Approach With Caution

Approach shot strategy is often overlooked in the average golfer’s game.  Most golfers want to go straight for the pin as soon as they are in range, but this attitude is exactly what golf course designers expect and so can land the golfer in a lot of trouble.

Golf course designers design greens so that there are plenty of areas for so-called “sucker pin placements”.  These are the kind of pin placements that come out in tournament play.  They usually feature a front pin with a sand bunker immediately in front of it.  Now, the average golfer will probably still try to go for the hole here, but that play has the most risk.  It would be much safer to play to the middle of the green and then have an easy two putt for par.

Approaching the green also has a lot to do with your natural ball flight.  If you naturally draw the ball, and the pin is on the left side of the green, you are going to want to aim at the middle of the green.  This way, if you hit it straight, then you have an easy two-putt, and if you draw, then you are right at the pin.  Otherwise, if you aim straight at the pin, you may draw it too much and end up in the rough or in some sort of hazard.

The most important thing to remember when approaching the green is that you don’t have to be two inches from the pin to achieve par.  Once you realize this tip, you will be free to give yourself easier shots into the green.

For more help on Course Management take a Private Lesson on the course with Brad.