[VawSwaspamups]

If you have a shot where you are directly behind a tree and you have some doubt on if you can hit it over the tree. Go under it.
Punching it out is almost always safer.

[Smalmslobby]

Don't try to attack a protected pin, instead aim for the center of the green and trust your putter.

[KernJetenue]

Don't sweat the bad shots, they're going to happen to all of us and remember, there's a Birdie opportunity after every Bogie

[Arrectiff]

I think my number one and only rule is: know your limitation. If you can carry the hazard, hit the flop, gauge out of trouble, hit a draw...what ever the shot or situation might be, don't hit it. Besides not knowing how to do pull it off, you mind will be filled with indecision which is a shot killer.

So so true Tad, ya gotta have commitment on the shot.

[CoiI8XIj]

Play like it's the last ball in your sleeve. Worked wonders for my back 9 last weekend when it actually was my last ball. I chipped out from under trees, teed up with 3 wood or long irons, aimed my shots away from water, laid up on short par 5s even though I was striking my long clubs well. Basically only time I was aggressive was if I was on the fairway 130 yards and in.

[adactthrd]

This goes against your rule #1, but I say to take one more club than you think you need. If you have a GPS that has front-middle-back yardage, go for the back every time. You are probably going to hit it shorter than you think you can hit it.

(This is obviously not for low handicappers, but the OP is a 20. I still take more club than I think I need.)

All of the advice articles that I have read say this same thing. I play in the 90's and am trying to break into the 80's, but I find that this works more often than not. As a matter of fact I can only think of a couple of times when I've flown past the green and that was from 200+ out using a fairway wood, not a typical approach. I guess if there is trouble, then you have to take that into account though and play the yardage to the middle of the green as accurately as you can. For example an island green. I wouldn't worry as much about a bunker, because the ball is still playable.

[pupyississido]

I have a few rules which I'm terrible at implementing. In theory, these rules will prevent me from putting up any big numbers - if I could ever make myself follow them.

They're pretty obvious, but I wanted to see if anyone had any others.

Rule 1:
On a strange course or a hole where you know there's trouble behind, do not hit a club that could potentially fly the green. Obviously, there's never any guarantee due to hitting it thin, but if you think the club is an easy 7 or a hard 8, take the hard 8. If it winds up a little short, no big deal (assuming no trouble short of course).

Rule 2:
If you make a bad shot, ensure it's not followed by another bad shot by taking the safest shot possible on your next shot. Do not try to flop it over the bunker into the short landing area next to the pin to try to miraculously save par. Instead, bump and run it out past the sandtrap, where you have an easy chip, and a reasonable chance of getting up and down and a reasonable chance of saving a bogey.

Any others?

Make sure there is an eraser on your pencil!

[nAKMzyBN]

This goes against your rule #1, but I say to take one more club than you think you need. If you have a GPS that has front-middle-back yardage, go for the back every time. You are probably going to hit it shorter than you think you can hit it.

(This is obviously not for low handicappers, but the OP is a 20. I still take more club than I think I need.)

Iwould have to disagree with this one. While it may be true for some people there are high handicappers who know their distances well enough to not have to do that.

I would have to agree with Smallie, I think his suggestion refers more to the ability to make pure contact much more than knowing ones distances.

[cabonuserollyo]

A couple great rules and if I followed them on new courses I might actually play better.

Rule 1 is always good especially on shorter par 3s.

Rule 2 actually applies to every round I play, I just don't always follow it.

And BluGold rule about Par 5s is another I try and follow most of the time, I just don't execute. Assuming I followed my own advice at times I might actually begin to shoot more consistently in the low 80s!!!

[OccumCymn]

Aim away from trouble from the tee box.
Play on the safe side of the pin/green.
Play the shape you're feeling...if you're feeling a slice, aim left and let it come back.
Don't do more than you have to. If you don't have to hit driver to have a comfortable approach...then don't. Play Lazy Golf.