Course Management · Tip
Getting Ready for a New Course
Part of our course management programs for picking targets. Build a program with it
A new course is easier with a little homework. Look at the course website and scorecard. Go hole by hole on a GPS app. Make a simple plan for each hole. Then stick to it. On the course, play smart. Aim at the middle of fairways and the middle of greens. If a caddie or forecaddie is available, think about using one. And spend extra time on the practice green before you start. Learning the speed early saves strokes.
Step by step
- Study the scorecard and layout online.
- Go hole by hole on a GPS app.
- Write a plan and follow it.
- Aim at centers.
- Spend extra time on the practice green.
Why it works
A plan made before you play lets you decide with a clear head, not under pressure on the tee. Knowing where the hazards, doglegs and slopes are lets you pick targets that keep big misses out of play. Aiming at the middle of fairways and greens gives you the most room for error on every shot. Early practice-green time sets your sense of pace, which cuts three-putts.
Common mistakes
- You make a plan but drop it after one bad shot.Treat each hole as a fresh decision and go back to the written plan for the next tee shot.
- You aim at pins tucked near hazards because the yardage looks right.Pick the middle of the green and accept a longer putt over a short-sided miss.
- You hit only a few quick putts before you tee off.Spend the extra time rolling putts of different lengths until you can judge the pace of the greens.
How you'll know it's working
- Your first few tee shots finish in play, and you have clear options for the next shot.
- Your first putts on the course finish near the hole, not well short or past it.
- You can say your target and club for each tee shot before you pull the club.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Plan only the par 3s and the tee shots on the par 4s and 5s, and leave the rest until you reach them.
Harder: Plan each hole backward from the green, then write down the miss you will accept and the miss you must avoid.
Common questions
How do I prepare to play a golf course for the first time?
Study the scorecard and the hole layouts online, then walk through each hole on a GPS app. Write a simple plan for each hole and follow it.
Where should I aim on a course I don't know?
Aim at the middle of the fairway and the middle of the green. This gives you the largest margin for error when you don't know the hazards or slopes well.
