Tip of the Week, June 1st, 2009

Course Management - Part III

This week’s tip will be another installment of our course management series. Last week we discussed how to play some of the hardest par-5’s on the golf course. Many of our patrons have already told us that the tips helped. We thought it would be a good idea to keep it up and discuss how to play two of our hardest par-4’s, 1-White and 1-Blue.

1-White

While 1-White is considered a short par-4, there are lots of difficulties to contend with. Trees line both sides of the hole and there is a valley in the fairway that might catch your tee shot. There is a water hazard in the left rough about 110 yards from the green and another one behind the green on the left side. To cap things off, there is a bunker in front of the green that will catch golf balls that have been hit too far on the drive or too short for the approach. This hole needs to be played smart or else you will turn in a big score.

The tee shot on 1-White is one of the toughest on the golf course. You need to hit down a narrow shoot with a slight draw to keep the ball in the fairway. The green slopes from right to left and away from you so it will be crucial to hit the ball to the left side of the fairway so you have an easier shot into the green. The last thing to make sure you do is to keep the ball short of the bunker on your tee shot. Some longer hitters have hit great shots that roll into the bunker. A hybrid or an iron might be a better play off the tee.

The approach shot will be much easier than the tee shot. You will be hitting to a big green that will be sloped toward the left side, making it easier to keep the ball on the green. Make sure you take enough club so you avoid the bunker in front of the green.

Once on the green, make sure you read the break real well because the green is so large.

1-Blue

1-Blue has given players fits for years. First, the road down the right side is out-of-bounds. The approach shot needs to avoid two bunkers that surround the front and left side of the green. Once on the putting surface, players might end up with a long putt on a huge green.

The tee shot needs to be hit to the left side of the fairway for any chance of hitting the green in two. If you hit to the right side of the fairway or rough, you will either be blocked by the trees or you will be hitting to a green that is shaped more horizontally than vertically. They are both bad odds at hitting the green.

Once on the left side, you will have a better shot at hitting the oddly shaped green in two. Aim for the fattest part of the green, which is on the right side past the bunker. Make sure you take enough club to hit the ball past the bunker. This will leave you with a chance for a good putt.

These two par-4’s are difficult to play and have produced many high scores for players over the years. There is nothing worse than scoring badly on the first hole of a round. By playing these first holes better, you should have a much more enjoyable round. Let us know if you have any questions!