Spooky shots
As the leaves start to fall and the summer temperatures begin to drop, we welcome Halloween. Obviously, the scariest of all holidays, my Halloween memories are filled with trick or treating, not being able to stomach that scary movie my friend said was so amazing, and having weeks old candy that I found at the bottom of the pantry.
But the fright commonly associated with Halloween doesn’t just happen on October 31st. Everyday, golfers are faced with scary shots. The jump scare no one saw coming, or the lingering suspense of not knowing what awaited around the corner, are two of my least favorites.
Below you will find some of the SCARIEST SCENARIOS you can be faced with on a GOLF COURSE, accompanied by their remedies:
That first tee shot with a few (or MANY) people watching
From the best players in the world to the weekend hacker, everyone gets first tee jitters. In those nervy moments as you’re teeing the ball up, take a big, deep breath and rehearse the swing for the shot you are trying to hit. From there, visualize what the ball will look like flying through the air. Finally, have fun with the shot! It is only the first of 18 holes, all equally important!
A buried lie in the bunker
Your errant approach shot has found a greenside bunker. You get up to the ball and it is totally buried! What a nightmare! Don’t worry. This is an extremely hard shot, but it can be made more manageable with some helpful tips. First, take your highest lofted wedge. Next, grip the club really hard preparing for a fast swing. Third, take the club up and out in a steep direction and feel like you are hitting the sand at 90 degrees with a limited follow through. This will give the ball the best chance to pop straight up, sending it towards the green.
The 3 and a half foot tester
We all saw Rory McIlory miss the four footer at this year’s U.S. Open. It is a difficult putt, especially with a lot of break. To make this challenging task easier, pick a spot halfway in between your ball and the hole you'd like to roll it over. Breaking it up in half, this sliding putt becomes more manageable, allowing you to knock it in with ease.
Long par 3 over water
One of the most daunting shots in golf is the forced carry over water. A hard shot, I suggest taking a little more club than you think, and making a smooth swing at it. Forcing extra distance over water can lead to poor contact resulting in a penalty stroke. Take one more club with a smooth pass and you will find more shots on the green.
Chip from a tight lie
Arguably one of the most frightening shots in golf is the short shot from a tight lie. In your setup, stand a bit closer to the ball, raising the handle of the club. This helps the sole of the club slide easier through the turf. With your weight on your lead leg, keep the clubhead accelerating through the shot, leading to a cleaner hit and more predictable contact.
All of the above situations are extremely difficult. I believe it is important to have both an expectation for the shot, as well as acceptance once it is over. With expectations, always take the impossibly difficult shot for what it is: extremely difficult. Maybe a good shot here is just getting back into play, or getting that chip on the green, rather than going towards the hole. As for accepting the outcome, acknowledge that it happened and move on. Maybe you can make some magic happen with the next one!
