Comments on: Course strategy with Matt

By: Cameron

Cameron — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:48:08 +0000

@Gregor: Yes, you always have to weigh up the risk and reward of each shot. One reason golf is such a great game.

My thinking is that we almost always get over confident. Sometimes we should gear back and play a tad more conservatively.

Best bet is to experiment with your game plan. Try a highly conservative approach versus an all out one. Let me know how you go.

Cameron

By: Gregor

Gregor — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:31:34 +0000

Cameron
strategy seems to be in two parts. Confidence and placement. Is that correct.
It seems you are saying not to try and play a shot that you have doubts over and then to aim for where there is least trouble. Makes sense. So if you have to aim for the back of a green because there are bunkers at the front but doubt you can hit a good long iron to get there, what do you do – play ultra conservative to be short of the green? I assume that even if you are confident and then play a bad shot anyway you just need to try and recover with a good short game, but at least if you have a strategy you give yourself a more consistent chance of lower scores
Gregor

By: Golf Fix

Golf Fix — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:22:37 +0000

Course management is hard when you are concerned about your swing.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:16:36 +0000

@Steady: Not bad advice. I’d be worried that hitting chips, pitches to 3 feet is not possible consistently. But I understand what you’re saying.

Having a good short game can help overcome bad shots and keep your score moving in the right direction. But strategy needs some attention because you can’t rely on a magical short game forever.

Good golfing,

Cameron

By: Steady

Steady — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:02:58 +0000

HI Cam,
i had a conversation with a kid I teach, yesterday. I told him about strategy and he asked me how he could improve.
I told him the fllowing
3ft putts practice practice practice
lag 30ft putts
chipping to 3 feet
pitching to 3 feet.
Bunker play, learn to play high, low spinning or flop bunker shots
I said if you can do that consistently you will beat 99% of golfers.
He said how is that going to help me with course strategy? I said It won’t but if you make a mistake in YOUR strategy you will have the short game to get you out of trouble.That is I think the secret key to great scores. Let me know what you think.
Cheers Steady

By: Cameron

Cameron — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:19:12 +0000

@Steady: Yep it’s important all right. Good course strategy can make the game far easier.

@Ross: I think execution becomes easier with the right strategy. I have found it’s tough to pull off those shots you know you shouldn’t hit (like over water from rough to a tough pin)- but when you choose the right approach you make a much more confident swing. At least you maximise your chances which is half the battle.

@Lukey: See above. In Matt’s case he needs to stop thinking he has the right to hit each shot perfectly. He doesn’t. A more conservative approach is more realistic.

This is a good subject that needs further review.

By: Tony Lucas (Lukey)

Tony Lucas (Lukey) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:19:33 +0000

Hi Cam
I do agree with you as far as course strategy goes but sometimes that can be difficult when the ball is not exactlly going where one wants it to go (seems a lot lately) but it is just a case of more application
Lukey

By: Ross

Ross — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:09:42 +0000

Cameron,
A great little series and it all makes so much sense; it, as usual, just comes down to the execution.
Thanks,
Ross

By: Steady

Steady — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:09:33 +0000

ps other than 3 foot putts.
Cheers Steady

By: Steady

Steady — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:08:26 +0000

Hi Cam,
thanx at last for a blog on course strategy. Other than preparation to hitting a shot, course strategem and pulling the right club for the right shot is essential to great scores.
Steady