Course Management the the overall outcome

[zrlaegel]

Recently I've been watching the Golf channel and although It seems they give quite a few tips for higher handicap golfers, they tend not to for lower handicaps. while this is understandable, I think all viewers would benefit from course management discussions, thus helping them with their overall game. What are your thoughts????????

[whetstone]

Playing with the Pros, or whatever it's called, seems to target the lower handicaps. As we all know though, most golfers will never break 90, and quite a few will never break 100. Therefore, it stands to reason that there is a larger market in the high handicap range and the most airtime will be geared toward them. Television is all about making money by bringing in the largest possible audience.

[kfowler]

One area I get torn with is when to hit driver. The driver is my best club. I have a lot of confidence in it. Sometimes on holes I try to play it "smart" and hit 3 wood or 3i off the tee. Many times I end up getting into more trouble than if I had hit my driver. I guess the point is blending course management with playing to your strengths.

[jaragon126]

I agree with whetstone ... the "Playing Lessons From The Pros" is awesome. They give you better course management tips as well as great insight into what's going on in their minds. I don't get to watch it as often as I'd like ... I wish I had a way to record it :)

[NormH3]

I agree with whetstone ... the "Playing Lessons From The Pros" is awesome. They give you better course management tips as well as great insight into what's going on in their minds. I don't get to watch it as often as I'd like ... I wish I had a way to record it :)

Some or parts of some can be watched online.

[cody west]

course management is the most important part of the game other than hitting the ball strait. i have dropped like 4 strokes this year just from learning not to take out the driver and try to hit the green on a 330 yard hole.
tiger woods said that your mind is your most powerful weapon.

[Supermanwoot]

One area I get torn with is when to hit driver. The driver is my best club. I have a lot of confidence in it. Sometimes on holes I try to play it "smart" and hit 3 wood or 3i off the tee. Many times I end up getting into more trouble than if I had hit my driver. I guess the point is blending course management with playing to your strengths.

For a lot of people, including myself, the driver can be my best club or worst enemy depending on how I hit it. Some times I hit an insane drive and other times I hit a house. The 3wood strategy helps me but honestly I never do it because its not as fun as hitting a monster drive and I can murder drives on the driving range, but in the actual round I'm very inconsistent.

But sometimes you gotta let the big dog eat!

[right handed phil mickelson]

Course management is what I've been struggling with, but as I continue to work on it and make better decisions on the course, my handicap is steadily dropping. I'm almost a scratch golfer at my home course. Once you know your swing, and your club distances, just about the only thing you have to worry about is course management.

[kfowler]

How many times have you hit say a 56* when you know you should have hit a 60* but you didn't have the balls to use it? That happens to me all the time on pitch shots. I know what the right strategy is but I fail in executing it due to lack of confidence.

[gogolfing]

This is something, along with the mental game, that I would like to improve on. Sometimes I will go out and just focus on this I play well. However, too many times I get out there and think to many things around the swing and I'm never as good then.

Stan Utley has a new book out that I think I'll ask for for Christmas. Here is the blurb from the publisher. The book is called The Art of Scoring and focuses on management of the short game.

From the Publisher
"The hottest instructor in golf"("Sports Illustrated") presents a revolutionary guide for lowering your score with a powerful new approach to strategizing, decision-making, and management for every part of your short game.
Stan Utley's breakthrough short game and putting techniques have made him one of the most sought-after golf instructors in America. Now he offers a breakthrough approach for golfers of all skill levels, with a course- management approach designed to help golfers at the crucial stages of a round of golf.
"The Art of Scoring" shows readers how to understand the way their short game handicap and overall skill level should dictate strategy. Breaking down pitching, chipping, bunker play, and putting into three proficiency categories, Utley presents customized techniques for saving shots simply by making better decisions. He leads us through a round with three amateurs-two 10-handicappers and a 20-handicapper-to show how improved strategy and execution can transform a player's game. With behind- thescenes pro teaching sessions, crash courses on the three hardest greenside shots, and one hundred black-and-white and color photographs, "The Art of Scoring" is like getting a brand-new set of state-of-the-art clubs, customized by one of the game's premier teachers.

[Golf'nBiker]

I believe that course management coincides w/good scores. My case in point, I feel VERY comfortable from the 150 mark..which is 'most' of the time my goal, however there are some times that a good drive can put me in closer...however not an easier shot. It is awfully tempting to 'go for it', where as an iron can get me to the 150. My playing partners pull out the BIG DOG and I often fall victim to MA-CHEESE-MO rather than playing stragically and SMART...thus managing the course and MY game/strong points. I've been out 210-230 on a par 5 and have simply hit a SW to the 150, then on in regulation....then again, the CHEESE sometimes wins!

[Happy Dragon]

How many times have you hit say a 56* when you know you should have hit a 60* but you didn't have the balls to use it? That happens to me all the time on pitch shots. I know what the right strategy is but I fail in executing it due to lack of confidence.

That's not course management, that's exactly the opposite. You don't trust your 60* shot, so don't do it.

[Happy Dragon]

When I pick up a Golf Digest or watch the golf channel, I get in more trouble when I try too many swing tips and tricks. I agree with the OP, I crave more course management lessons as they will bring down scores much more dramatically. You need to play more and have experience to get what these guys are really talking about.