Smartest Shot of The Round-Tell Us About Them Here

[Golfspy_CG2]

So we have a thread for a lot of different parts of our game, the good the bad and the ugly if you will.  

 

But we don't often get to brag about when we've used good course management or played the "smart" shot instead of the hero shot.

 

So here's where you have a chance to tell us about any occasion during  round, where you stopped thought over the situation and opted for the "smart" shot or play, and how it turned out.

 

I'll start it off. 

 

This morning, missed the green pin high to the left.    Pin was literally 4 paces off the left of the green...and that's counting the fringe.   Ball was about 5 to 8 feet into pretty deep but manageable rough.  Total distance to the pin, less than 20 feet probably possibly 15.    

 

My first thought was the 58 degree and try to land it in the fringe and let it trickle down toward the hole.  But yeah, we've all been there before, that's a tough little 3 yard shot our of some fairly thick deep rough, huge opportunity to leave it right where it is or skull it 30 yards across the green.

 

I actually stopped thought about it and still played a soft little flop but making sure I landed on the green. Figured if it ran 15 to 20 feet by the pin, I'd still be putting and most likely walk off with no worst than bogey.  But take double or worst out of play...i HATE double bogeys.

 

So that's what I did played a confident and slightly too strong little flop that ran about 6 paces past the pin.   I had about 18 feet, and little right to left break.  But felt I could easily two putt it.    Put a nice stroke on it watched it track a bit right and at the last minute dive into the hole for Par!!

 

I felt really good about the thought process and the execution.   When you think about it, my chances of making an 18 footer are a hell of a lot higher than trying to get another chip from 12 feet into tap in range to save bogey!! 

 

So let's hear your examples of a smart decision and how it played out!

[adog]

So we have a thread for a lot of different parts of our game, the good the bad and the ugly if you will.

 

But we don't often get to brag about when we've used good course management or played the "smart" shot instead of the hero shot.

 

So here's where you have a chance to tell us about any occasion during round, where you stopped thought over the situation and opted for the "smart" shot or play, and how it turned out.

 

I'll start it off.

 

This morning, missed the green pin high to the left. Pin was literally 4 paces off the left of the green...and that's counting the fringe. Ball was about 5 to 8 feet into pretty deep but manageable rough. Total distance to the pin, less than 20 feet probably possibly 15.

 

My first thought was the 58 degree and try to land it in the fringe and let it trickle down toward the hole. But yeah, we've all been there before, that's a tough little 3 yard shot our of some fairly thick deep rough, huge opportunity to leave it right where it is or skull it 30 yards across the green.

 

I actually stopped thought about it and still played a soft little flop but making sure I landed on the green. Figured if it ran 15 to 20 feet by the pin, I'd still be putting and most likely walk off with no worst than bogey. But take double or worst out of play...i HATE double bogeys.

 

So that's what I did played a confident and slightly too strong little flop that ran about 6 paces past the pin. I had about 18 feet, and little right to left break. But felt I could easily two putt it. Put a nice stroke on it watched it track a bit right and at the last minute dive into the hole for Par!!

 

I felt really good about the thought process and the execution. When you think about it, my chances of making an 18 footer are a hell of a lot higher than trying to get another chip from 12 feet into tap in range to save bogey!!

 

So let's hear your examples of a smart decision and how it played out!

># 13 short par 5 (505yrds) pinion hills. crushed a good drive. Got up to my second and thought about going for it in 2 but water on the left of the green and it was a tight window so decide on the smart play and layed up with a 5i. Nice easy swing, actually put it a little closer than i would have like but had a nice easy 25yrd chip. Took out my 58° hogan wedge, put a nice fluid swing on it, actually landed it right where i wanted it. Ball took the slope. Im thinking i got a nice easy birdie coming, but rhe ball kept rolling... Its in the hole! First eagle of the year!

 

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[newballcoach]

I played an awful round on the weekend, but redeemed with a birdie on #15 that I then turned into 3 straight pars to finish the day. 

 

In the rough with a decently tall tree in front of me, about 130 yards to the middle of the green. My first thought was, hit a pitching wedge over the tree and land on the green. However, after a 2nd thought, the branches on the tree were cut high (and the lie was a bit buried) so I thought, "maybe a low runner makes more sense here". So I grabbed the 7-iron and hit a nice punch shot out into the fairway. As I was congratulating myself on a smart decision, I figured I would end up a little short of the hole (as the fairway ran up towards the green) but could easily salvage a par from there. As it was, the ball kept rolling and ended up settling 2 feet from the pin. Knocked in a birdie. Score one for the low road!

[Golfspy_CG2]

I played an awful round on the weekend, but redeemed with a birdie on #15 that I then turned into 3 straight pars to finish the day. 

 

In the rough with a decently tall tree in front of me, about 130 yards to the middle of the green. My first thought was, hit a pitching wedge over the tree and land on the green. However, after a 2nd thought, the branches on the tree were cut high (and the lie was a bit buried) so I thought, "maybe a low runner makes more sense here". So I grabbed the 7-iron and hit a nice punch shot out into the fairway. As I was congratulating myself on a smart decision, I figured I would end up a little short of the hole (as the fairway ran up towards the green) but could easily salvage a par from there. As it was, the ball kept rolling and ended up settling 2 feet from the pin. Knocked in a birdie. Score one for the low road!

Nice!!  That's a perfect example.   Kind of like my play it safe for bogey high lob turned into a par!  

 

Note:  Also check your PM's from yesterday 

[BIG STU]

Me smart? in the same sentence or paragraph. You gotta be kidding. What a Oxymoron that is even better than Naval Intelligence. Hey I was in the Navy so that qualifies me to make that last statement

[PING Apologist #9]

In our little best-ball scramble Saturday, my group of 3 all shot our 2'nd approach shots down to the green on a par-4. One went left off the green and would be a pitch/chip up for maybe par. The second settled below th hole on the apron about 25' away. The third was the closest, but it had rolled behind the pin to the fringe and left a ticklish little 12' downhill putt that could easily have rolled off the green for bogie or worse. My teammates both asked me which one to take and I instantly selected the longer one below the hole. Normally we generally go with the shot closest so I had some "splainin'" to do. They bought in and we then had our tries from 25'-not 20.

 

Our first player, Miss "M", came up short. I hit it harder and tapped in for at last a par on our card. Our 3'rd man, Mr "C", then stepped in and drained it for bird like a BOSS!

 

Shorter doesn't always mean better...

[GolfSpy_APH]

Love the topic.

Today played my home course and hole 12 which is already an annoying hole became much more!

Its a tiny par 3 that maxes out at 95 yards. It's taken me several rounds this season to finally figured out what club to use. Long is death on this hole as the green drops off the back about 10 feet and behind that is a swamp. Infront is a bunker right center. Pin today was middle righy if the green in a normal tough spot especially for putting. Tees however were moved forward to a place I had never seen them before. Way forward. I had finally got comfortable me with the 56 on the hole and didn't want to try and baby a shot because I often hit it thin and off the back I'd be. So I went with my 60 figuring if I'm short I'm short so be it. Hit it very pure and ended up with a nice 5 foot up hill left to right breaker. Made par and was very pleased. Seems like a simple but sensible change, but it's a hole that I've seen many many doubles and triples on and even had so making par with a club I don't think I've ever used off the tee was a great win and a smart choice for my game.

 

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[mesaman777]

My smartest shot last round was the shot of Jim Beam I took at the turn.

 

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[MattF]

I hit it harder and tapped in for at last a par on our card. 

 

 

You need to be careful doing that. My FIL pointed out to me once that you should never do that because once the ball is in the hole, your team is finished. Always mark your ball and let everyone finish their shot before tapping in.

[gaussman1]

We have a 9 hole league in the summers that plays a quota points based game. Last night I was going along ok until I had a 105 yard wedge to a very shallow green and the wind swirling. I couldn't decide what shot to hit, finally tried to flight down a gap wedge, but backed up out of it and hit it weakly into the bunker short of the green. Now I have about a 4 yard bunker shot to an elevated and shallow green, and I get there to see that my ball is embedded in the the footprints of the group in front of us. I'm pissed at the shot I've hit and I'm furious that they made no effort to rake. 2 large sets of prints tromping in and out of the bunker. There's no way I can hold the green so I have to find a way to make bogey somehow because that's at least worth a point. If I make double I get nothing. I finally decide to play a little sideways away from the hole but down the longer side of the green and toward some grass that will stop me and maybe I can get that up and down for bogey. The ball comes out hot and runs through the green but at least I still have a chance. Wouldn't you know I chip that one in to save par! My playing partner called it the best up and down he's ever seen and I couldn't wipe the sh*t-eating grin off my face. All too often I make double or worse by trying the impossible shot in a desperate attempt to save par. It was nice to make the best decision, take my medicine and get rewarded for it.

[Golfspy_CG2]

You need to be careful doing that. My FIL pointed out to me once that you should never do that because once the ball is in the hole, your team is finished. Always mark your ball and let everyone finish their shot before tapping in.

So that's the thing about scrambles. They are no it recognized by the rules of golf (from what I understand) so its left to each event to list it's on rules and yes I've always seen a read the if you tap it in on the edge thsts your score and you are done.

 

C'mon man!! Are you kidding me?? Scrambles take long enough. Do you really want the group in front of you to take the time to mark the ball, then move the mark, because the mark is right in front of the hole. Then go back replace the mark and tap In. Really!!

 

I'll continue to tap those 1" putts in and wait for someone to call us on it

 

 

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[MaxEntropy]

Don't you hate it when you try to do the smart thing and it bites you? Last week I tried to play smart - par 5 with second shot needing to carry about 210 to clear a pond. Since I had not been hitting the ball well so far this year, I grabbed a 7i to do the "smart" thing. Naturally I blocked it to the right into some trees, fumbled around there for a while and carded an 7. This week, I was in similar position and said "screw it" and went for it. Landed pin high just to the left of the green and ended up with a stress free par.

[JTexGolfer]

So that's the thing about scrambles. They are no it recognized by the rules of golf (from what I understand) so its left to each event to list it's on rules and yes I've always seen a read the if you tap it in on the edge thsts your score and you are done.

 

C'mon man!! Are you kidding me?? Scrambles take long enough. Do you really want the group in front of you to take the time to mark the ball, then move the mark, because the mark is right in front of the hole. Then go back replace the mark and tap In. Really!!

 

I'll continue to tap those 1" putts in and wait for someone to call us on it

 

 

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This times a million!!! We have one guy at our club who gripes about this and it's like come on man if it's a roll or two from the hole just tap it in and get it out of the way. Four people aren't going to miss a 6 inch putt.

[bens197]

This times a million!!! We have one guy at our club who gripes about this and it's like come on man if it's a roll or two from the hole just tap it in and get it out of the way. Four people aren't going to miss a 6 inch putt.

Word has gotten out locally and many of the charity tournaments instituted a 2 putt maximum rule.

 

GIR is guaranteed at worst, a par. It's smart and keeps pace. We rarely play 5 hour rounds.

 

As far as getting back to topic, best I can say is my course management has forced me to improve my longer irons and putting. The center of the green never moves and I was told long ago that rather than be fancy, just put it on the green and let your putter do the work. Smarter tee shots and be ok with a longer approach. It's paid off well for me.

 

 

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[PING Apologist #9]

You need to be careful doing that. My FIL pointed out to me once that you should never do that because once the ball is in the hole, your team is finished. Always mark your ball and let everyone finish their shot before tapping in.

I shall certainly bring that up the next time we play. I was unaware of that caveat but it makes total sense. Thanks! 

[MaxEntropy]

.

I think that was the whole point of the thread, and you missed it.

I'm confused about what you think I missed?

 

So here's where you have a chance to tell us about any occasion during round, where you stopped thought over the situation and opted for the "smart" shot or play, and how it turned out.

 

What part of the above did I fail to follow to your standards?