Course Management · Lesson
Lessons for Smarter Decisions
Part of our course management programs for big numbers. Build a program with it
Small decisions save the most strokes. When you lay up off the tee, pick the club that lands in the widest part of the fairway. Not just a shorter club. Know where all the trouble is. How far, and on which side. Only take it on if you're comfortable. Base each decision on shots you can really hit. If you've never practiced a shot, don't try it now.
Step by step
- Laying up? Pick the widest landing area.
- Know the distance to every hazard.
- Take on trouble only when comfortable.
- Rely on shots you've practiced.
- Skip the unfamiliar ones.
Why it works
Most strokes are lost to big misses, not small ones. A club that lands in the widest part of the fairway gives your normal miss more room to stay in play. Knowing the distance and side of each hazard lets you aim away from it. Using only shots you have practiced keeps your dispersion close to what you expect.
Common mistakes
- You pull a shorter club without checking where it lands.Look at the landing zone first, then choose the club that ends in the widest part of the fairway.
- You know where the hazard is but not how far it is.Check the distance to the front and the carry of every hazard before you pick a target.
- You try a shot in the round that you have never practiced.Choose the shot you have hit many times on the range, even if it leaves a longer next shot.
How you'll know it's working
- Your tee shots finish in play more often, even when the strike is not perfect.
- Your misses end up on the safe side of the hazards you identified.
- You can name the distance and side of trouble before every swing.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Play a familiar course and write down the hazard distances for each hole before you start.
Harder: Play a new course and make every decision from the yardage and shots you have practiced, with no recovery shots you have never hit.
Common questions
What club should I hit when laying up off the tee?
Pick the club that lands in the widest part of the fairway, not just any shorter club. Check the distance to the hazards and choose the club that stays short of them.
When should I take on a hazard on the course?
Only when you are comfortable with the shot and have hit it before. If you have never practiced it, play to the safer target.
