Rules for avoiding big numbers
 

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?

It's better to hit three shots into a par 5 than go for the miracle approach.

Take your medicine when you have to. Sometimes pitching sideways (or backwards) is the best option.

Don't ever try a shot for the first time on the course. If you have never practiced a cutting punch shot, don't try it for the first time on the course.

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.)

Best rule of all

Play consertatively (not liberally)

for example-I tried to hit a 5 wood as my second shot over this water hazard to the green (about 240 from where I was) and I missed the green by 2 feet short-cost me 2 strokes plus whatever else I took to get there. If I would have ditched my donkey hat and played conservatively, I could have laid up and made the green in 3-yeah reaching into is a little harder than it looks haha.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...41152033_n.jpg

+1 Smalls

Also when on the green, if you are having trouble reading the green or its a really long putt, dont worry about trying to make it. Just try to leave yourself an easy 2nd putt.


Tap Tap Taparoo

Keep your ball in play. That's the biggest one for me.

Agree with #2 rule but that is when i usually hit it thin and end up on the beach hahaha..

My favorite advice for low handicappers. Haha. Hit the fairway, hit the green, and hopefully make some putts. AND Repeat. I like to call it Boring Golf, or Jason Dufner Golf. It works too.

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.

Chutt whenever possible

Go for the center of the green, and set the shot up to miss away from trouble. If there is a bunker short and left, aim for the center but take the extra club and play a fade.

Never Ever short side yourself. Miss away from the pin.

Yea, I have one. Know your misses, and make sure that your misses set you up for the best possible chance of an up and down for par.

~Rock

I was guilty of this yetserday. I am slicing the ball of the tee and trying to reposition my hands on the club and correct my swing plane. I tried those things for the first time on the course and it was a disaster.

I should have known better...

There are some great suggestions in here guys and some that I need to learn my self. I am bad for trying something new or something that I have no business trying to do.

Keep the ball playable and in the fairway.

Don't over-think the shot. Pick a club, Pick a number, and Pick a target/line, then go. Be confident in everything you've just done and put a good swing on it. I can do this with my long game, but I can't do it with my putter. That's my weakness.

Stop the bleeding when in trouble. Take the easiest route back into the fairway.

As Pete said, play as lazy as you can. If there's an easy bit of fairway to hit, hit it. If there's a big bit of green that's simple to hit, hit it. If you miss a green, make sure you get it on next shot and take your punishment. Never try the hero shot.

This is almost universally correct, we all (well, a vast majority of us) overestimate our distances. However, I'd sort of combine the two ideas, and say that you should pick your club based on where the worst trouble is.
If behind the green is trackless waste or OB, then taking an extra club may not be the safest play. In the above example, I'd be hitting for middle yardage, maybe even the front, and hitting more than I think I need to get there...instead of overclubbing for the actual pin or back of the green.

I would 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.

Aim for the middle of the green anytime there is danger around the green or a side of the green that could leave an awkward pitch/chip with little green to work with.