Course Management

When we speak of course management we mean: What club will I use? How far can I hit the ball?

Most people think about the physical side of hitting the ball but I feel like course management is more about applying your physical skills to problem solving situations that occur with each shot you encounter on the golf course.

A part of mental / psychological strength for golf is learning and developing course management skills. They are separate from the emotions and personality traits – ones emotions definitely play a part in course management.

Examples: perception, judgment, shot selection, special knowledge (weather conditions, course set up, rules, equipment), planning, club selection, preparation and pacing.

To improve your course management skills, I believe that you must create your own personal routine that you stick with throughout your game. Here's an example of my plan on how to score:

Rules of How to Score

1. Always have a procedure to a specific target.

2. Play each shot to the best of your ability at that moment.

3. When the shot does not work out for you, accept it, forgive yourself and forget, move on to play the next shot to the best of your ability at that moment.

4. Continue this procedure until all 18 holes are played.

5. Post your score.

6. After the round, praise your best efforts, then analyze your physical and mental mistakes, correct them in your mind, and the round is finished.

7. Compare yourself to no one else – only the golfer you know you can be realistically.

8. Repeat the procedure and post a new score, letting yourself learn, develop and get closer to meeting your goals and maximizing your potential ability.

9. Have fun always! It's a game that is ever changing like you!

10. If you like, contact me for instruction in Palm Coast or Jacksonville, Florida:

Mary Hafeman, PGA & LPGA Professional
2011 Northern Chapter, PGA North Florida Section Teacher of the
Year
Golf for Women's Top 50 Teacher
www.maryhafemangolf.com

Alignment: A Key to Success

One of the key pre swing fundamentals is alignment. Preparing your body for a swing includes aiming and getting your body parallel left of your intended target line. I see a common fault of an outside-in swing path with an open club face which causes a big slice from many of my new players.

As we investigate the cause of the problem, I usually see the student setting up to the ball with their feet aiming well off to the right of the target. Their shoulders might be parallel to the target line or left. They pull across the ball causing a swing path, which is commonly called “over the top” or swinging from the right to the left (outside-in). If their club face is open, this swing path and face angle causes a large left to right slice. If their clubface is square, this swing path and face angle causes a big pull dead left.

There are two completely different ball flights but similar swing paths. Usually the student thinks they are doing two completely different swings! In actuality the students are swinging the club on the same path but at impact the club face angles are completely opposite. This problem can be solved by improving their alignment in the set up position by getting square to your target line and changing their
swing path.

1. First set up to the ball and place a club on the ground which is parallel to the target line in your practice time. Be sure to set up with your feet, hips and shoulders parallel to the club on the target line. By placing a club on the ground gives you a very good visual to make sure you are in the right position.

2. Feel as though you are swinging the club out to the right of the target line. Use your right hand to push out to the right in a drill! This will help you establish an inside out swing path. With a square club face you will be seeing the ball flight start slightly to the right with the ball moving slightly to the left and straight down toward your target.

3. You will feel like you are swinging out instead of feeling like you are pulling the ball down the line.

Remember, on the range place a club pointed at a target while you warm up and practice. Square your body, feet, hips, shoulders to that target line. Feel as though you are swinging to the right of the target. You will improve your alignment, swing path, ball flight; hit much more solid shots which give you the opportunity to lower your scores.

Controlling Distance for the Chip and Pitch

Distance control on short shots is largely controlled by the club head speed, which in turn is influenced mostly by the length of the backswing. The longer the backswing the more the potential for greater club head speed and more distance. Vary the backswing length to see the difference it makes in the distance the ball travels. Strive for a consistent, accelerating but smooth pace. 

A good routine to use to build solid results for your game is as follows:

Survey - check the lie, the terrain, the conditions·

Visualize - see the shot and the result

Rehearse - make practice swings or rehearse mentally, or do both, until the correct feel is established·

Execute - produce the swing, that was rehearsed

Evaluate - if the shot was good, put it in your memory bank, if bad, and make correct practice swings.

See you on the golf course! For more information visit my website www.maryhafemangolf.com

Lower Your Score: Learn to Chip

Almost every club can be used for chipping, but most chipping is done with your 7, 8, 9 or pitching wedges. A chip shot is usually a low trajectory shot that allows the ball to roll towards the hole. When chipping you are trying to hit the ball either on the green or close to the green, depending on how much roll you need to get the ball to the hole. Keep your feet close together, your weight favoring your left foot for right hand golfers, use very little body motion, and stand slightly open with your feet. Let your arms and hands do the work, feel like you are swinging the club with little or no wrist break. Take the club back low and parallel to the intended line of flight of the ball. Using a short back swing, contact the ball by hitting slightly down and through the ball. The follow through should be short also but slightly longer than the backswing.

Take the time to get out to the course a little earlier before your tee time in order to practice these most important shots. If you want to lower your score, learn to be a great chipper and you’ll soon see your scores drop and your confidence rise.

Sign up for one of our various clinics or instructional programs from Mary Hafeman Golf Experience - we will teach you how to chip and when to use this shot to your advantage. It will be a very worthwhile experience for you.

If you want to learn more contact me via email mhafe@aol.com or 904-233-0989.