Different course turfs and expectations...

[Rob Person]

I have only played on about 10 different courses in the almost 3 years I've played golf.

Even locally, there is such a huge difference in the types of turf, rough, greens, etc.

For those who travel for golf, or those who play on different courses, how do you manage your expectations for a decent round on grounds you've never hit off of?

Example: I played in NC in July. My first fairway shot, swinging as i normally would, the club caught the grass and I thought I hit it well.  I shorted the shot by 20 yards! By the 4th hole I was able to adjust but still had a tough time getting things right. 

There was no practice areas to learn off of either. 

What do you do to adjust to play well?

Edited September 12 by Rob Person
Title

[Warrior42111]

I think it just comes down to experience and game management. I grew up in MA and now live in FL. 

Back in MA you have bent grass fairways and greens, you can IMO play any type of shot off of it much easier, than the tight FL bermuda grass. Once I reized I'm better with the texas wedge / bump and run on those lies vs what I was use to it kind of just became second nature.

Same for the rough situation, most courses around here it's not very deep so your distances don't change, played LPGA and they let it ggrow and get thick, you can kinda of tell it's going to affect distance takes a shot or two to judge how much. 

[Rob Person]

Thanks for the insights. 

My hardest part to overcome was the density of the earth beneath the grass. Where the more southern states tend to have more sand/clay ground, which is actually pretty firm, the NC and north GA course i played were a richer, softer earth that I has to contend with. I was hitting ball the same as I was as if I was playing here. I had to adjust for that and it was almost frustrating,  but not, at the same time