Course management - Consider your options.

March 1, 2003

Course management - consider your options.

Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC. We conduct 1, 2 and 3-day golf schools, hourly golf lessons, and senior golf schools—any golf instruction program your heart desires. Give us a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993. We will be happy to book a commuter school or a package that contains accommodations, golf, and golf school.

Monthly Golf Tips by the Mel Sole Golf School.

Often during a round of golf with students or friends, I observe them make a poor decision on the shot at hand because they did not consider all the options available.

Typical example:

A golfer is faced with a difficult bunker shot where the ball is lying at the back edge of the bunker.

Option #1.

Play the "Tomahawk" shot I described in a previous tip. You would need to be an accomplished golfer to pull this shot off.

Option #2.

It involves looking at the bunker's face to see if there is a smooth area where the ball can be putted out, as in picture #1. This is a good choice for a high handicapper or someone who is a poor bunker player. You will at least get the ball out of the bunker. If the bunker has even the slightest lip, then this shot is not an option.

Course management - consider your options

Option #3.

Play it out backward, as in picture #2. This eliminates the danger of leaving the ball in the bunker if you hit a poor shot.

Course management - consider your options

Option #4.

Most bunkers have a low side. (to allow machinery to enter the bunker) And if you are not too far away from this area, you can again use the putter and hit it out or play a regular bunker shot to the side of the green, as in picture #3:

Option #5.

If you are a good bunker player but are playing in a stroke play competition and do not want to risk the "Tomahawk" shot, tap the ball to the middle of the bunker as in pictures #4 & #5 then play a regular sand shot from there. You might be giving away a shot, but you will probably avoid those high numbers in the long run. Those are undesirable in a strokeplay situation.

Picture #4

Picture #5

Next time you are in a difficult situation on the course, consider all your options for better scores!

Source: Mel Sole Golf School.

Thank you for reading - Course management - Consider your options. Make the smart choice based on your skill level!