Coach's Corner: Know Thy Distance

January 2018

In playing lessons, I like to just observe for a few holes how my student goes about playing the game. Many them, on par threes, look at the score card, pull a club and hit away. Rarely do they have the correct distance. I then ask them how far the hole was from them and they tell me the distance that was on the score card. Oh, if was that easy!

If you do not know how far your target is away from you, how will you ever be able to score your best?

The distance on the card is measured from a spot on the tee box that is usually marked and fixed into the ground. Not the tee markers mind you, but a plaque that doesn’t move, and that distance is measured to the center of the green.

Let’s say, for an example, that the tee markers are 10 yards back from the plaque, then the hole is in the back of the green and the card says the hole is 150 yards.

You need to add 10 yards to the 150 and add another 10 to the hole. That shot is now 170 yards, not 150. A difference of 20 yards might mean an addition of two clubs. Instead of that 7 iron, it might be a 5.

To score your best, know your distance. Take a minute longer and get a better idea of how far you are. There are a lot of range finders that can make this process a lot faster, but it doesn’t take too long to pace the shot off.

I hope we can work together and make 2018 your best playing year ever. Here is to a happy, healthy and low score shooting New Year!