Golf Course Management: How to Think Your Way Around the Course - GOLFTEC Singapore

There is a common belief that to score better at golf, you need to swing better. While that is true in the long run, one of the most immediate ways to lower your score is to make smarter decisions on the course. At GOLFTEC Singapore, we often tell our students that course management can be worth four to six strokes per round - without changing their swing at all.

Play Away From Trouble

The single most important principle of golf course management is to avoid big numbers. When you are in trouble - in the rough, behind trees, in a challenging lie - your first priority is getting back into play, not going for the hero shot. A double bogey is disappointing. A triple or worse can derail an entire round.

Know When Not to Attack the Flag

Flags positioned in dangerous positions are designed to tempt you. Professionals attack them because they miss by fractions. Recreational golfers miss by metres. Aim for the safe part of the green and accept the two-putt bogey.

Plan Each Hole Backwards

Before you hit your tee shot, think about where you want to be hitting your approach from. The ideal tee shot is not always straight down the middle. Sometimes a strategic lay-up to one side gives you a better angle into the green.

Keep the Ball in Play

Driver is not always the right club off the tee. If a hole is tight and your driver tends to go offline, a 3-wood or hybrid that keeps the ball in the fairway will almost always lead to a better score.

Book a lesson at GOLFTEC Singapore and talk to your coach about building a smarter game plan for your home course.