Amazing how much easier the game is when you aren't lost in the woods
 

I shot a 5 over 41 on the hardest 9 of my local course which is my second best 9 holes ever and the biggest difference was that I was on on around the fairway the whole round. It's amazing how much of a difference that makes. I even had a couple of three putts an put the ball in the water on a par 3 and still got that score.

Had one of my approach shots stick right in the ball mark.

I've learned the same lesson here recently. I have driven the ball very well lately, and even though the rest of my game has been so so at best, I have been putting up some pretty good scores. It sure is easier from the short grass.

Yep, that's why I play from the farthest forward tees that I can manage and because of it, I've had some of the best rounds of my life. I don't need to play from the championship tees to be a man haha. I love how easy this game is when I can drive into the fairway!

I was playing from the back tees. While I'm not what you'd really call a long hitter the course is short enough (each 9 is around 3200 yards) that I dont have to worry too much about my distances which is nice. Just trying to make nice easy swings to be on the fairway which I can have trouble doing

Fairways are your friend! I am with you on this one. If I get off of the tee well, it is amazing how much easier the round seems to go...

It sure is easier! When you're not always attempting recovery shots, it's also better on your psyche too.

Since moving to a driver that fits my game as well as a few fairway woods that match up well with me, I have seen great success in lowering my scores...all thanks to finding the fairway. Stay out of trouble, work your way around the course with course management and the game gets a bit easier. Just a bit though.

I think I've said this in every post relating to finding your game. Confidence is the 15th club!

You hit that driver really well

You can't putt for dough if you can't drive for show.....

I agree, it is pretty insane how much it helps (although when thinking logically, it makes perfect sense).

My rule of thumb lately has been that any hole under 400 yards, I tee off with a 4 iron; that is unless the hole is wide open. If my driver is hot, I ride it out and overule this. I can usually go 4 iron, 8 iron into a 400 yarder, so it makes perfect sense to me...the only downfall is when I miss the 4 off the tee and leave myself a long way in.

I've heard rumors that you can play the game from the fairways but I prefer, so it would seem, to play my second and perhaps third shot from the trees. Clearly the main reason they designed the 4 iron.

Sounds like you have had a few good rounds as of late. Were the winds down today?

I agree. That's why I've started taking a lot more 4 irons off the tee, even if it leaves me a long approach in (170-190). I'd rather hit those from the short grass than be OB or whatnot.

With a broken driver I'll be trying different things off the tee when i get back out. Still leaves that 598 par 5 as my worst nemesis though....

Otherwise i should be good, I'll give this radical "play from the fairway" concept a try.

The main thing with me is shortening up my swing and not trying to kill the ball. I am down about 15 yards versus last year but I am finding a lot more fw's and the ones I miss are only by a few yards.

Going to try this out. I'm just getting started and every wood is getting me in trouble. Going to try swinging real slow and easy and see what a second shot from the fairway looks like. Well that's the plan anyway.

Yesterday (July 4th) the wife went golfing with me. She only comes along twice a year tops and I think she just came along for the sun. To speed things up we both played from the red tees (furthest up) and I really enjoyed it. I hit most fairways off the tee and my g.i.r. increased as well. I didn't take the round very seriously (because of moving up to the reds), but it was a blast and totally changed my club selection. Playing your second shot off the fairway is awesome! KCM

I wish I could hit a 4 iron on 400 yard holes and have an 8 iron in. That would be about 2 shots with my 2 hybrid for me http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...lies/alien.png

I've actually just been managing to keep my driver in play recently or if it's not in the fairway it's generally been in play and not stuck under a tree.

I was either on the fairway or just a few feet off with good lies on 6 of 7 fairways and either on or right beside the green on 7/9 holes
For the longest time I was wondering what this fairway thing is that people are always talking about.
Things have been getting better. Still have work to do but I'm getting there. Bunker shots and sidehill lies still really kill me. Didn't have quite as good as a round in league play but still won my match and made an awesome birdie. It was a pretty short hole so I only needed a 5 iron/8 iron to make it pin high but I still had to make a tricky 15 footer. Felt really good to do it after 3 bad holes. Winds were only about 15 km/h or so and it was nice.

Hole I made birdie on in the league (and par in my practice round)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3776/10001191.jpg

Tee is about 15 yards back and to the right there.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2900/10001201.jpg

Plugged shot on the same green (you can sort of see it)