| Course Management Techniques. | | | | the seawall on the 18th hole at Pebble Beach, |
| The better you get at golf, the more important | | | | where the bunker helps prevent balls from |
| the strategic aspects of the game become. But | | | | heading into the water. The 12th green at |
| during your development and while you are | | | | Augusta National has a bunker that protects the |
| working to improve, you should start exercising | | | | middle green approach, which narrows the green |
| your golfers eye to look for opportunities to | | | | considerably because of the back greenside |
| improve your play and ultimately your score. An | | | | bunker and the speed of the green (as well as |
| often overlooked aspect of golf is course | | | | the wind and the pressure). Much like on holes 11 |
| management. Course management is simply | | | | and 13, water and Rae's creek provide natural |
| working your way around the golf course in a | | | | protection that dramatically limits the options for |
| manner that avoids risks and focuses on playing | | | | approach shots. With the architectural changes |
| high percentage golf. Much like the pool or billiards | | | | done to Augusta in recent years, the best |
| player, the ideal strategy is to execute a game | | | | approaches to most greens are guarded by |
| plan in such a manner that you never leave | | | | myriad bunkers positioned to catch the ideal tee |
| yourself a difficult shot. A difficult shot in this | | | | shot. Laying up short of these bunkers forces the |
| context is a shot that provides high risk for a low | | | | player to hit a longer iron that is difficult to hold |
| reward or forces you to hit a shot that you are | | | | on the fast greens and also difficult to hit to the |
| not comfortable hitting. Or more to the point, the | | | | best green positions. Flirting with the bunker risks |
| goal is to never leave yourself a shot that you | | | | a second shot that can't reach the green because |
| haven't practiced before and are therefore not | | | | of the severe lip of the bunker. The 13th hole |
| confident that you can pull it off. I acknowledge | | | | favors a draw off the tee, but overcook the tee |
| that this is easier said than done for most if not | | | | shot and you face overhanging trees, pine cones, |
| all of us. All the more reason to have a plan you | | | | Rae's Creek and an uneven lie with a narrow |
| are attempting to follow. | | | | angle of attack to the green, which is |
| What Is The Relative Importance Of This With All | | | | compensated for somewhat by the shortened |
| The Other Golf "Stuff"? | | | | length along that angle of approach. The 6th at |
| You don't hear much about golf course | | | | Carnoustie is a famous risk reward hole at 578 |
| management, though, so how important is it to | | | | yards, with the "A" or green position a flat space |
| scoring? Ben Hogan was quoted as saying that an | | | | on the left side of the fairway dangerously close |
| average swing and a disciplined approach to | | | | to OB. Although he only played Carnoustie in the |
| course management are enough to play pro golf. | | | | 1953 Open (British), the 6th is still known as |
| When combined with a good swing, it was | | | | Hogan's Alley for the way he famously threaded |
| possible to play winning golf! Hogan assessed at | | | | the needle and hit the same area every day of |
| one point in his career that hitting the ball | | | | the tournament and went for the green in two. |
| accounted for 20% and course management or | | | | How Do I Make This Work for My Game? |
| the planning part of the equation an astounding | | | | There is nothing inherently difficult about |
| 80%! In fact, reading between the lines of | | | | implementing golf course management or |
| Hogan's recommendations and beliefs reveals that | | | | strategic play in your own game. The key is to |
| he considered a bad shot not one which is mishit, | | | | think differently about how you play holes that |
| because that is bound to happen during the | | | | you may have played so often that you now hit |
| course of a round. A bad shot to him was a shot | | | | shots without even thinking about strategy. Or |
| that even if hit perfectly, would be no good | | | | maybe you don't have sufficient control of the |
| because of the leave or the difficulty of executing | | | | golf ball, so you feel it is not an element that |
| the next shot. Hogan should know, as among the | | | | would work for you. All the more reason to think |
| changes he credits with contributing to his success | | | | strategically, as the judicious use of your limited |
| on the pro tour after nearly going broke for a | | | | strengths and the deliberate avoidance of your |
| third time was a disciplined course management | | | | weaknesses could by itself improve your scores |
| approach. This approach transformed him from a | | | | and make you a better golfer. A caution up front |
| struggling pro through early 1938 to its leading | | | | here is that nothing I am advocating should slow |
| money winner for several years and a record of | | | | down the pace of your play: you should do most |
| some 117 straight finishes in the money before | | | | of the thinking prior to getting behind the ball and |
| being interrupted by World War II. Hogan rode | | | | triggering your pre-shot routine. Do you have |
| course management hard until he achieved the | | | | trouble hitting the ball different directions on |
| breakthrough with his secret in 1946. Tom | | | | demand, or do you favor a draw or fade as your |
| Watson considered it so important that he wrote | | | | predominate shot? You should have a default shot |
| a book dedicated to it. Finally, I should add that | | | | you can hit on demand with a preference or |
| not every golfer believes in strict adherence to | | | | comfort level with one or the other type shot. |
| strategic play or adopting a relatively "dogmatic" | | | | Strategic play would be planning your shots in |
| approach to this element of the game. Ray Floyd | | | | consideration of your predominate ball flight. So |
| obviously played strategically, but he did not like | | | | let's say you are on the tee facing a 420 yard |
| developing a set game plan ahead of time to | | | | hole with bunkers left and right, out about 235 to |
| attack a course, preferring to pick his spots | | | | 260 yards or so and the pin is in the back right |
| based on his execution and to derive a strategy | | | | narrow part of the green, protected by a deep |
| on the spur of the moment. His reluctance to do | | | | bunker. All things being equal (e.g., wind, conditions, |
| so was a temperament or personal issue. He | | | | etc.), if you have assessed the hole properly, you |
| knew his game very well and it "scrambled" his | | | | likely took note of the "A" or green position just |
| brain if he failed to execute according to his plan, | | | | beyond and protected by the bunker on the left |
| having and adverse affect on his confidence. | | | | side. A good player would likely blow a wood over |
| There are not many Ray Floyd's out there, | | | | the left bunker to get the angle to the pin from |
| however, so if you reach this point in your | | | | the far left side, where a fade will then open up |
| development, congratulations. The rest of us | | | | the green. A decent player might try to sling a |
| should read on! | | | | driver or wood in from the right side, past the |
| What Is Golf Course Management? | | | | bunker, to leave a short iron or wedge with a |
| Have you ever played a golf course and taken | | | | good angle to the green. An alternative would be |
| note of where the bunkers or other hazards are | | | | hitting a hybrid or 3 iron up the left side short of |
| in relation to the green? Of course you have, and | | | | the bunker and then hitting a short iron (7 or 8 |
| you've probably also looked back from the green | | | | iron) to the middle of the green, playing a fade |
| and noted that there was an easier way to play | | | | but taking the bunker out of play. What would |
| the hole from the perspective of the green. | | | | you do? I can't tell you the number of times over |
| Maybe that view was not discernable from the | | | | the years I have played with a golfer who in this |
| tee. Or similarly, looked back from your tee shot | | | | situation hit a driver up the right side without even |
| and realized there was a lot more room than the | | | | a second thought (because we were on the tee). |
| architect disclosed from the tee. In simple terms, | | | | Thus ensuring the worst approach to the green |
| that is golf course management, e.g., the | | | | and bringing the bunker and the narrow part of |
| deliberate planning or approach and placement of | | | | the green into play. Even with the best tee shot |
| your golf shots in consideration of the best way | | | | given the circumstances, this play has managed to |
| to play each hole. Note that there is almost | | | | hit to the red position, e.g., a position from which |
| always a best or easiest way to play most good | | | | you should not go for the pin. Tom Watson noted |
| golf holes. This is an element of the golf course | | | | in his excellent book Tom Watson's Strategic Golf |
| design and often comes into play given the risk | | | | that the golf course architect should require or |
| reward of a particular shot. Note well that this | | | | dictate no more than about 5 heroic or challenging |
| must be mitigated somewhat in consideration of | | | | shots over 18 holes of golf. Watson was talking |
| the strengths and weaknesses of your golf game. | | | | about challenges for the expert player and he |
| For instance the Stonewall Golf Course in | | | | was referring to the design of the course, not the |
| Gainesville is an excellent course with a great | | | | position that players hit to voluntarily. In our |
| strategic design. The 18th hole, a par 5 of some | | | | above example, the non-thinking golfer who is not |
| 517 yards is best played from the tips by playing | | | | applying strategic play has managed to inflict a |
| down the middle or short of the left side bunker, | | | | heroic or challenging shot on a golf hole that the |
| providing a good angle to the green and the | | | | architect likely believed was free from such |
| option of playing safe over the water with a | | | | challenges! Put a different way, the golfer has |
| hybrid or long iron to the left side of the green | | | | managed to play the hole in the most difficult |
| and playing a little pitch or chip to the green. But | | | | manner possible! It is easy to see how such |
| there is a bunker on the right side of the fairway | | | | callous play can lead to frustration, bad shots and |
| that keeps slices out of the water and if you can | | | | high scores. The player in our example likely |
| carry it about 265 yards or so you can blow it | | | | bemoans the bad luck of hitting a great shot but |
| over the bunker and have no more than a 7 or 8 | | | | ending up in a position from which it is impossible |
| iron to the green. The par 5 5th hole is similar in | | | | to attack the pin. Bad luck has nothing to do with |
| design, but at 558 yards you have a bit of a | | | | it, as the play meets the criteria Hogan described |
| challenge with a hybrid or long iron to a shallow | | | | over 60 years ago, namely, a shot that no |
| green with water fronting the green. The risk | | | | matter the outcome was doomed from inception |
| reward calculus of the 18th hole is markedly | | | | to be bad. How many times in a round do you |
| different than the choice at the 5th hole, where | | | | take a club other than the driver off the tee to |
| the character of the round is likely still in question. | | | | lay up to your favorite yardage? When is the last |
| Most players go for the 18th hole from just about | | | | time you have considered the best approach to |
| anywhere, as the course has already eaten their | | | | the pin before hitting your tee shot and adjusted |
| lunch by this point in the round! | | | | accordingly? Finally, do you assess pins to |
| How Come I Haven't Heard Much About Golf | | | | determine whether you should be shooting for |
| Course Management And What Are The | | | | them or do you just aim at any old pin from any |
| Elements I Should Consider? | | | | old place because that is how golf is played? |
| There are scores and scores of books about the | | | | Summary. |
| golf swing and the elements of the swing, like | | | | This article is a bit lengthy but touches on some |
| putting, the short game, etc., but very few books | | | | important points about course management and |
| on golf course management. Making golf course | | | | strategic play. Look over the golf course the next |
| management a part of your golf "kit bag" can be | | | | time you play and see if you can discern how the |
| as simple as making note of where the bunkers | | | | course architect intended the hole to be played in |
| and other hazards are and simply avoiding them. | | | | consideration of the green, yellow and red |
| But there is a reason the golf course architect put | | | | approaches and corresponding pin positions. Prior |
| those bunkers there in the first place. In some | | | | to your next round, assess your play on a course |
| cases the bunkers protect an errant shot from | | | | you know well or the course you are about to |
| going out of bounds or getting into worse trouble. | | | | play and think through your plan of attack to see |
| The most obvious bunkers protect the green by | | | | if it is congruent with the challenges presented by |
| collecting errant shots left, right, short and long. | | | | the hole. Find the easiest path to the pin, or |
| The less obvious or more subtle bunkers protect | | | | better yet, play with better golfers and watch |
| the best approaches to the green. The best | | | | them or ask them how they play certain holes. |
| position to approach from is often referred to as | | | | Take a playing lesson from your pro and pick his |
| the "A" position, or the "green" position, with the | | | | brain on this same subject. If you find that you |
| context of it being a green or go flag to shoot at | | | | are making holes harder than they need to be like |
| as opposed to a yellow or caution flag or a red | | | | our friend in the above example, map a strategy |
| flag. Meaning a flag you would not shoot at | | | | to change the way you play the hole. Finally, no |
| without regard to your position in the fairway. On | | | | article can help you with variations for every |
| better courses you will likely find the so called "A" | | | | instance of play. I highly recommend the book |
| or green positions protected by a strategically | | | | above by Tom Watson as a primer to help think |
| placed bunker or protected by out of bounds | | | | through approaching golf as a strategic game. |
| (OB) or some other lateral hazard intended to | | | | There are a number of other good books that |
| catch wayward or aggressive shots played to | | | | touch on the topic by Johnny Miller and Ray Floyd, |
| open up the green . Some examples of the | | | | among others. |
| former type of bunkers include the stretch along | | | | |