Most golfers focus on swing mechanics, equipment tweaks and practice drills when trying to improve. But one of the easiest ways to shoot lower scores, without touching your swing, is course management.
Course management is the art of making smart decisions on the golf course. It’s knowing when to be aggressive, when to lay back and how to avoid compounding mistakes. It’s about understanding your own game and playing the percentages, not just the yardage. The best course managers aren’t necessarily the best ball strikers.
In this article, we’ll cover eight course management tips that go beyond the basics. These should help you take control of your round, one smart decision at a time.
1. Play the hole backward from the green
Before you tee off, ask yourself: Where do I want to be hitting my approach from? If the pin is tucked right, maybe the best angle is from the left side of the fairway. Plan your path to the pin in reverse. You’ll set yourself up for more realistic par and birdie chances.
- Look at the pin position and the green shape before picking your tee shot line.
- Use tee box alignment to create better angles (e.g., tee up on the side that opens your desired shot shape).
- Understand the “mouth” of the green and what angle gives you access to it.
2. Plan your rounds ahead of time
Don’t wait until you’re standing on the tee to assess a hole. Use satellite views or course maps to understand where hazards will come into play, where fairways narrow and how elevation changes affect play.
Mentally work through a round in your mind before you even get to the course and come up with a general plan.
3. Avoid temptation on doglegs when you can’t shape shots
Cutting the corner is for golfers who know how to hit a cut shot (or fade or draw for that matter) on demand.
Doglegs are shot-shape traps. A dogleg left might scream for a draw but if you don’t have one, don’t try to invent it mid-round. Play to the fat side and take the longer approach over the risk of being blocked out or worse.
4. Manage risk with a “conservative target, cocky swing”
Course management doesn’t mean playing scared. In fact, some golfers get on the course and think “I’ll take an easy swing” or “club up and slow down.” In reality, this could leave you hitting behind the ball.
Pick the smart target, then swing with full confidence. This technique relieves the pressure on execution while keeping your mindset aggressive.
5. Don’t let a duffed shot derail the hole
Fat chip? Chunked wedge? It’s going to happen. The worst course management mistake is chasing the shot you just messed up. One bad swing doesn’t demand a hero shot on the next one. You may just have to adjust to the fact that birdie is out of the question and make a smart decision on your next swing.
Bogeys won’t kill your round. Doubles and triples will.
6. Account for lie, not just distance
Great golf course management is not just about how far you hit the ball; it’s also about the type of shot you need to hit. If the ball is above your feet or sitting down in the rough, you may come up short or end up left or right of your target.
The lie will change things like spin, trajectory and start direction. If your lie isn’t perfect, don’t aim at flags; go for the center of the green or find a bailout area.
7. Know when a bogey is a win
Not every hole is a birdie hole. Sometimes bogey is the best-case scenario. Recognizing that fact early in the hole lets you swing stress-free, avoid hazards and keep the round on track. You’ll find this to be the case especially on longer par-4s. Play for position, lay up if necessary and just take the double bogeys off the table.
8. Match your energy and focus to the stage of the round
Your mental and physical energy isn’t constant throughout a round. If you tried to stay 100-percent dialed in throughout the entire round, you would probably have a hard time even finishing. Fatigue, frustration, even hunger can sneak in and lead to poor decisions, especially on the back nine.
Good course management means recognizing when you’re fading and adjusting your shot selection and club choices. It also means taking mental breaks and using your focus in those few seconds of your pre-shot routine.
You know when your game is on and you’re starting to lose it. Use this information to make your decisions.
Final thoughts
Golf course management isn’t rocket science. However, most golfers get so caught up in the mechanics of their swing that they forget to play the game. Use these course management tips to make golf more enjoyable and shoot lower scores.
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