Golf Strategy. Part 1.

Traffic Light Golf Strategy. Part 1.

Golf is like a big game of outdoor chess. It doesn't take to long in either chess or golf to learn the basics, but it can take a lifetime to master the strategy of playing the game. In this article I will summarise my philosophy of strategy for golf and give you some key ideas that I have used in my own game and with my students that have helped improve scoring though an improved on course strategy.

The primary key of good golf strategy is to develop a one shot at a time attitude. Always keeping in mind where the next shot should be played from, but never how the next shot will be played. The aim is to ensure that you do not get swamped by events or over-awed by what is going on around you. The proven and most effective way to play is called Procedure orientation (focus only on the procedure of playing the shot at hand).Outcome orientation ( Focussing on the result, what other people will think etc ) should be avoided at all cost.

This philosophy enables you to focus on the job at hand and effectively shut out any and all irrelevancies. Concentration is maximised allowing you to call on all aspects of your practice that will assist in the situation at hand. (refer to last months article on the confidence cycle) A one shot at a time approach gives you permission to forgive yourself for any previous poor shots, wrong judgement and even simple bad luck.

The Traffic Light Strategy

One way of assessing the up-coming shot is to visualise each shot as fitting into one of three categories - red light (danger), amber ( with caution)  light or green light (safe).

 Red light shot

A red light shot is the shot to play when you have absolutely no other option. Running a red light is very dangerous. You might get through and get to work on time without incident, but sooner or later you will get caught or worse. A red light shot is a desperation shot. It is played when you really have your back up against the wall. There is no margin for error. You may consider a red light shot if the position is such that in match play you need to get back into the game. For example you may need to hit the ball over water, against a strong wind in order to land on the green. The down-side of red light shots is that the "penalty" (what happens to your score if you don't manage to pull the shot off) most times is a double bogey or worse. Whereas in Match play. At worst it can only mean loss of hole.

Amber light shot

With an amber light shot, the element of risk involved in the shot is less than it was for a red light shot. You would be looking to produce an amber light  shot, for instance, when things were going fairly well, your confidence is up and you have the chance to make birdie or eagle with some aggressive golf. An example would be if the pin was on the front left of the green just over a bunker. If you shoot straight for the pin and clear the trap a short birdie putt is the result. If you fall short in the bunker you can still get it up and down and salvage par. If the shot fails, this amber light shot should not penalise you more than a bogey at worst ( if the ball bounces through the green you can still get back on the green and save par or at worst bogey the hole).

Green light shot

These are the safest and most conservative shots to play. A green light shot gives you the biggest margin of error, left, right, long, and short of the target. You hit the ball in the middle of the fairway, the middle of the green. Always lag the first putt into the one yard radius circle to guarantee the two putt. There is no real risk involved in your play. The down-side with this play is that there is little chance of making birdies. Many leading Tour Pros elect to play green light golf for the first few holes to set up a foundation of a good score. It requires discipline to fire away from the pin to the middle of the green. It is important to always pick a definite target and hit a positive shot at it. Many golfers fall into the trap of steering the ball when they try to play conservative golf.

Within the overall philosophy of a "one shot at a time attitude', golfers can elect to play a safe shot/game, or to engage in an attacking shot/game. The decision is yours and your approach should change dependent on your confidence and the set up of the course and your prepared game plan. Some golfers prefer to play a round of golf in a cautious way, hitting safe, predictable shots off the tee and from the fairway and weight for the odd birdie to come their way.

This style in match play relies on your opponent making a mistake and letting you capitalise on it by virtue of your reliability. In Stroke play a Pro will make a living but have little chance of being in contention come Sunday if they don’t play some aggressive golf. Other golfers will play an attacking, amber or red light type game hoping to demoralise their opponent and blow them off the course by their audacious approach. In stroke play on their week they will finish high up and make big cheques, when it doesn’t come off they will miss the cut.

You could argue, the second approach for Pros is the best method.  My philosophy is to work toward a blend of conservative and attacking golf and be able to manage the decision making between the two

The key to it all is that you are the one who decides the shot you will play.

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