[RoverRick]

Today, me and three buddies drove 45 minutes and played a different course. Two of the guys played this course earlier in the week as part of their job. (Yes, they had to leave their cozy office and play golf with customers, but I am sure they hated it.) I had been here one other time a couple of years ago, and another guy had never been there.

Last night, I studied the overhead views courtesy of the Mobitee app on the iPhone. The rough on this course is about 25 feet high and made mostly of oak and elm trees. Miss the fairway, and it is a very hard course. Lots of blind tee shots, and a hill or a dogleg on every hole. The course and slope rating is 72.9/131. Not sure exactly what this means but I do know that the first time I played this course I was two under after 4 holes thinking I had this courses number. I left with a 90 something and felt like I had the worst round of my life. I did not enjoy the back 9 at all. I was in the trees every tee shot. Often hitting it past the turn and ending up having to punch back out. I was not going to let it happen again. So every since then, I have studied the "new" course I was going to play.

I said something about studying the course the night before and my buddies thought I was nuts. I took them for $63 and they may not think I am such a nut now. As a matter of fact, we are going back tomorrow, so I would not be surprised to find they are studying the course tonight because they want their money back.

So my question to you is, do you plan study a "new' course?

Or do you even plan your tee shots at your home course?

Do you look back at your round decide what you did right and what you did wrong and make an effort to correct that the next time you play that course?

There are three holes in particular that I am about to "study" tonight.

[GolfSpy Frank]

RoverRick, on 26 May 2012 - 09:55 PM, said:

Today, me and three buddies drove 45 minutes and played a different course. Two of the guys played this course earlier in the week as part of their job. (Yes, they had to leave their cozy office and play golf with customers, but I am sure they hated it.) I had been here one other time a couple of years ago, and another guy had never been there.

Last night, I studied the overhead views courtesy of the Mobitee app on the iPhone. The rough on this course is about 25 feet high and made mostly of oak and elm trees. Miss the fairway, and it is a very hard course. Lots of blind tee shots, and a hill or a dogleg on every hole. The course and slope rating is 72.9/131. Not sure exactly what this means but I do know that the first time I played this course I was two under after 4 holes thinking I had this courses number. I left with a 90 something and felt like I had the worst round of my life. I did not enjoy the back 9 at all. I was in the trees every tee shot. Often hitting it past the turn and ending up having to punch back out. I was not going to let it happen again. So every since then, I have studied the "new" course I was going to play.

I said something about studying the course the night before and my buddies thought I was nuts. I took them for $63 and they may not think I am such a nut now. As a matter of fact, we are going back tomorrow, so I would not be surprised to find they are studying the course tonight because they want their money back.

So my question to you is, do you plan study a "new' course?

Or do you even plan your tee shots at your home course?

Do you look back at your round decide what you did right and what you did wrong and make an effort to correct that the next time you play that course?

There are three holes in particular that I am about to "study" tonight.

My answers are yes, yes, and yes. Whenever I play a new course, I always look at it the night before and plan my shots. It saves me a lot of frustration the next day and it allows me to enjoy the new scenery a little more. For the second and third questions, I do that whenever I come to the forum. I always review my home course and remember what I did last round and plan accordingly. It takes me 5 minutes at the most and I believe it has helped my game tremendously. Your'e not crazy! Your'e just a dedicated golfer!

[Moecat]

I think that the best smartphone apps, GPS cart systems, etc. still don't help someone analyze a course until it's actually seen in person.

However, like FLV, I do think you were smart to do what you could to gain an edge over your playing partners.

Personally, even if I know a local course inside and out, I would still find some way to muck up my round by going for numerous ill-advised "hero" shots instead of playing it smart.

[stevenhw8]

I always study them on my computer (bigger screen and faster than a phone), print out the birdie book and make some notes on it.

Once I'm on the course, I totally forget what I studied and noted, but that's another story

[TwoSolitudes]

I'll plan it out for my Tee shots, just so I know what to bring in the bag (long par 3's might require I bag the 5 wood, other times I will add an extra hybrid). But I find it really hard to do any accurate planning beyond that until I have played the course a few times. If it's a one time thing I will try and be conservative on the front and let it go on the back just to have fun- but if I will be playing again I will make notes afterwards to try and manage it.

On my last home course back in the Netherlands I used to just wing it every time. But as soon as I started looking for trends and doing some planning, my scores dropped under 100 and I had way more fun.

I don't really care about beating playing partners, as long as I can win a few holes and get under 100 - I'm happy.

[RoverRick]

Well, they say no war plan is followed once the first shot is fired. That is sort of the same as with golf. Well, except that the other golfers are not "trying" to hit you. I plan the hole, the teeshot based on where I will be with a average distance off the tee. I rarely get to hit the club that I had thought I was going to on the approach shot but yesterday was pretty close. I had a great day with the driver, and I attribute this because I knew what I was going to do before I got out of the cart. I would pick my spot and hit the ball there.

On the ninth hole, the cart path crossed over and was in the middle of the fairway at the top of a hill, somewhere between 225- 250 yards away. The guy who used to be a member said that the green was way over the hill and to aim where the cart path crossed the top of the hill. I said, "Why do I not just hit the cartpath and then get some extra distance?" He said that was a good idea. I hit the cartpath right dead center, and it bounced over the hill caught the down slope and I ended up with a 335 yard total distance drive into a 15-17 mph wind. The guys were spell bound when I picked up my tee, and I said, "Great idea, you should do the same." It was perfect, and I acted like I did that everyday. (Don't tell them that I was more surprised than they were.)

[wdgolf]

Google maps has some great tools for drawing lines on maps with yardages. I study every course to death, plot out every single shot, and write my whole plan down.

Then I get to the course and screw it up

One issue with overheads is it's difficult to gauge elevation. But it still beats going there blind.

[RoverRick]

I am so disappointed. We played this same course this morning, if you can call it that, and the wind made it damned near unplayable. I rushed home to see how the pros are handling the severe winds.at the Colonial, some 75 miles from where we played, and there is no winds to speak of. We had 20+ mph winds, and all they have is a slight breeze.

The greens were grainy and dry and putting was horrible. Against the grain and into the wind, you had to really pound the ball but with the grain and down wind a slight tap and the ball rolled 10 feet past the hole. The two higher handicap guys 15 and 18 did not break 100 and the 12 capper shot 95 and I was the big winner with an 87. Yesterday, we all had at least one birdie, i had 3 and should have had more, and today two guys did not even have a par, and one guy had 1 par and only three bogies. Towards the end, tempers started flaring and it was not a fun time for the last few holes. I finished, with three pars, and they were bitter about it. But a chilled adult beverage later they were in the mood to play at our home course tomorrow, if the wind is managible.

After the front nine, I gave up trying to play strategically. It did no good to get on a green when I could not putt and I had no real competition so we had fun letting it fly in the wind.

I did get on the green and have par putts at the three holes I doubled yesterday, but did not get par. The first of yesterdays doubles, I hit my third shot to four feet from the hole. The putt hit the lip of the hole and almost stopped a foot past the hole, then blew to where I had a 10 footer for bogey. On the comebacker I really wacked the ball, and came up 2 feet short. They thought this was hilarious but no one was able to do better. I know because they all tried. That is what I mean by unplayable.

[barbajo]

RoverRick, on 27 May 2012 - 03:47 PM, said:

I am so disappointed. We played this same course this morning, if you can call it that, and the wind made it damned near unplayable. I rushed home to see how the pros are handling the severe winds.at the Colonial, some 75 miles from where we played, and there is no winds to speak of. We had 20+ mph winds, and all they have is a slight breeze.

The greens were grainy and dry and putting was horrible. Against the grain and into the wind, you had to really pound the ball but with the grain and down wind a slight tap and the ball rolled 10 feet past the hole. The two higher handicap guys 15 and 18 did not break 100 and the 12 capper shot 95 and I was the big winner with an 87. Yesterday, we all had at least one birdie, i had 3 and should have had more, and today two guys did not even have a par, and one guy had 1 par and only three bogies. Towards the end, tempers started flaring and it was not a fun time for the last few holes. I finished, with three pars, and they were bitter about it. But a chilled adult beverage later they were in the mood to play at our home course tomorrow, if the wind is managible.

After the front nine, I gave up trying to play strategically. It did no good to get on a green when I could not putt and I had no real competition so we had fun letting it fly in the wind.

I did get on the green and have par putts at the three holes I doubled yesterday, but did not get par. The first of yesterdays doubles, I hit my third shot to four feet from the hole. The putt hit the lip of the hole and almost stopped a foot past the hole, then blew to where I had a 10 footer for bogey. On the comebacker I really wacked the ball, and came up 2 feet short. They thought this was hilarious but no one was able to do better. I know because they all tried. That is what I mean by unplayable.

Now THAT's windy! Mercy!

I usually check out websites and get an idea as best I can...but other than that it's jump in with both feet and see what happens!

[RoverRick]

barbajo, on 27 May 2012 - 05:04 PM, said:

Now THAT's windy! Mercy!

I usually check out websites and get an idea as best I can...but other than that it's jump in with both feet and see what happens!

Not long ago, I did a topic on playing in the wind. Someone said something about it being too windy to play at a certain point. I sort of scoffed at this idea, thinking to myself that if I let wind bother me I would not play golf in March and April. But I have a different opinion of that now. I guess when you are used to the greens, and the wind blows, it is one thing, but when playing on bermuda greens that are very difficult already, and add the ball blowing around on them, it was bad.

On some of the exposed holes, I actually hung my hat on my bag because after seeing two of the guys have their hats blown off of their heads during their swing and then seeing them chase it down, one guy lost his hat twice, I decided it was easier to hook it on the bag.

I got home and found out that the wind had caused the top of a tree (24 in diameter base) to break off and fall in my back yard.

But back on topic, no amount of studying can prepare for green conditions. While, the study last night did allow me to at least reach the greens in better shape than I did yesterday on those holes I messed up on, it did not help me make any putts. Also, there were several holes today, that I hit the shot that I wanted but the wind carried into a spot I did not want. All in all, I am going to be happy to get back to my home course tomorrow.


The wind blew all morning but it was worst during the middle of the round and was calming down on the last few holes. By the time we drove home most of the wind was gone. This afternoon was probably perfect for golf. But we were blown out by then.

[revkev]

Ah the wind in Texas! Used to go there every March to play golf - just north of Corpus Cristi - that was nuts! I was shocked to learn that the windiest city in America is actually Milwaukee WI - figures because I lived just north of there for 6 years. You just have to play in it - good courses are built keeping wind conditions in mind so it becomes a part of the planning.

Back on the topic - Like everyone else here (big shocker) I do plan a bit when playing a new course or even a familiar one. Instead of overheads I like to look at the score card, course map and read notes and tips that might be there because those will generally give you a sense of the topography. If I get a sense that the course might be calling for shots that I don't often hit I'll try and practice those the day before on the range. You can work on side hill lies at the range by going to one side or the other where it starts to slope. If it's a course that I've played a few times before I'll look at an old score card and then play some of the holes on the range - Unless I'm working on something specific a normal range session for me includes hitting some wedges, then 3 or so shots with each club working up the bag from sand wedge followed by alternating clubs as if I were playing a round on a course - I get to the range for this type of practice at least once a week.

I might extend my warm up at a new course to include rehearsing my first few shots just to get a sense for how the ball will fly and roll there - helps my visualize how to fit my shots into the proper spots on the course. I generally play new courses pretty well.

As for the greens - bermuda is always trickier for me than Northern grasses - I grew up on Nothern grasses - I do okay with bermuda but it takes more work because the grain is a huge extra factor - Again on a new course I make sure to spend some extra time on a putting green to get a fell for where the grain is growing. I can't speak for Texas but more and more the courses in Florida are having their greens redone to some sort of hybrid - not as much grain, easier to maintain but much firmer - great for putting on but tough to chip to out of rough and you better use a ball that spins because you're not stopping it if you don't.

[jmiller065]

RoverRick, on 26 May 2012 - 10:55 PM, said:

So my question to you is, do you plan study a "new' course?

Or do you even plan your tee shots at your home course?

Do you look back at your round decide what you did right and what you did wrong and make an effort to correct that the next time you play that course?

There are three holes in particular that I am about to "study" tonight.

Yes, i plan for a new course by studying over head shots or the course yardage book online or get one from the course the morning of the round and glance at the numbers. Really you can just use Google earth / maps to study must courses with satellite view.

Yes, I have a game plan on my home course before the tee ever hits the ground, 'course management' is dealing with stuff when the plan isn't executed properly.

Yes, a pre-round strategy only works so well the first time, the more you play a course the more you can slightly adjust strategy on a hole. I had a lot of mistakes in my initial go at the tips on my home course. Too many automatic pull driver type tee shots that got me into trouble. In normal non-windy conditions where fairways run, driver is not used on 1, 2, 6, 9, 13, 15 all are either 4 metal or hybrid something less then driver. Number 3 down wind hard fairways i have hit driver through the fairway at a 335 yard drive, not a great situation as I was short sided in the rough towards water over bunkers. So that told me not to use driver again down wind on that hole when fairways are running.

A good game plan will have a couple holes in it, if the course is your home course or one you play a lot and the hole looks too easy on paper and you are not scoring well on it then re-work the strategy a little. Sometimes a 4 iron from the tee on a par 5 gives a better scoring opportunity.

[jmiller065]

RoverRick, on 27 May 2012 - 07:25 PM, said:

Not long ago, I did a topic on playing in the wind. Someone said something about it being too windy to play at a certain point. I sort of scoffed at this idea, thinking to myself that if I let wind bother me I would not play golf in March and April. But I have a different opinion of that now. I guess when you are used to the greens, and the wind blows, it is one thing, but when playing on bermuda greens that are very difficult already, and add the ball blowing around on them, it was bad.

On some of the exposed holes, I actually hung my hat on my bag because after seeing two of the guys have their hats blown off of their heads during their swing and then seeing them chase it down, one guy lost his hat twice, I decided it was easier to hook it on the bag.

I got home and found out that the wind had caused the top of a tree (24 in diameter base) to break off and fall in my back yard.

But back on topic, no amount of studying can prepare for green conditions. While, the study last night did allow me to at least reach the greens in better shape than I did yesterday on those holes I messed up on, it did not help me make any putts. Also, there were several holes today, that I hit the shot that I wanted but the wind carried into a spot I did not want. All in all, I am going to be happy to get back to my home course tomorrow.


The wind blew all morning but it was worst during the middle of the round and was calming down on the last few holes. By the time we drove home most of the wind was gone. This afternoon was probably perfect for golf. But we were blown out by then.

lol that was me saying that the average person at a given point wind becomes unplayable. Even the pros will have wind delays because balls placed on the green will start rolling from the wind blowing so hard they won't stay still long enough to make a stroke. I played in a wind so bad at 200 yard par 3 dead into the wind, I hit a low hard driver and came up short one time. That is just not enjoyable conditions to play golf in.

I have a Break Master so when i caddie for anyone I spend a day mapping the greens on paper with the tool. If i am playing in a tournament then i play a practice round or ask the course if i can just walk and map greens, normally courses won't care when i tell them i will walk 1 to 1 and make sure not to hold anyone up. This is the link of how the break master works and kind of an ad so to speak --> http://probablegolfi...ting-greens.htm

[GolfSpy Tim]

I've thought about doing this, and I really should - I play new to me course regularly and often times will sit on the tee box with no clue where the fairway goes, and just have to take a poke at things without any real clue.

Realizing more and more that I'd actually enjoy my round more if I planned ahead.

I played Palmilla here in Cabo yesterday - had no clue on any of the holes - front 9/mountain course played it all mostly blind - the back 9/Ocean course we had a regular playing with us and he helped give input when needed that was fairly valuable.

Tomorrow we play Diamante - my goal is to try and find somewhere online to study the course before we play.

I'll report back with the results/outcome (I can't imagine seeing no improvement through this method - except for how ADD I am, it's possible I study all of this, and get there and just start going nuts on my own)

[RoverRick]

GolfSpy Tim, on 28 May 2012 - 11:47 AM, said:

I've thought about doing this, and I really should - I play new to me course regularly and often times will sit on the tee box with no clue where the fairway goes, and just have to take a poke at things without any real clue.

Realizing more and more that I'd actually enjoy my round more if I planned ahead.

I played Palmilla here in Cabo yesterday - had no clue on any of the holes - front 9/mountain course played it all mostly blind - the back 9/Ocean course we had a regular playing with us and he helped give input when needed that was fairly valuable.

Tomorrow we play Diamante - my goal is to try and find somewhere online to study the course before we play.

I'll report back with the results/outcome (I can't imagine seeing no improvement through this method - except for how ADD I am, it's possible I study all of this, and get there and just start going nuts on my own)

Write down your game plan if necessary. I can not imagine that there are not things in a pro's yardage book like notes on how they played a particular hole well. I used to carry a card in my golf bag that told me the distance I hit partial shot with all my clubs. Yes, I had a sheet that said if I hit a driver with a 9 to 5 pitching swing it would travel so many yards and roll mostly lie a putt. And things like a sand wedge is better for fluffy sand, and deep grass, and a lob wedge is better for hard sand, tight lies, hard pan.


It does not matter if all of this was true, it gave me a place to look for advice, from me, and allowed me to feel more confident, just like the studying of the course before the round does on the tee shot.

If you have a good plan and good preshot routine you are more than halfway to a good shot. It will help you make it to the green more often so that you can have a four putt double bogey like me.