Learning about course management

[khale]

Just ordered it new on Amazon for $3.99, + $3.99 shipping. This will be the tenth golf book in my library. LOL

[Scott_K]

I was playing with a friend of mine a couple of weeks ago who shoots in the 100s. He's been playing for 3 or 4 years now and still makes a few silly decisions on the course. He was in knee deep fescue and trying to get out with a 3i. Naturally, he didn't score well on that hole (probably an 8). On the back nine he asked me what to do as he was in a similar position. He was able to punch out with a 7i and ended up with a bogey. Needless to say, he has not broken 100 yet. In my eyes, he's enough of a game to break 100, it's his course management that's holding him back.

I picked up Pelz' Damage Control book and thumbed through it a little bit. He talks about percentage shots and decisions like my friends above. To a seasoned golfer, a lot of it is a bunch of "no kidding", but to someone relatively new to the game, it can be an interesting read. A handful of these types of decisions can determine whether you're breaking 100, 90, etc. The lower you go, the more subtle the course managment details go.

[saevel25]

1) Take out the pin in your head, aim for center of greens
2) know your capabilities

[Joeyvee]

I struggle to break 100. I only recently picked the clubs up again. I know I can get under 90 in a few more months but recently I began playing with a scratch to + golfer. One day we had an empty course, plenty balls and all the time in the world and after every shot I took he would say ok. Let's hit another one. Try this club, aim here and 3/4 swing. and without fail everyone of "his" shots I took were much better than mine. I played my original ball but realized course management was a deep and vast subject that controlled most of the game. The shots I pulled off that day were amazing. I shot a 101 I believe and that was with over 44 putts. (he shot like an 76 or something with almost every fairway hit and a ridiculous amount of GIR (15 or so)) The greens were a WRECK.
So the next time we went out he said Do you wanna break 90 today? Maybe 80? I said impossible, and he said let me pick your club and where to aim and we can have you break 90 by a lot. Maybe 80. Insane. I would love to shoot a low 80 but I'd like to do it on my own so I said no thanks. Even though it's kinda legal in the rulebook. IF he was a caddy and not another player.

What I did that day was pick my shot then explain to him why I hit that club and shot and where I aimed and then listen to him tell me why it was the wrong club and wrong shot. Most of them were wrong choices. Except one 3 wood from thick rough that landed within 10 feet :) I think God himself had his hand on that club.

This was a much harder course and I shot a low 100 again. With 37 putts :):):) But was driving terribly and my irons were off too. But to end this long ass story basically what I'm saying is it opened my eyes to the fact that course management was such an integral part of low scores. Also taking an extra few seconds and really thinking about the shot youre about to take. If youre not really thinking too much about it and you break 80 then youre a great golfer who puts the ball right where he wants and you can get to scratch by playing smarter golf. If youre like me and you need to groove your swing some more and learn to play a little smarter then the scores can drop that much faster.
I asked my friend how do I learn more about it and most of it is just lots of playing, knowing the game, your strengths, weaknesses etc. I was really excited to see a thread dedicated to it because I'm trying to sponge anything I can on this subject.
I was looking for more info on it and it isnt that easy to find. I REFUSE to read swing tips because that just clouds my head. Those are easy to find. Bad and good. There are thousands of books on golf and very very few it seems on this subject.

[double_j]

What I did that day was pick my shot then explain to him why I hit that club and shot and where I aimed and then listen to him tell me why it was the wrong club and wrong shot. Most of them were wrong choices. Except one 3 wood from thick rough that landed within 10 feet :) I think God himself had his hand on that club.

Good sentiment - that said, I'd wager that for most mid to high cappers, a 3 wood out of heavy rough will be the wrong shot 99% of the time! Course management isn't about playing for the possible, it's about playing for the probable.

[Joeyvee]

That was by far the wrong choice. I just got super lucky. One in a million chance to even hit it decently. Hell it didnt even go where I was aiming. Lol.

[sara]

Just ordered it new on Amazon for $3.99, + $3.99 shipping. This will be the tenth golf book in my library. LOL

Wow! You got a better deal then I did, I got it for $11.11 & Free shipping. Anxiously waiting for it to arrive.

[sara]

I struggle to break 100. I only recently picked the clubs up again. I know I can get under 90 in a few more months but recently I began playing with a scratch to + golfer. One day we had an empty course, plenty balls and all the time in the world and after every shot I took he would say ok. Let's hit another one. Try this club, aim here and 3/4 swing. and without fail everyone of "his" shots I took were much better than mine. I played my original ball but realized course management was a deep and vast subject that controlled most of the game. The shots I pulled off that day were amazing. I shot a 101 I believe and that was with over 44 putts. (he shot like an 76 or something with almost every fairway hit and a ridiculous amount of GIR (15 or so)) The greens were a WRECK.

Yes. That's what happened to me. Playing with almost scratch golfers made me want to learn more. Haven't found much info around either and have gotten the when you play more and have more experience you'll know. Although I've seen players who have been at it for more than 10 years and still high handicappers, mainly because of poor course management.

[sara]

I struggle to break 100. I only recently picked the clubs up again. I know I can get under 90 in a few more months but recently I began playing with a scratch to + golfer. One day we had an empty course, plenty balls and all the time in the world and after every shot I took he would say ok. Let's hit another one. Try this club, aim here and 3/4 swing. and without fail everyone of "his" shots I took were much better than mine. I played my original ball but realized course management was a deep and vast subject that controlled most of the game. The shots I pulled off that day were amazing. I shot a 101 I believe and that was with over 44 putts. (he shot like an 76 or something with almost every fairway hit and a ridiculous amount of GIR (15 or so)) The greens were a WRECK.

Yes. That's what happened to me. Playing with almost scratch golfers made me want to learn more. Haven't found much info around either and have gotten the when you play more and have more experience you'll know. Although I've seen players who have been at it for more than 10 years and still high handicappers, mainly because of poor course management.

[Paradox]

Yes. That's what happened to me. Playing with almost scratch golfers made me want to learn more. Haven't found much info around either and have gotten the when you play more and have more experience you'll know. Although I've seen players who have been at it for more than 10 years and still high handicappers, mainly because of poor course management.

Well, it isn't something thats just granted to you after playing for X amount of years. You still have to use your brain and unfortunately there are those guys who no matter what, never think about what they've done before, what kind of shots they excel at, what their weaknesses are. They could play 100 rounds in 100 days and probably never learn simply because they don't think when they play, they just want to smash.