Advanced Course Management Strategies

One of the best ways to improve your golf game is to improve your course management skills. While it helps to have a solid swing, making smart decisions as you navigate the course can be a huge game-changer.

Having superior course management skills will take you much further than just having the physical skills. Keep reading to learn about some advanced course management skills so that you can lower your scores.

Embrace Smaller Strokes

The smaller your strokes, the less room there is for error. At the same time, smaller strokes mean smaller mistakes that won’t have such a detrimental impact on your par. If you want to shave strokes and improve your game, follow these three steps:

Always putt first.

When you can’t putt, chip.

Pitch or lob as a last resort.

Keep it simple and stick to smaller strokes when traversing the course. You’ll find that simple strokes will often offer the better reward. If you need more practice, invest in a portable launch monitor that allows you to improve your stroke decisions off the green.

Avoid the Short Side

When on the course, you want to avoid having to shoot from the short side of the green as much as possible. Since you don't have much green to work with on the short side, it's much harder to chip the ball close to the hole. This can absolutely ruin your par.

With a conservative game plan throughout the course, you'll find that you're not only playing away from the pin, but you'll also be aiming toward the wide side of the green. This decreases the chance that you'll end up short-sided.

Have a Trusty Longer Club

For recreational golfers, longer fairway shots are the toughest. This is why it’s invaluable to have a go-to longer club for these kinds of shots. When you’re facing a long shot, you don’t want to instinctively grab any club that might get the ball where it needs to go.

The better option is to use a longer club that you feel the most comfortable using. Choose a consistent club that will help with these tougher shots. By doing so, you’ll feel more confident throughout the course.

Not sure what club is best for long shots? Figure out the best option by practicing using a launch monitor.

Make Adjustments

Some days on the green are better than others. As you go through a round, there are times where you feel like you’re on fire and unstoppable, and there are times where you feel the exact opposite.

When you feel like your game is on point, react properly. If you’re below par and feeling great, be aggressive and drive your score lower. On the other hand, if you’re feeling like your game is totally off, choose less aggressive clubs and take more caution while making your way around the course.

Making the right adjustments throughout the round allows you to regain confidence.

Practice Using a Golf Swing Monitor

As you improve your course management strategies, you can get back to perfecting your swing. On those days when you can’t hit the green, practice at home by using a golf swing monitor. Foresight Sports sells a wide range of launch monitor products, which are designed to help you get better at your game in an environment of your choosing.

Interested in learning more about our launch monitors? Call our team at (858) 880-0179 to discuss your performance simulation solution needs today.