The Northern Hickory Golf Tour unofficially starts today. I am driving three hours to meet up with my friends for the Golf Historical Society of Canada to play a course called Couchiching  Golf  Club in Orillia, Ontario, Canada. I have never played this course and it should be great fun. There is a trick to playing a new course that applies regardless of what clubs one plays. It is something that most golfers overlook and is a game changer regarding our golf experience.

The trick to enjoying a round at a new golf course is to lower our expectations. Most avid golfers carry a handicap index and use it as a bench mark for playing different golf course. Most of us gain our handicap by playing the same course repeatedly. This process is nothing new, however it does offer a slightly different indication as to our ‘real’ handicap for one specific reason. Our index is lower because of course knowledge.

That is right, course knowledge. Because we play our home course often enough, we know when and where to press our shots. We know the slope and speed of the greens without flinching. Additionally, we know what areas to avoid to ensure a great next shot opportunity. These and many other advantages lower our handicap index because we know how to play our home course.

Today, in my case, I have never played Couchiching Golf Club. Therefore, it is going to be an awesome new experience with the focus on having fun with my friends. Do I think I will shoot well, I hope so! It is always the wish of every golfer. The trick for me will be to take a bit more time assessing each shot and focusing on the shots I can make well. This does not mean I will not force an advantage, but I will not press for the sake of pressing. This will be my approach and I am looking forward to hitting the links with my friends from the GHSC.

As a quick recap of the Northern Golf Tour, here are the locations over the next three days:

Friday, August 21 – 11:00 A.M. start @Osprey Links Golf Course, Callander, ON.
Saturday, August 22 – 11:00 A.M. start @Laurentide Golf Course, Sturgeon Falls, ON.
Sunday, August 23 – 10:00 A.M. start @Mattawa Golf Course, Mattawa, ON.

If you have the time and want to give hickory sticks a try, come on out. You are always welcome.

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