Course Management

[Keg0brew]

Anyone know any good books on course management?

I've read Golf By Design by RTJ as well as The Elements of Scoring by Ray Floyd but am looking for others that at least touch on course management.

[TMO]

I know that this is probably an obvious answer but course management basically means playing within yourself. I would recommend reading anything by Rotella to really learn how to do that.

[shankapotamus]

I know that this is probably an obvious answer but

There's more to it then that.

[iacas]

There's more to it then that.

I don't think there's much more to it than that.

Stay below the flag? Hit the fat side of the greens? If you can work the ball, choose the appropriate shot at the appropriate time? Pitch out rather than try the hero shot? No, I think "play within yourself" probably covers 75% of it.

[lumpuckeroo]

I don't think there's much more to it than that.

I agree, I think the hard part is knowing and accepting your limitations. Always reminds me of the Tin Cup scene:

Roy: This is for Venturi who thinks I should lay up. Romeo: What does he know? He only won this tournament before you were born.

[Leftygolfer]

I don't know of any books. I agree with the others. It is playing smart golf and knowing what you can do. I know as in terms of short game, it isn't just get it close but get it close with good putt. There isn't much worse than a 3 footer slider.

[Fat Slice]

A quick and cheap way to learn course management is to find someone who hits as long as you do and putts about as well as you do but manages to shoot 10 strokes better than you do. Watch how they approach a hole and figure out some rules based on that. Also, for me, my (associate) club has a bunch of 80 year old guys who mop the floor with me. They are very good at putting themselves in position for the best shot and staying out of trouble. You rarely find them in bunkers or chipping downhill onto a green. They dink and doo their way around the course. My response isn't to start driving 210 yards, but rather to try and figure out why theyhit to one side of the fairway or another, or choose to hit a knock down iron instead of a full swing high lofted one, etc. Since these guys aren't very strong, course management (and putting) is all they have left to score better. I'd rather learn sooner than later (as a last resort).

[msd3075]

I know that this is probably an obvious answer but course management basically means

I don't know about where you play, but around here doing 'that' will get you kicked out by the course management.....

[Leftygolfer]

Another thought is understanding what holes are hard for you so you are not dissappointed with a bogey.

What I mean is I am left handed and play a draw. So many many holes don't fit my eyes. I can think of a couple where I just want a bogey. I am not saying that I haven't made a par or birdie on them, but it is not typical. I know I am not good at hitting a fade so I don't even try it. I might hit a fade of the tee once a round and never with my irons. For me when I am playing well, I am managing the course and hitting fairways. Everyone talks about angles, but for me if there is a right hole location and left side would be favorable, I do not try to hit it over there. I would have to bring the left rough/trees in play. I just play down the left side, let it hook a little, and take a little worse angle into the pin. A great angle from the trees isn't that great. A poor angle from the fairway isn't that poor.

[plickerman]

Agree with the above, some holes I think of bogeys as pars. Also happens when I have to pitch out to the fairway from trouble....think of bogey as par. Also, I try (when possible) to not start a shot towards trouble. If I'm mostly drawing the ball one day, and the approach has water on the right with a pin placement towards said water, I just try and land left of that, thus eliminating (lol, well, trying to eliminate) the water.

[DogbertBH]

I am a 12 who plays a lot of single digit handicaps.

I do well against them for 2 reasons.

#1: I'm a better putter than they are. I leave most putts (that don't go in) very close.
#2: Course Management. I beat a guy with nothing but my 7iron just to show him it could be done as long as you don't have a +150 carry :)

I play with myself - I think it's good advice. I hit the middle of greens when I can and try to avoid trouble.

I'm not up for the risk that's involved in getting my reward :)

[$2 Nassau]

I don't know about where you play, but around here doing 'that' will get you kicked out by the course management.....

LOL

It's not accepted around here either. I found that out the hard way.

[msd3075]

LOL

HAHAHA, the '

hard ' way.....

[zeg]

A few months ago I read "Butch Harmon's Playing Lessons" by (you guessed it!) Butch Harmon. Interesting read -- he walks through a hypothetical round on a course made up of 18 holes collected from famous courses to illustrate various situations. He considers 3 players -- one rank beginner, a mid-handicapper, and a near-scratch golfer, and discusses the different thought processes they need to go through based on their different skills. I thought it was a good read, especially if you can get it at the library. Not sure I'd buy it, but it seems to fit the bill for what you're asking about.

[bunkerputt]

A few months ago I read "Butch Harmon's Playing Lessons" by (you guessed it!) Butch Harmon. Interesting read -- he walks through a hypothetical round on a course made up of 18 holes collected from famous courses to illustrate various situations. He considers 3 players -- one rank beginner, a mid-handicapper, and a near-scratch golfer, and discusses the different thought processes they need to go through based on their different skills. I thought it was a good read, especially if you can get it at the library. Not sure I'd buy it, but it seems to fit the bill for what you're asking about.

I read that book. It's got Tiger Woods on the front cover for the sales boost. The Floyd book is definitely the top of my list. But Tommy Armour's "Play your best golf all the time" has a lot of good info. Tom Watson's "Getting Up and Down", also has a lot of good info, strangely enough.

A big part of course management is knowing your game. That is, what are your tendencies and what swing did you bring that day. Also, what are your average yardages, and your daily yardages. Sometimes it is something psychological. For example, since changing my swing, I haven't hit a pull-hook in several months. I played a course where I have a 90% success rate on the second hole in pull-hooking a shot into the creek left. I thought it couldn't happen again because I had changed my swing, but voila, pull-hook. I should have teed off with a 4-iron. A book can't teach you that.

[Smarf]

I play with myself - I think it's good advice. I hit the middle of greens when I can and try to avoid trouble.

So funny, taken out of context. I think this should be my signature.

[bunkerputt]

Dude. Is that Lee Majors in your profile pic?

I forgot to mention the book "A Round of Golf" by Tommy Armour. If you are looking for books, I would just get on amazon and buy up every used golf book they have by the old guys like Armour, Hogan, etc. They really knew what they were talking about. I picked up 5 classics for around 65 cents a piece. Though the shipping is $4.