Need Advice From Guys like Jeff

[APowell1990]

I was wondering what it takes to play these difficult golf courses that regional tournaments and high school matches are held. I once again played scratch golf at my local golf course that is kinda short (6,200) and very open. I just can't figure it out! I just can't score on the big name courses. I am afraid it'll cost me a scholarship to where I want to go. I know this is a stupid question, but I have to figure it out.

[JEFF4i]

How long are you from the tee? What is it that is causing your scores to go higher? Bear in mind that harder courses have faster, harder(balls don't just hit and stick as easily), greens.

But mainly, what is it that is causing your scores to go higher. Next time you go to one, do an evaluation of your round, GIRs, Fairways, etc. with notes and then do the same for your home course. If that doesn't answer your question, it should at least help a bit for us to assist.

[APowell1990]

I am a long hitter imo. I average probably 270 off the tee including mishits. I have hit one over 330 before, but most of the time it is around 280-290 when hit solid. I just dont get around to play a lot of tough golf courses. Alright I will give you the numbers from my last few nines.

10/7:
36
3 fairways
5 greens
14 putts

10/7:
36
2 fairways
6 greens
15 putts

TOTALS
72
5/14 fairways (not good at all)
11/18 greens (decent)
29 putts (horrible)

[JEFF4i]

29 putts isn't your problem. So based on this you shot....I don't know,

The fairways could be better, and except for the long long holes, it wouldn't kill you to take your 3W off the tee if you can put it out around 250. That is probably part of the problem, further, 29 putts is rather low in fact, so don't worry about that.

You'd be amazed how putting yourself in the fairway can help with GIRs, if you catch more fairways I'm pretty certain you'll get more greens as well.

[APowell1990]

yeah but I dont hit my 3 wood that will. It is a lot like my driver. It has a slice on it as well. I need to hit more fairways, but I feel good about my iron game. I just feel like crap about my putter. The greens I play are bermuda and VERY slow! They are also small, but I normally dominate them. Basically I expect to make anything inside 10 feet at home.

[JEFF4i]

Which is good to have a strong putter game and want more, but as we all know, we don't have all our lives to dedicate to golf. So since your putting is solid anyway, I'd say work mostly on the long game, driver mostly. If you have the little bit of money to spare, it might also be a good idea to get a lesson and just ask him to focus on your driver issues, as he might see something.

Also, if possible, post a video if you can of your driver shots.

Once again, 29 putts in a round is very good and nothing to be concerned about.

[Sandpiper3]

Jeff's right, 29 putts is good, if your beating yourself up about it your either cheating or stupid If you get lessons for the driver, ask specifically for a lesson on "TEE SHOTS". This will address better wat you want to learn. When you say you usually play smaller/slow greens, when you start hitting more greens your putts will go up, also better courses have bigger greens, so dont worry if the putts goes up a bit as a reaction of the better GIR.

That explanation is on your home course right? Something that should help you, is lower your expectations. If your that good, dont have expectations at all, analyze your rounds by all means, but dont label them "good or bad". Take good shots out of it, evaluate wat you need to work on a little more, and just keep you head about you and stay smart, if its your tee shots holding you back, wait for shorter holes, take advantage, and just take a tough par or bogey on the tighter holes. Even though i havent gotten to college level golf yet, i know when people watch your game, theyre not so much watching your score, but how you play and the way you play (although obv they look at your score, but 72 is solid anywhere for a junior).

If your a good iron player and not as great with the woods, consider a 2 iron. Its helped me boatloads with shorter more accuracy demanding tee shots, and also the longer par 3 holes you WILL encounter on better courses.

[APowell1990]

yeah I just need to work on my driver right now. I will try and figure out how to post a video on here when I get home.

[JEFF4i]

Definately, the longest par 3 at my home course is 280 yards.

[APowell1990]

Alright I just got done with 18.

Front:
36
4 fairways
5 greens
13 putts
(I finished bogey-bogey!!)
Par 4-314 Par 5- 465

Back:
36
3 fairways
6 greens
15 putts

TOTALS
72
7/14 fairways
11/18 greens
28 putts

[JEFF4i]

What was your score? 75?

I think your main focus right now should be fairways, you'll get more greens with more fairways.

[APowell1990]

naw I had 36-36 for a 72. I hit 2 more fairways today. I am not closing the clubface when I come through the ball like I was. I am trying to close it a tad more, but it is tough to find a happy medium.

[Youngun5]

i hear that, i've been struggling with that as well, i'm either on target, or push it 30 yards right b/c i just can't close it down.....i also think i'm having alignment troubles...but the other day i developed really good tempo out of nowhere, and i'm not so rigid and tense, and its really helped just using a more free flowing swing and not worrying about how far the ball goes, but just making good contact and knowing the ball is gonna be on line or really close to it.

i'm in the same boat as you, my home course only plays 6100 yards, albeit a very hilly and rough 6100 yards, i play that and get used to just ripping a drive then hitting wedges, and then during the h.s. year we play tough- 7200 yard courses where you're hitting 4 and 5 irons into greens and 3 woods into par 3's etc,

my best advice would be to try to make your home course as hard as possible for yourself, for instance you can only tee off with a 5 iron or lower, doing that will help you value course management all that much more and help you develop some crucial shots for those tougher courses.

good luck,

-YG

[Sandpiper3]

Originally Posted by Youngun5

for instance you can only tee off with a 5 iron or lower, doing that will help you value course management all that much more and help you develop some crucial shots for those tougher courses.

Great advice right here. I do something similar to this to simulate courses im getting ready for if i cant get to them for practise rounds. If you can get a yardage book, you can leave yourself "avg" places/distances you will hit to on those courses.

[APowell1990]

yeah I will have to try that young gun. Alright lets look at the birdies and bogeys

BIRDIES:
#1- 399 yards (Par 4)- #3 handicap hole
Long straight drive, pitching wedge inside a foot.
#7- 399 yards (Par 4)- #1 handicap hole (TIGHT)
Decent drive and a pitching wedge to about 15 feet.
#11- 484 yards (Par 5)- #14 handicap hole
Long drive under a tree, fairway wood under and over a bush to about 30 yards. Pitch to about 5 feet.

BOGEYS:
#8- 314 yards (Par 4)- #17 handicap hole
Bombed drive thru the fairway and didnt have direct shot at the green
#9- 465 yards (Par 5)- #7 handicap hole
Short 5 iron drive, wood hits tree, 8 iron goes long, pitch runs to bottom of green
#15- 417 yards (Par 4)- #8 handicap hole
Bad drive, had an open shot at the green and kinda chunked a 9 iron, butchered an easy up and down.