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How to plan your round of Golf to make the most of your game
Ben Hogan
The Art of Course Management
This section of the greenseekergolf.com website will give you playing tips and advice on tactics and strategies you can use. It helps to plan and think your game through and increases your chance of success.
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
Before you start your round it really will pay dividends to go to the range or practice nets at the club and loosen up. Start with some short pitch shots and three quarter wedge shots. Then move up through the short irons and mid irons and hit a few longer irons and your hybrid and or fairway clubs. Then move onto your driver. Don't spend long on each club - remember this is to loosen up and help you find your tempo and timing.
Then move to the putting green and get a feel for your putting stroke. Give yourself confidence by holing successive short putts - hearing and seeing the ball drop repeatedly is a positive image to cultivate and remember.
Always get to the club on time and try to avoid rushing - you need to be relaxed and prepared to play at your best. Arriving in the car park 2 minutes before your tee time is not only likely to cause playing partners and other golfers concern but you will be flustered and less effective.
Know your club and shot distances
Most people think they know how long they hit their shots - but they should challenge themselves to make sure they know. You will be surprised how much difference cold or windy weather conditions make.
You should write down on a strip of masking tape the average distance you hit your shots with a particular golf club in average course and weather conditions for where you play and then stick that masking tape to your club. That way when you are playing and you are confronted with a particular length shot you can use the tape to give you a reality check.
How to calculate how far you hit the ball
This is simple but takes some time and you need the right kind of practice facilities. You need to find a quite corner of the course or a practice range where you can pace out your shots. Also you should do this on a calm day not a very windy day. If doing this on the course then select the flattest and largest terrain you can with the least bunkers or obstacles in the way so you get true results of roll. I'd also suggest that as you are about to hit a hole bunch of shots from one spot that you select an area that is not going to cause a problem to other golfers and that you replace all the divots when you've finished.
Take 6-10 golf balls and hit them with your wedge. Pace out the distance and remove any completely mishit shots or if all about the same remove the longest and shortest shot.
Then average the remaining balls. If the facilities allow take the same balls and now hit back in the opposite direction and repeat the exercise and average all shots - this takes into account minor wind influence.
Repeat for all clubs. You will find that the gap between some clubs is larger than the gap between others.
If you then write all these numbers down - the next time you play you can hit a couple of shots on the range before you start your game and quickly tell if the conditions are affecting your ball flight that day. For example you may usually hit your 7 iron 150 yards carry. Then when you are warming up before playing you may find your 7 iron is consistently landing around 140 yards. You can then look at your other clubs and check to see what club you would normally use to hit that distance. Let's say it was your 8 iron. So on that day you would now know that you are playing approximately 1 club shorter than normal.
Tips to help you with your game.
Practical advice to help you prepare and play a match and improve your chances of achieving a low score.
