safe.
Belief number three: "I've got to go for the flag on this one".
From major championships to club medals, there are few days in competitve golf where a round was damaged by the golfer aiming at a pin unneccessarily. On this point, Jim McLean noted that:
"Jack Nicklaus played his entire career by hitting mostly to the centre of the green...Amateurs go flag hunting a lot too often, and it severely hurts their scoring ability and enjoyment."
To overcome the desire to go for the flag on every shot, a golfer needs to learn to associate more pleasure from making smart decisions and constructing a score. Remember, that coordination and talent alone do not make good players. Good players use their brain well, and calculating risk is an integral part of consistent scoring in golf.
Good luck with your golf