A large part of my teaching takes place on the golf course. Once basic skills and sound technique become habits, there’s a tremendous amount of learning that can only happen during play.
The great news is that you can often score lower simply by playing smarter and managing your skills through better decisions and solid course management.
Here are five tips for playing smarter golf and shooting lower scores.
1. Pick a smart target
Being precise with your target can make a big difference throughout a round. A fairway may look wide, but choosing an exact aiming point will help you hit more fairways and set up easier next shots.
Don’t assume aiming is automatic — it’s a skill that requires practice like any other. Find a method that works for you and apply it consistently.
2. Know your carry yardages
It’s important to know not just your total distances, but how far each club carries through the air. This can be eye-opening (and sometimes a little humbling), but it’s essential when you need to carry hazards like bunkers or water.
You can estimate this on the range using targets, but ideally, use a launch monitor for more accurate data.
3. Play away from trouble
Penalty strokes are often the result of poor course management. One of the simplest ways to avoid them is to play away from trouble.
This means anticipating your misses. If you don’t hit a perfect shot, where is the safest place for the ball to end up? For example, when facing a water hazard, aim for the shortest carry—even if it means favoring a safer side of the target.
4. Take extra club over hazards
Good course management means planning for imperfect shots. When there’s danger in play, taking more club can help you avoid coming up short and incurring penalties.
There’s often less trouble long than short, and being slightly over the target is rarely as costly as being short.
5. Accept a good bogey
Avoid compounding mistakes. Trying to recover with a risky “hero shot” often leads to bigger numbers.
When you’re in trouble, focus on getting the ball back into play, onto the green, and giving yourself a chance to make bogey. A smart bogey is almost always better than risking double or worse.
