How To Shoot In The 70's Through Better Course Management
Many golfers have developed a certain level of ball striking proficiency. However, they do not reach their full scoring abilities due to a lack of course management. Here we will focus on how to shoot in the 70's through better course management.
Course management is an aspect of golf instruction that is often overlooked. However, to shoot in the 70's good course management is critical. In the course of a round the decisions you make can cost you 5 strokes or more. Anyone who is trying to shoot in the 70's knows this is true because bad decisions have already cost them good rounds.
The first thing that all good course managers do is play the easiest shot possible. That means off the tee play a shot that will get you in play on the hole. If you always fade the ball then play the fade. Don't try and shape a draw on a dogleg left. Play the fade. If necessary play a 3-wood or hybrid off the tee. The only important thing is that you are in play off the tee. Think about it. If you are in play on every hole off of every tee how many strokes will that save you per round. For most of you the answer will be at least three strokes or more. So keeping the ball in play is a big key to shooting in the 70's.
The ball is in play, so now what? Not too sound too obvious but play the simplest shot you can to put the ball on the green. If you can't hit the green from where you are then hit the ball where you will have an easy chip shot, not some flop shot over a deep bunker. Almost all amateur golfers do not hit enough club for their approach shots. They play the club they have to hit perfectly to get to the hole and then come up short most of the time. The next time you play hit an iron that will reach the back of the green for every approach shot. You will definitely get closer to shooting in the 70's if you follow this advice.
Here is an advanced tip for when you are in- between clubs. If the pin is in the back of the green then take the shorter club and try to hit it perfectly. If you miss a little you are still on the green, underneath the hole with probably an uphill putt.
If the pin is in the front of the green take more club. If you hit it good you will be past the flag but still have a putt. If you miss it you will at least make the green. At least you won't leave one of those tough ten yard chips to a front pin location. This is how everyone who shoots in the 70's thinks because they know how to score.
Hopefully, you are now on the green. If you have an easy putt by all means go for it. Nothing helps the score like a birdie or two. But if your approach left you a 30ft downhill slider try and hit a good lag putt that will leave you a little below the hole with a straight second putt. Many golfers make the mistake on long breaking putts to leave a second putt with a lot of break in it.
Here is an advanced tip for putting. On long putts try and get the ball to the hole and a little past it. Watch the ball as it goes past the hole. This will tell you a lot about the next putt. Don't turn away and not look when you know it's not going in. Watch it all the way. Learn from every putt! Putting is a big key to shooting in the 70's. You can't shoot in the 70's and have 36 putts per round. Actually you can but you're ball striking better be great.
Without a doubt you will find trouble along the way. How you handle these situations will greatly impact your ability to shoot in the 70's. If you find trouble off the tee get back in play quickly. Do not try a hero shot. If you've sliced the ball into the woods and that's your normal shot and you have a good opening then play another slice back down the fairway to the green. But if that's not your normal shot or you don't have a reasonable opening take your medicine and try to make a one putt par. Making a bad decision after a bad shot is the easiest way to keep from shooting in the 70's.
When your approach shot lands you in trouble like a bunker or a difficult chip just play to get on the green. Don't try and hit it three inches when the pin is cut just on the side you are chipping from. Give yourself a putt at par. If it goes in great, if not you've only made bogey. Again, bad decisions around the green prevent many golfers from shooting in the 70's.
Think about each shot you play and play smart. You can probably shoot in the 70's with the game you've got but you do have to practice good course management.
