Play Golf Conservatively

I have found that the best way to improve my scores as a long handicapper is not to try to beat the course as if I was a low handicapper.

Take your handicap and put it to good use. If you have 2 strokes on a par 4 then play it like a par 6.

If you have 1 shot handicap on a par 3 then play it as a par 4 and so on.

This means that in the case of a par 6 on handicap you only have to put the ball on the green on your fourth shot and allow two putts for a par on handicap.

You don't have to crunch a monster drive and you don't have to try and over extend a fairway wood or long iron or a hybrid.

My advice is to try and be in close proximity to the green on your third shot, sometimes you will get lucky and your third shot will actually be on the green, this is a bonus. Likewise you will sometimes be able to chip your fourth shot fairly close to the pin and make it a one putt green, again this is a bonus.

When chipping your fourth shot on a par 6 on handicap, don't aim for a tight pin placement near the edge of the green especially if there is trouble like a bunker on that side. Aim your chip for the centre of the green which allows you a fair margin of error on both sides. You should still be able to manage 2 putts from somewhere on the green. Sometimes you will err on the correct side and place your chip near enough for a one putt, again this is a bonus.

By playing conservatively like this you will be surprised how you will get rid of those shots that put you in trouble and cause you to have an 8 or worse. You will begin scoring better by not trying to do so. Use your handicap to advantage.

If you do hit into trouble dont try the miracle shot to get out of there, Take your medicine and chip back into the fairway or take a penalty drop and proceed to play to the green. It is better to drop one shot than three or four by failing with your miracle shot.

For those who want to improve your swing and the rest of your game go to http://www.learninggolfswing.com

Happy golfing

Wayne