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GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
Instruction
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Apprehension is a natural feeling when trying something new. Think about the last time you played a new golf course. You probably weren’t nearly as comfortable as you would be on a more familiar layout. So much focus gets placed on the position of the club, the type of shaft being used or the ball being played that some of the most important elements are lost. The game, at its most basic level, is played on a field with conditions affecting the ball. Players who become overly focused on the technical aspects of swinging often lose the feel for playing. As a new PGA Tour season gets under way, we’re proud to be working with a couple of first-time card holders in John Merrick and John Mallinger. They’ll see a number of new courses this season. In order to play these courses well, they’ll have to find a comfort level in their surroundings, such as securing good accommodations, identifying the best places to eat and navigating the local community with minimal stress. Once at the course, we encourage them to get a feel for the layout. They look for the direction of the prevailing wind, the firmness of the ground and any big-picture topography, such as bodies of water or mountain ranges, that can influence the ball. It would not be uncommon to solicit advice from top club players, or local professionals, who we know are familiar with the course. During the round, players must adjust to variables, such as yardage, trouble spots on specific holes, the shape of the green and position of the hole. All of these things combine to shape their vision of how to best play the hole. For example, let’s say there is a 390-yard par-4 with trees on the right and a water hazard 270 yards from the tee on the left side of the fairway. We’d encourage the player to favor the left side of the fairway and play to a yardage they’d be comfortable with for an approach while keeping their ball short of the hazard. On the approach, we’d take note of any bunkers or hazards around the green. We’d also find the short side of the green, which is in reference to the side that would leave you little green to work with if you missed your shot on that side of the hole. On the green, we’d take note of any big-picture topography that could influence the break of the putt. It’s more than just the slope of the green. We look to see where the water drains off the green and the direction the grain is growing. Have a process to what you’re trying to accomplish on the golf course. Make yourself comfortable in every way from driving to the golf course to warming up. If you’ve never played a course before, gather as much information about it as you can. Feel the golf course and look for the big-picture topography that will influence your golf ball. It’s important to have a game plan for every hole, especially the ones that cause you the most problems. Play away from trouble and toward your strengths. Implement these thoughts into your game and you’ll be successful, whether you’re playing a golf course for the first or the 101st time. SG Jamie Mulligan is the chief operations officer at Virginia Country Club. |
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