Taking your game to a different course

[bmccain]

This is a very general question but I am curious to hear some thoughts from other golfers.

I play at a club that has 27 holes which has different qualities on each nine.  Very well rounded course.  It plays 6710 from the blues and is 72 /126.  One of the key points that has helped me score more consistently and better has been playing a little better strategy....for example playing to distances I am comfortable with as opposed to just getting as close as possible.

I have a hard time taking my game to different courses and scoring well.

My question is how do you guys play other courses and maintain the same scoring?  Is it a different strategy?  Or is this just something that you adapt to as your handicap improves?  Thanks for the input.

[LeftyTrevor]

When I go to a different course, I imagine each hole to be like one from my club. This gives me a comfortable visual and helps me quite well.

[Runyan]

I would think it's just a matter of playing the new course until you can develop a new strategy and learn the course a bit better. But lefty has an interesting tip, I'll have to try it sometime.

[WUTiger]

First thing to consider is "prevent defense." Visit the course web site, and make note of any problem holes. Play these for bogie - take an up-and-down par if you can get it. Ask the head pro or the starter if there's any "danger zones" on the course.

Second thing is, just play for fun and see what the course is all about.For everyday golfers, that's why they only count lowest 10 of last 20 scores for HDCP. There's a learning curve for new courses.

When pros go into a tournament site, they have a practice round or two if they don't know it. Or, they may drop in and play a famous course if they're passing by - just to learn it.

I played a famous public course in our area for the first time, and messed up bad on six holes. But, I should do several strokes better next time because I know what to expect - and what to avoid.

[Mizuno Guy]

On new courses hit the shot that you know you can hit, generally meaning playing safer golf by avoiding the big mistakes. I personally tend to overall play very well on new courses except i tend to make a lot of big numbers and ruins my score. Another thing I like to do on new courses is not spend much time practicing putting or short game as I have had way too many experiences where the greens on the course are completely different from the practice green and it completely throws me off the whole round.

[Yukari]

If a yardage book is available, I always get one on a new course so that I can see each hole when I tee up.

It usually doesn't cost that much, but it will make your round a much more enjoyable knowing each hole lay out before hitting that tee shot.

[Rudyprimo]

If it's a new course and you'll be playing it again take notes on it. You say you like hitting certain distances so check that area of the fairways and make sure they're level and not an uneven lie. It's always better to shoot from an even lie. And when you're on the green take a good look back at the fairway. You may see something from that different perspective that would make you approach the green differently.

[Zeph]

I usually play well at other courses. I buy a course guide if they got one and make sure I plan every shot. It's about hitting the ball from where you are to where you want to be on every course. Some are of course sloped more severly and some got blind shots, but I've never had issues with playing courses for the first time. If anything, I play better since I focus more on what I want to do.

[Jonnydanger81]

I think with all the different iPhone and Droid GPS apps out there you can make the one time purchase of $30 (whatever it is) and get a lot of good info for almost any course you'll play.  I was down in Pinehurst last week and besides asking the starter about any trouble holes I spent some time looking online at the layout and checking my Golfshot app for distance to certain hazards and such.  There's always something that will sneak by you but that's part of the fun of playing a new course.