As an amateur golfer, I need work in all areas of my game. I am not the longest hitter, greatest short game player or smoothest putter in the game, but I try to emulate the resemblance of a solid game when I tee it up. I have learned over the years that some areas of my game need more focus than others, but that was a tough lesson to learn. Until I started recording stats on fairways hit, greens in regulation, number of putts, etc, I would work on what I felt like at the practice facility. This usually gravitated towards something I was already doing well, hence it did not translate to lower golf scores at the end of the day. I often wonder why and it took a very large ‘ah ha’ moment to change the way I approached my practice sessions.
Continue readingTips
Choosing To Chip, Bump and Run or Putt
Is there a definitive answer to any golf question? This seems like a pretty broad question, but it does drill down to the heart of any golf shot. Club selection is critical especially when we are trying to get up and down for par. There are many opportunities to make the proper decision for your game and even more to make poor ones. One of the biggest dilemmas golfers face is whether to chip, bump and run or putt a ball around the green. There are many factors, however I have a decision tree that I use in order to put the right club for the right shot at the right time. It works for me (most of the time) and it helps reduce the possibilities making poor club choices.
Continue readingLowering Our Golf Score
There are many ways to lower our golf score. Depending on the state of our game, the approach will be different. If you are starting or on the path to play better golf, there are some fundamental tips that all golfers should know. They are not complicated and they fit all golfers at every skill level. I have discussed many different approaches of how to lower our golf score and today will not be any different. I found a video that offers ten different tips to lower our golf scores; I am sure a few will meet the needs of everyone.
Continue readingGolf Lessons I Continue To Relearn
The past two days I played an early bird round at my home course of Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort. Each round I focused on different aspects of my game in order to prepare for a scramble tournament on Wednesday. Although Wednesday’s event will be mostly a fun round, I like to be ready nonetheless. As I worked on various aspects of my game, a mental fault kept cropping up that would cost me strokes if I was keeping score. It is a lesson I continue to relearn and one I would have thought I mastered by now…..I guess not! The reason I call it mental is because it my actual stroke is fine, but my tentative nature while chipping is forcing me to either make long putts or to chip again!
Continue readingKnowing Your Carry Distance Is Very Important
Every golfer hits the ball differently and to different distances. We may be grouped in relation to our handicap, however rarely are any two golfers exactly the same. Regardless of performance, all golfers should understand and know how far they hit their clubs. It might surprise you to know that many of us do not hit the ball as far as we think! This oversight in our knowledge is costing us strokes every time we tee it up. Well, today we are going to change all of that!
I have touched on this topic in the past and hopefully you found the information helpful. I am revisiting this topic today because I found a video that is all encompassing on this topic. It is about 10 minutes long and if you are looking for some distance answers, I recommend you watch it all.
As a 5 handicapper (most days), my distances match what was stated in the video. I hit my driver about 240 and my 7 iron about 150 yards on average. On my good days, these distances are farther, but on my bad….well, you get the point. Fortunately I am able to adjust my club selection decisions based on what is happening on any given day.
I realized a long time ago that my distance knowledge would improve my golf game. It opens the opportunities on shot and club selection. This in turn allows increased scramble abilities, avoiding addition strokes from under/over yardage decisions and strengthens my overall tee to green game. Lastly, when I finally learned my club distances, my course management skills improved drastically. As you can see, this bit of knowledge has many applications in our game.
If you do not know your distances, I recommend you take the time to figure them out. It will be helpful in all areas of your game.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 