If you are a golfer, you try you best each round to lower your golf score. I do not know any player who spends 4 hours on the links who wishes they shoot a higher score. I know I am always hopeful that my game will click resulting in my lowest score ever. The challenge most golfers face is pressing their game at the wrong time in the fight to play better golf. Sometimes a bogey is the smart score to prevent higher numbers when navigating the course. Decisions that drive our course management strategy are at the heart of the fight for lower golf scores.

Course management strategy is not something can be learned in a blink of an eye. As a matter of fact, it is completely different for each golfer. The ability of each player is an important factor when developing a course management strategy. Each player should maximize their strengths and avoid putting themselves in a situation that forces them to rely on their weaknesses. These words of wisdom should not be taken lightly because it will shape the way our loop the links.

The process to start the foundation of your course management strategy is fairly simple. It starts simple then develops into more complicated approaches as your handicap drops. Over the years, my course management strategy has evolved many times to a point where it can be adapted to virtually any golf course of situation. To be clear, because I have an established course management strategy does not mean I will always make great shots, but it sets up the conditions where I can. It is allows me to focus on the clubs I hit well in order to shot lower golf scores.

My initial process was very simple and is not really something that should surprise you:

1. Determine our most consistent short game club.
2. Determine your most consistent approach game club.
3. Determine your most consistent club off the tee.
4. Focus on hitting your shots to distances that put these clubs in your hands.

My next iteration of my course management strategy was to expend the clubs that I hit well and to focus on positional play.

1. Determine our two most consistent short game club.
2. Determine your two most consistent approach game club.
3. Determine your two most consistent club off the tee.
4. Focus on hitting your shots to distances that put these clubs in your hands.

You can see that by expanding the number of clubs you hit consistently expands the possibilities of places to hit the ball on the course. So far, my process to develop a solid course management strategy focused on being able to hit my clubs consistently. If you cannot do that, then developing a strategy becomes a challenge. Until you have reached step the second iteration to a point you feel confident, then I would not progress to the next fuzzy logic step in my process.

My next evolutionary step of my process is purely mental. Well, actually it focuses on thinking about my shot before I even make it.

• I have a pre-shot routine that is the same for every shot except for putting. It is important because it helps me focus on my aim point.
• My aim point places my ball on the side of the fairway, green or pin that sets my next shot up for success.
• I hit to distances more than in the above scenarios.
• I sometimes think of where I want my ball to finish one or two shots after the one I am making.
• I pay attention to all the potential hazards on my upcoming shot and adjust my aim to minimize hitting the ball into danger.

I think I will stop here. There are many more aspects of my course management strategy that seem innate now, but took years to develop. Many shots are situationally dependent and I sometimes overlook the simpler aspects of my strategy. Hitting to distance, adjusting for course conditions, pin locations are only a few things that I take into account when thinking about hitting my next shot.

Today’s article was about the basics of my course management strategy. It is an evolution for sure and does take work, but does pay off quickly when we start to master different aspects of our game. When we do, we can master our course management strategies. It sounds like a ‘catch 22’, but it really is not. It is an evolution and one every golfer will develop either intentionally our unintentionally. Do you have a course management strategy?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!