Best Book on course management

[LeafsFanNL]

Hi folks,

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good book on the course management side of Golf? I have some pretty good ideas on playing "smart golf", but would like to read more.

HB

[DJYoshi]

it's really about you...what you can do.. you know your strengths & weaknesses. A lot of the times I see high handi-cappers (myself included) taking 3 woods out on par 5's for the 2nd shot... drivers out on short par 4's.
think about it this way.
there's usually a risk reward going for a par 5 in 2.
if you've got 280 yards to get to the green, why 3 wood it and run a high risk of messing the shot up?
take a 7 iron. and be left with 110 - 120 for a wedge shot as your 3rd.

if the par 4 is only 360 yards, why pull the driver out? why not pull a 3 wood and be left with 110? why be left with an uncomfortable shot under 100 yards?

that's 1 way that I look at course mgmt..risk reward shots.
there's tons of things you can read online for free. google is a powerful tool if you google: good golc course management... you'll be bound to find something

another thing my dad taught me was play to your strengths... it's pretty much common sense.
If you can rely on the fade.. play it. if your preferred shot is a draw.. play it. it's funny when you watch shows on the golf channel playing with the pros. they'll say, ok it's 190 out.. i'll take a hard 7 or a smooth 6 and play a cut...b/c that's the safe thing to do... players can control their flight path exactly like that. they're pro's and they still mess up. at this point, hitting it straight and aiming for a place that'll give you the best next shot is the way to go.

[cigarnut81]

The books on course architecture are the best for whta you are looking for! Find one by any name architect and you will be on the right path! My fav is from Robert Trent Jones Jr.

[Jenks465]

If you can find it, Jack Nicklaus' playing lessons is as good as it gets! Slightly weird format, but brilliant!

[chriskzoo]

I don't think it's all that hard - just play to your strengths and minimize the potential for disaster - take the double bogey out of the equation. You're better off having a 20 footer for par than trying to hit the perfect greenside shot and chili-dipping it back in the rough.

[Chas]

if you've got 280 yards to get to the green, why 3 wood it and run a high risk of messing the shot up?

I know I know. If only I could actually

make myself stick to the programme like this, for a whole round, I'm sure I'd knock at least 5 off and be shooting in the 70's .... So I don't so much need a book on course management as a book on how to overcome the stupid urge to pull out the 3W or 5W for the second shot on almost every par 5 I encounter. Actually my 5W off the deck is getting semi-respectable but still I should often be playing with a 5-7i like you say, esp. if I've hit a decent drive (see below ....). My other major management flaw is to hit driver on almost every tee, when in fact most of the time the 3W will put me in much better position and is plenty long for the holes I'm usually playing. I have not conquered the tendency to either push or hook with driver - much less of a problem with the 3W. Reserve the big stick for the wide open set-ups ..... In tennis, which I played for most of my life until I had to stop for medical reasons, I learned to control the urge to attempt a point-winning crosscourt topspin backhand shot (my very favorite ripper ....) unless the situation warranted it, which was not so often in fact. I need someone to follow me round the course holding a rolling pin and make threatening noises in that right situations. p.s. I'll look for Jack Nicklaus' lessons as suggested. I don't have enough of his stuff anyway.

[Ben]

Hi folks,

Ray Floyd's Elements of Scoring is pretty great. I think anyone of any level can take away valuable information from this. I certainly have. Also try Bob Rotella's Golf is A Game of Confidence.

[Jay-Bird]

... try Bob Rotella's Golf is A Game of Confidence

Completely agree. a MUST read for any and all golfers.

[Dub]

Completely agree. a MUST read for any and all golfers.

Yet another vote for Dr. Bob Rotella.

He's the real deal not some babbling bs hawker. I highly recomend his books.

[apex53]

If you can find it, Jack Nicklaus' playing lessons is as good as it gets! Slightly weird format, but brilliant!

I second that... Great book for course management and strategy... It's a collection of playing lessons that Jack Nicklaus did for Golf Digest back in the 70's... My dad bought me the book when I first started playing... I still have it and still refer to it at the start of each golf season, 28 years later... I would think you could find it on amazon... Highly recommended!

[IcemanYVR]

I second Bob Rotella's book, "Golf is a Game of Confidence" , but as far as course management goes, I would strongly recommend the following book by Robert Trent Jones Jr, "Golf by Design: How to lower Your Score by Reading the Features of a Golf Course"

http://www.amazon.com/Golf-Design-Re.../dp/0316472980

It's an excellent book, and well worth a read by players of all levels and ability. The pictures are pretty good, and the illustrations are very interesting. I've played a few of his courses, so that made a bit more of a bonus.