John Hamarik's Tips of The Trade - Ten Great Tips to get you Playing Better Golf.

Ten Great Tips to get you Playing Better

TIP #5: Golf Course Management

Keep The Golf Ball In Play! Keeping your golf ball in play will increase the amount of opportunities that you will have to shoot better scores. The whole objective of playing golf is to shoot a good golf score!!!
Good golf course management says that when you are in the sandtrap, the number one priority is to get the golf ball out of the sandtrap. A lot of times when we are in the sandtrap we think of getting the golf ball close to the hole and end up still in the sandtrap. By using good golf course management in getting the golf ball out of the sandtrap we create an opportunity to make the putt no matter where it is on the green.
If you clear the creek that runs across the fairway, with your driver off the tee, you will have a wedge into the green on your second shot. But, good golf course management says that by hitting a 3-iron or a 5-wood off the tee you will be hitting an 8-iron and maybe even a 7-iron on your second shot. And that is not so bad to have an 8-iron rather then a wedge on your second shot!
Why is that not so bad? Because you have kept the ball in play, you have taken the creek in the fairway out of play, you have kept up a good rhythm because you are not mad at yourself for hitting the golf ball in the creek. Good rhythm helps reduce tension and you have more energy to visualize yourself making a good score on the hole, which is the objective of the game!