3 Secrets to Prepare for Golf Courses & Lower Your Handicap

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1) Ever heard of Google Maps?

• Whether it is your home course or one you’re planning to play this weekend, look at the layout online. Viewing a course from a drone’s perspective is eye-opening.
• The first step is to chart the fairway bends. Does the course have a left or right balance? If the balance is right, that means more holes are turning in that direction and favor a left to right ball flight. If you routinely play a course with six left turns, I’d start practicing that trajectory!
• What direction does the course face? There will be a compass on the page. Print that map out and write the four points on the map in permanent marker. Once you establish north, south, east and west you’ll be ready to take on the wind. Golf courses twist us around. Carry that map in your bag. If you have a question about the wind in your round, pull it out and decipher the direction. (Tiger Woods taught me that one.)

2) Look Behind You

• We play the same holes all the time and make similar mistakes. The issue isn’t the course, it’s us. We need to change our approach. We go where we look. Architects are very skilled at catching our attention. Next time you play, after you finish putting out, look back at the hole you just played.
• This will completely change your perspective. Suddenly you will see more open areas and safe landing spots. Take that new outlook and apply it to your next round. You’ll be amazed at how much more comfortable you will feel over certain shots with this new knowledge in mind.

3) Dear Diary

• The placement of mounds, cross bunkers, and penalty areas all seem very random at times. They are NOT. On the back of your “wind map,” start to keep a list of the trouble. When you hit a shot and end up in one of these areas, write down the distance of that shot. Keeping a detailed log of different yardages to certain on-course obstacles will also build confidence.
•  We are going to hit bad shots. The key is, start choosing to aim at areas or select clubs that won’t end up in these situations. A personal yardage book will help immensely. Start writing one during your next round.