Course Management · Lesson
Break 80 by Avoiding Doubles
Part of our course management programs for big numbers, picking targets. Build a program with it
Breaking 80 isn't about birdies. Eleven pars and seven bogeys get you there. So the real job is avoiding double bogeys. Plan on reaching greens in regulation plus one shot. Off the tee, avoid spots that force a recovery. Treat fairway bunkers almost like water. From 150 to 200 yards, aim at the spot that leaves the easiest chip. And practice long lag putts in your warm-up. Golfers at this level often leave them short.
Step by step
- Plan for pars and bogeys.
- Aim for the green in regulation plus one.
- Steer clear of bunkers and recovery spots.
- From long range, aim at your easiest chip.
- Warm up with long lags.
Why it works
A round of 79 is eleven pars and seven bogeys, so the score is built on steady holes, not birdies. A double bogey usually comes from one bad shot followed by a forced recovery, then a second error. If you remove the spots that force a recovery, a bad shot costs one stroke instead of two. Planning to reach the green in regulation plus one shot gives you a built-in margin, so a bogey becomes your worst normal result.
Common mistakes
- You aim at the flag from 150 to 200 yards and miss into trouble.Aim at the part of the green that leaves the easiest chip, even if it is away from the flag.
- You treat a fairway bunker as a normal lie and try to reach the green from it.Pick a club that gets the ball out and back in play, and accept a bogey as the likely result.
- You leave long lag putts short, which sets up a three-putt.Hit your warm-up lags to a spot just past the hole so you learn the pace to reach it.
How you'll know it's working
- You finish rounds with few or no double bogeys on the card.
- Your first putts from long range finish within a short, tap-in range of the hole.
- Your misses end up in places where you have an open, simple chip rather than a recovery shot.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Play a practice nine and only count holes where you make double bogey or worse, aiming for none.
Harder: Pick a specific target spot on every approach before you choose the club, and keep a tally of how often the ball finishes on the safe side of it.
Common questions
How many pars do you need to break 80?
A common mix is eleven pars and seven bogeys, which gives 79 on a par 72 course. Any mix that adds to 7 over par or better works, so each double bogey you avoid helps.
Why do I keep making double bogeys?
Most doubles come from one poor shot followed by a recovery that goes wrong. Avoid tee shot and approach spots that force a recovery, and a miss will cost you one shot, not two.
