Bruce’s Top Five Stroke Savers

1. Par 4’s and 5’s are not automatically a driver from the tee. Check the dangers left and right i.e. out of bounds fences or markers, dams, creeks, hazards and bunkers that may come into play if you hit the Driver. These hazards can be taken out of play by using a 3 or 5 wood or maybe even a long iron. Remember to keep the ball in play.
2. When chipping, keep the ball as low to the ground as possible. I.e. don’t automatically use a wedge or sand iron, this club selection leaves little room for error. Choose an 8 or 9 iron - Remember the quicker you can get the ball down on the putting surface and rolling the better.
3. Get to know how far you can hit each club without forcing the shot or swinging too hard. Eg. the pitching wedge- 95 metres, the 9 iron -105 metres, the 8 iron -115 metres and so on. Remember to swing within yourself, allow for outside agencies such as the wind, and allow 2 to 3 clubs extra if hitting into a strong the wind.
4. How do you practice? Just smashing a bucket of balls with the driver at the practice range will not do much to improve your game. Most pro’s spend more than 70% of their practice time on their short game, chipping, putting and bunker shots etc. Remember over 70% of the game of golf happens within 100 metres of the putting green.
5. If you can manage to hit 12-13 greens in regulation you have had a reasonable day. This will leave you with 5 or 6 times you will have to get up and down to save par or play to your handicap.The short game is so important!  Remember “Hit for show, putt for dough” an oldie but a goody.

If the above tips fail to help, Remember look on the bright side, there is always the 19^th hole to look forward to.

By Bruce Smith - BruceSmithGolf.com