Theeeeee next level!!!!

[normdamarine]

Let me tell you how you will not get to the next level... Do what I did today... So I am on the par 5 8th which is a 545 yard down wind tight hole. I say to myself, hit 3 wood it is safe... I do and hit a really good one! Now, I hit 3 wood knowing that I will not try to reach the green in 2 because it is really tight near the green surrounded by hazards. I get up to my 2nd shot and I have about 270 into the green, so what do I do? I hit 3 wood thinking I can get there... Instead I hit this little bleeder to the right and end up in the rough on a side hill lie with about 54 yards into the green. So now I hit a shot over the green almost into the hazard, then proceed to make bogey... That is how you screw up a hole...

If I just hit a 5 iron I have 8o'ish yards into the green and make no worse then par... Just an example of how you do not get to the next level...

[acegolfer]

Don't you need to reach par 5 in 2 to get to the next level?

That's what I'm working on because I face many 220-250 yard 2nd shot to the green on a par 5. I usually end up getting penalized by going for the green but I keep practicing it. Of course, if it were a tournament, I lay up to 100 yard, which gives me a better percentage.

[James_Black]

Don't you need to reach par 5 in 2 to get to the next level?

You don't need to his them in two.

Take the easy par instead of ending up in a bunker or deep rough and hacking your way onto the green and 3 putting.

[acegolfer]

You don't need to his them in two.

I know reaching par-5 in 2 is not necessary. But all the better players in my league go for green with 230 yards left. It's not an impossible shot with practice.

James, suppose it's a par 4 and you have 230 yards to the green. Are you suggesting that I should lay up and take the easy bogey?

[James_Black]

I know reaching par-5 in 2 is not necessary. But all the better players in my league go for green with 230 yards left. It's not an impossible shot with practice.

why would you have 230 to the green in the first place?

And yes I'd take the bogey.

[saevel25]

Depends on the hole, if there is a bail out that i can use i will try to hit the green in two. But if its like yours, take out an iron, lay up to something like 100-125, hit your wedge close and take birdie or par. Don't leave yourself with a tough shot.

This happened to me the other day. I was slightly behind a tree, i though my cut would do good. Over cut it, ended up in a bunker, hit a horrible bunker shot. I knew that day my wedges were really good. If i layed up to 115, i had a wedge shot that would have stuck close. Next hole i had about 110 with my wedge put it to 10 feet.

Got to know what your really good at and play to that. My low irons are money right now, so i try to play towards that strength.

[Bullitt5339]

I have been working hard lately on playing smarter instead of just trying to go for it, and it's paying off big time on the par 5's. Sure I can try to go for the green in 2, or get as close as possible, but 7 out of 10 times, I'm going to end up in a bad spot. There's one Par 5 in particular on my home course that I get into trouble with all the time. Driver and 3 wood hit perfectly will get me there in two. However, I do not have a good history with hitting my 3 wood perfectly at all. So I've been forcing myself to hit driver, 230 to the hole, hit 5 iron 170 yards, and I'm left with a 60 yard shot, which is perfect for my 58* wedge. Now if I could putt, I'd be OK.

[deronsizemore]

Don't you need to reach par 5 in 2 to get to the next level?

No, you don't. Better players have good games from 100 yards and in, so they layup to somewhere in there. Now, this all depends on the hole. If I've got 270 to the green and there's little or no trouble, then I'll probably go for it and see if I can run one up there. If there's a lot of trouble, then it's a no brainer that I lay up. 270 is a huge fairway wood and I only carry my 3 wood about 240 so my only shot would be from 270 is to run it up on the green, so there's no sense in trying to go at one hard and losing it way right or left into trouble.

I know reaching par-5 in 2 is not necessary. But all the better players in my league go for green with 230 yards left. It's not an impossible shot with practice.

230 yards to the green is a little different story than 270. It also goes back to how much trouble there is around the green and how well you hit your fairway woods. But to answer you question, yes, layup and take the bogey if there's a chance that you'll be looking at double bogey or worse with a poor approach shot that could leave you OB or in a hazard. Course management can drastically cut strokes from your game.

[rwfastrax]

Whether it's a par 5, 4 or if you're behind a tree on a par 3. If it's too risky/difficult to put it on the green...set up the next shot to be an easy approach. Risk/reward is a great ruler to play by.

[kpaulhus]

Rickie Fowler coulda got there in two, but he is deadly from 100 and in.

[BigTazz53]

Know your game, if you know you MAY hit that shot 1 out of 10, then lay up. Period. I try hard to play the hole from green to tee in my head.I try to leave a 2nd or 3rd(par 5) shot around 100 -120 this is my comfort shot into the green.
Reaching the next level is more than course management though.

[sean_miller]

Rickie Fowler coulda got there in two, but he is deadly from 100 and in.

Or Mike Weir - well on Thursday or Friday anyway.