Golf is a unique sport that requires mental focus and attention to detail.  Most beginners miss the subtle signs and sometimes the obvious signs while walking the links.  It is very important to read the signs the course, weather, and your surroundings tell you while you are walking to your ball, visualizing your shot, or reading the greens.  The challenge for most inexperience players is they do not know what the do not know.

To rectify that problem, it is important to break down the signs and explain them in the context of any golf shot.  So, over the next couple weeks, we will address this knowledge gap and explain what is important to see ‘what is happening’ when you’re hitting the links.

Along the way, if anyone has suggestions, please speak up to improve the quality of the information.

The first area of “Seeing what’s important” is while walking to your ball.  The little signs around you are more significant than finding it and looking at the green.  Although those are important, a couple other things many be just as important.

First, what is your yardage?  If you have a Garmin Approach 6, (no affiliation) determining your yardage is easy.  However, if not then it is time to pace the distance.  Some courses have the yardage on the sprinkler heads, but most of the courses use the 200 (blue), 150 (white) and 100 (red) yard stakes placed in the middle of the fairway or off to the side.  The key to pacing off your yardage is to start at your ball and walk in a straight line forward or backward keeping the pin and ball on that line.  Walk to the closest yardage marker and do the math. Pacing your yardage will help with club selection.

Second, what is the wind doing?  This may be obvious, but it is important to understand that the wind at ground level might be different from the wind above the trees or in an open area.  The key to knowing the wind direction is to look at the top of the trees.  The direction they lean is the direction of the wind.  Lastly, look at the flag on the pin.  This is a good indicator unless trees on all sides, except the fairway, surround it.  However, I think you get the point.

Third and last for today, how does the ground feel under your feet?  Is it soft, hard, or normal?  Why is that important?  Well if the ground is hard the club will bounce and therefore prevent the player from getting a clean hit on the ball.  If the ground is soft, there is a very good chance a player will dig in with their club and only it the ball a couple of yards.  I am sure you understand what to do with ground that feels normal.

As you can see, we have only scratched the surface of “seeing what is important” when preparing for a golf shot.  These tips were learned over the years through trial and error. Wisdom says that the more I pay attention, the better I score.

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