| Recently I played with three other players who | | | | (after all, it's only a hundred yards) and hits the ball. |
| should have shot at least four strokes better than | | | | Right up into the tree. It caroms straight down to |
| they did. And that was only for nine holes. The only | | | | the ground. Why not punch an 8-iron under the tree? |
| reason was, that they weren't thinking. | | | | And on it went. Now, these players weren't that bad, |
| First hole, reed-lined water hazard on the right. Player | | | | they could hit the ball fairly well and were all right |
| A hits his ball off the tee into the reeds, but it's | | | | around the greens. But not using their head cost |
| playable. He takes out a 7-iron and gives the ball a | | | | them strokes they didn't need to take. |
| whack. The ball shoots out, across the fairway, and | | | | Here's how to do it right. On the final hole, a par 5, I |
| into a field that borders the course. Which is out of | | | | was in the fairway, 240 yards from the green, which |
| bounds. For his next shot, he chips out into the | | | | is about thirty feet above the fairway. In my wildest |
| fairway with a wedge. Why didn't he do that the | | | | dreams I can't hit the green. Nor do I want to go for |
| first time? | | | | all the distance I can and end up pitching onto the |
| First hole, Player B hits his second shot into the same | | | | green from an uphill lie. What to do? How about hit a |
| water hazard. He is about to drop his ball one | | | | 7-iron to a place where the fairway is still level, and a |
| club-length outside the hazard, which he's allowed to | | | | wedge onto the green? |
| do, and asks me if this is correct. I say, Yes, but | | | | The point here is, that you have different shots in |
| dropping there would give him an ugly lie, so I | | | | your skill set. Use them to get the ball into the hole in |
| mention that he can also drop the ball back as far as | | | | the easiest and most certain way possible. No one |
| he wants on a line connecting the pin and the ball's | | | | ever said if you're 200 yards from the green that |
| point of entry into the hazard. Back into the fairway | | | | you have to pull out your 200 yard club. Not if playing |
| if he wants. So he drops a little further back, but still | | | | short and chipping on gives you a much better |
| in the rough, and skanks his next shot. | | | | chance of getting the lowest score you can. |
| Second hole, player C is about 100 yards from the | | | | Before you hit that golf shot, think! There might be a |
| green, in the left side rough, with a tree about a | | | | better way to do it. |
| dozen yards in front of him. He takes out his wedge | | | | |