From the mailbag…Herbert Wilson says:
The biggest challenge I face in breaking 90 has been 16, 17 and 18. This challenge has been significantly reduced by giving myself a larger error margin by going low in the beginning of the round. This same challenge is now starting to rare its head again as I start to flirt with breaking 80.
I play one course where three of the easiest holes are 16, 17, 18 but they give me trouble every round and another golf course where 16, 17, 18 are some of the easiest holes and they also give me trouble.
This leads me to believe that it is totally mental when I hit 16, 17, 18…..note that I keep myself hydrated and energized and stay away from the negative vibes my playing partners are sending off if they are having a bad round.. (LOL)
Great question Herbert…and I’m quite familiar with it as I find myself in a similar situation. My three hole stretch is 11, 12, 13. It’s rare I go three those 3 holes without at least one double bogey. It’s frustrating!!
The answer is to have a plan….both a bigger plan for shooting 79 and a plan for each hole. If you want to shoot 79, you’ll need to par 11 holes and bogey 7 (at least on a normal par 72 course)…
Obviously 16, 17, 18 are challenging for you so your “personal par” on those 3 holes would probably be a bogey. If you score a par or even a birdie that’s all the better but you wouldn’t be too disappointed to walk off the green with a bogey….
Next you need to develop a plan for each hole. I don’t know anything about your 16th, 17th, and 18th holes so I’ll tell you my plan for 11, 12 and 13 – my personal “Devil’s Triangle”…
The 11th hole is a 530-yard par 5 with a sharp dogleg left. This is the easiest of the three holes. With a good drive this is actually an easy hole – with a good drive!! That is sometimes the problem.
You’re dead left – maybe even OB in the driving range – so it’s better to miss right where you might be in the trees but you’ll probably have a shot and still have a good chance to reach the green in regulation…
I also know the green slopes left to right so I know how to play my chip, pitch, or approach shot. My personal par on this hole is 5.
With a good drive I can reach this green in two. I can still par this hole with a drive that’s right and in the trees. If my drive is left I’m cursing myself and playing for bogey.
The 12th hole is a 411-yard par 4 with a dogleg right – probably about 45 degrees. The fairway is actually one of the widest on the course. The challenge is that trees block the right side of the fairway from the tee box.
If you can play a fade, that’s great. Unfortunately my natural shot shape is a draw so that is my first challenge.
Next you must hit your drive past the dog leg or you’re shot to the green will be blocked by tall trees. But don’t hit your drive too far or you can hit it through the dogleg and OB! I know this from personal experience.
Even if you execute the tee shot, par is no guarantee. The green is elevated with bunkers both left and right. You don’t want to miss long or you’ll leave yourself with a difficult shot to a green that is lightning fast from back to front.
And you better hit your approach shot solidly because there is a creek about 30 yards in front of the green. The creek really shouldn’t be a problem but any water hazard can get in your mind if you let it!
I hit either driver or 3-wood off the tee depending on course conditions. Specifically, I’ll hit driver when the course is wet and the ball doesn’t roll and 3-wood when a good driver could roll through the dog leg and OB.
I aim at a tree that must be about 275-yards out. If you hit your drive there you are in great shape with a short iron to the green. Much easier said then done though!!
I favor being left over right. It leaves a longer approach shot but it also takes the trees more out of play so you have a clearer shot.
So I will hit my tee shot and then assess the situation. If I have a clear shot at the green I go for it. I could have anything from 130 to 190 yards depending on the tee shot.
I don’t lay up unless I don’t have a clear shot at the green because as long as you clear the creek (which isn’t too difficult), you’ll be within 20-yards of the green.
If I’m blocked however, I’ll lay up. I try to lay up past the dogleg and towards the creek because the fairway is flat there. The further left you are the more the fairway slopes to the right.
And I also try to be 75 to 100 yards out because personally I am more comfortable from that distance than I am from closer. Plus I don’t want to risk hitting my ball into the creek!
The 13th hole is my personal demon hole. A 415-yard par 4 with a sharp dogleg right – 90 degrees – plus it’s one of the narrowest fairways on the course.
The other challenge off the tee is hitting your tee shot far enough to clear the dog leg without hitting it too far and going OB!
This fairway must be 30 to 40 yards wide with a creek left and a forest right so there’s no place to miss!!
I hit 3-hybrid off this tee and play it similar to my strategy on 12. A good drive will leave you 150 to 200 yards out depending on how far left or right you are.
Again there is a creek guarding the green and it’s lightning fast from back to front. The creek is diagonal. The further right you are the closer the creek is to the green so I tend to favor being left.
And on both 12 and 13 I would prefer to be a bit short of the pin rather than long because that leaves an easier putt.
My personal par on both 12 and 13 is a bogey 5. If I walk off the green with a bogey on both of these holes I feel like I’ve done well.
So you see I have a plan for each hole before I ever even step on the tee box.
Think about your “Devil’s Triangle” and think through the best way to play each hole. What club should you hit off the tee? Sometimes less than driver is the best alternative.
Think about the best places to miss the green – places that give you an easier chip or pitch shot. Think about where to leave your chip or pitch shot – the place that leaves a straight easy uphill put as opposed to a lightning fast downhill putt or a big breaking putt.
Thinking your way around the course and thinking through the best strategy for playing each hole as opposed to randomly gripping, ripping, and hacking your way through each hole with no plan is a great way to improve your scores.
Dedicated to Lower Scores and More Fun on the Course,
Robert Phillips
co-Author “How to Break 90”
P.S. Do you know the 5 most common swing faults and the quick fixes that will help you play better golf in a hurry? Claim your free videos here: Common Swing Faults and Quick Fixes…
