How can we use this knowledge of the architect’s attempts to our benefit? What do the Pros see when they’re hitting the same shot? These are the questions we will answer in this article.
Every good golf course architect will use the land and the hazards with one main goal in mind; To make you think! That one bunker out there that you might hate…in reality, the architect did a great job placing it there because he’s got you writhing over your next visit to that tee box. One of the greatest compliments a hazard can get, is one of complaints, because it truly is making you think!
Thinking is the reason that hitting a good shot is so much easier on the range than the course, as there is no trouble on the range…nothing to make you think and a huge pile of balls laying in wait, just in case you miss the shot. But what are we thinking about on the range that makes it so much easier for the great shots on the range?
Our thoughts are only on the target & shot shape with a detached sense of caring about the result.
Think about that last line for a moment… ‘target & shot shape’ means… I’m going to hit a fade at the red flag. ‘detached sense of caring’ means that we really don’t much care about what happens, mainly because we won’t have to chase the ball and also because we have a giant pyramid of balls at our feet!
When you get out on the golf course, begin to view each hole with looking for what the architect ‘wants’ you to think about. Follow then to the area the architect gives you as the safe area (there’s always a widening or target area). Ask your self what club and what kind of shot can you easily get to that target. Now pick something more specific as your target like a tree trunk or the edge of a distant bunker. Visualize the ball taking off at the appropriate trajectory, peaking and curving toward your specific small target. Visualize what the ball will do when it lands at that target. Now go hit your shot as though you’re only playing a silly game…who cares what happens!
Every good golf course architect will use the land and the hazards with one main goal in mind; To make you think! That one bunker out there that you might hate…in reality, the architect did a great job placing it there because he’s got you writhing over your next visit to that tee box. One of the greatest compliments a hazard can get, is one of complaints, because it truly is making you think!
Thinking is the reason that hitting a good shot is so much easier on the range than the course, as there is no trouble on the range…nothing to make you think and a huge pile of balls laying in wait, just in case you miss the shot. But what are we thinking about on the range that makes it so much easier for the great shots on the range?
Our thoughts are only on the target & shot shape with a detached sense of caring about the result.
Think about that last line for a moment… ‘target & shot shape’ means… I’m going to hit a fade at the red flag. ‘detached sense of caring’ means that we really don’t much care about what happens, mainly because we won’t have to chase the ball and also because we have a giant pyramid of balls at our feet!
When you get out on the golf course, begin to view each hole with looking for what the architect ‘wants’ you to think about. Follow then to the area the architect gives you as the safe area (there’s always a widening or target area). Ask your self what club and what kind of shot can you easily get to that target. Now pick something more specific as your target like a tree trunk or the edge of a distant bunker. Visualize the ball taking off at the appropriate trajectory, peaking and curving toward your specific small target. Visualize what the ball will do when it lands at that target. Now go hit your shot as though you’re only playing a silly game…who cares what happens!