Most of us know from first-hand experience that if you rock up to the golf course without any kind of strategy, things can become very wrong very quickly.
Poor planning leads to poor golf, which leads to frustration in its purest form.
As Raymond Floyd said, “they call it golf because all the other four-letter words were taken.”
But there’s really no need to pepper the golf course with expletives and terrible shots. Whether you’re a near scratch golfer or keen amateur, having an on-course strategy can massively improve your game.
Here are 8 of the best ways to manage your round and lower your score.
Find a routine and stick to it
Consistency is key. And the best way to play consistent golf is to have a consistent pre-shot routine.
From your ball position and your stance to your backswing and your follow-through, every part of your game should be mapped out. Do your research and pick up tips from golf masters like Bobby Jones and Greg Norman, while getting clued up on the on-course mistakes to avoid.
Once you’ve put in the hours on the practice range, you’ll have developed a shot routine that works for you. Make this the foundation of your game.
Try not to think mechanically
Of course, the whole point of putting the hours in on the practice range is so that you don’t have to think so much. While you want that routine cemented as part of your game, the last thing you want is to have to use it to mechanically make your way around the course.
Golf, like any great game, is largely about feel. We play better when we’re relaxed and in a flow-like state of mind. So, thinking mechanically about golf should be left for the hours of practice before you step onto the course.
The more practice hours you put in, the easier it will be to have those mechanics at a subconscious level. Then, you can relax and slip into that you need to be to play great golf.
Visualise
When it comes to the inner game of golf, visualisation is one of the key elements. All the greatest golfers throughout history, from Billy Casper and Jack Nicklaus to Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have been big on visualisation.
Not only can you improve your game by picturing better outcomes – seeing that drive hit the fairway before it happens – but you can prepare your body to move a certain way by actually imagining it beforehand.
It really is a massive part of the game and not just for the pros. For any golfer, regardless of skill level, learning a few simple visualisation tricks is a highly effective way to improve.
Know your distance for each club
This is a big one that many amateurs don’t actually think about. When you’re on the practice range, go through your clubs systematically and keep track of average distances for each club. If you’ve developed a consistent swing, this is something you should be able to identify and use to improve your game on the course.
Once you’ve got an idea of the distance you’re getting with each club, your on-course shot planning will go to the next level. It’s simple stuff, yet so overlooked by many.
Spot the danger zones
When you approach a hole, you need to make a mental assessment of the no-go areas. Sand traps and lakes can ruin your scorecard and quickly make you forget that impressive birdie on the previous hole.
So, don’t leave it to the golfing gods… map out your ideal shot paths and try to spot danger before it happens.
“Golf without bunkers and hazards would be tame and monotonous. So would life.”
B.C. Forbes
Think damage limitation
Linking in with spotting the danger zones, it’s crucial to keep in mind that getting a low score is more about how good your bad shots are, rather than how great your good shots are.
It sounds boring and very unglamorous, but it’s true! While we all love to imagine pulling off a sensational shot, the truth is the best way to go is to not let your mistakes cost you too much.
Firstly, accept that you’re going to hit bad shots. Secondly, take pride in these bad shots costing you less than they would normally. When it’s just not happening for you, don’t force it. Instead of taking risky shots, focus on getting the ball back into a good area.
Then, when the storm passes and you get your groove back, you can play with a little more swagger. You’ll be amazed at how your scoring will improve with this approach.
Play to par
Instead of having one gear, try to adapt your game to the par for each hole. For instance, par 3 holes tend to be more difficult than 4s or 5s. So, while you may be tempted to play aggressively on shorter holes, the reality is that a cautious approach pays off more often than not.
For par 4s, it’s definitely worth considering the distance. Par 4s range from 251 to 470 yards for men and 211 to 400 yards for women. For the shorter par 4s, it’s worth playing more aggressively and going for that birdie or par, depending on your skill level.
Par 5s range from 471 to 690 yards for men and 401 to 575 yards for women. It’s always worth playing with more aggression and taking more chances on par 5s. Especially for the shorter ones, when you have a real chance of getting your score down.
Work backwards
It’s tempting to think you can just tear through the course, hitting diamond drives, killer approach shots and sinking putts with ease. But the reality is, golf courses are designed to challenge you! So, you need a lot more finesse and preparation when it comes to playing good golf.
That’s why it helps to think back-to-front on each hole you play. Start from the pin and consider the size of the green and its position in relation to its surroundings. Plot your approach to the green. Then, work out the shape and distance of the fairway and try to gauge your ideal tee shot to get the best approach.
It’s not always easy to get a good picture of each hole before you play it. If you’ve played it before, you’ll have a good idea of what’s ahead. You could even use Google Maps. Some courses also have drone footage of their courses that you can preview beforehand. Use whatever you can to have a good mental image of the course and plan backwards to better prepare yourself to get that low score.
