Golf Course Navigation and Strategies

Trying to get better at golf often proves more challenging than you would expect. You keep working on your swing and get the best clubs and gear in the market, but for some reason, you still have a hard time with the learning curve. This is usually because people approach learning and improving in golf the wrong way. They pay attention to the insignificant details, and they direct their effort to the wrong places. The key to getting better at this game is having the right course strategy, which would differ from one game to the other. You also have to know how to navigate a golf course, which is as equally important as having a strategy.  

Navigation 

Use Google Earth 

If you’re new to the world of golf, you might find this tip a bit weird, but it is one of the most efficient golfing tips to understand the course navigation. As a player, it is important to know the yardages to the different targets so you could adjust your game plan accordingly. While there are different ways to do that, using Google Earth Pro is one of the better options out there. Using this software, you can get actual distances and yardage using satellite imagery, which will significantly improve your gameplay. Just open Google Earth, and look for your golf course, zooming in on the different holes until you can figure out the distance and just how much power you need to put into your shots.

Get a Rangefinder 

Google Earth is great, but it can be unreliable at times, especially if you have connection problems. This means you might not be able to get the accurate distance readings you want, and that will affect your shots. As you can see on theleftrough.com/best-golf-rangefinder, your best choice is getting a golf rangefinder. It gives you instant and accurate readings without having to access software or zoom in. Using this device, you could accurately measure the yardage and get the readings you need. More importantly, a rangefinder has a very cool option of letting you get slope settings. This means you can find out if your shot will go uphill or downhill, and that is something you will need to adjust for, so it’s definitely a very cool feature to have. 

Understand the Land Topography 

Call it navigation knowledge or golf strategy, but understanding the course topography is crucial if you want to get good at this game. You need to know where the water hazards are, and the exact distance to each of them using one of the above-mentioned solutions. You should also do the same with bunkers and out of bounds stakes. This will help you plan your shots more accurately around the terrain. 

Strategies 

One Shot at a Time

This is arguably the most important tip you will get about your golfing strategy. You need to pay attention to one shot at a time, whether that is a drive, putt, or a lay-up and approach. So, take only the shots that you are confident that you can make, or else you’d be just wasting your time. Invest your energy and focus on making those shots that you know you could make, and manage your game accordingly. 

Plan Ahead 

Most non-players don’t know this, but golf is a planning game. You need to plan your strategy way before you start hitting the ball. You can’t just go out there, start hitting the balls and hope for the best. You need to have a strategy in place. Decide which holes you’re going for and using what clubs. Measure the distances and calculate how many shots it will take you to finally reach your goal. It is small details like this that make the difference between a good golf player and a poor one.

Pre-shot Routine

Planning aside, you need to have a pre-shot golf routine. Some experts even say it is the most important aspect of your game because without it, you will miss and you will not be able to focus. You simply need to have a certain routine in place and exercise that routine every time you are about to hit a shot. Work on your breathing, relax your muscles, and envision where you want to hit the ball. These might seem like trivial steps to you, but they actually make a lot of difference in your performance. 

When it comes to golf, you have to keep going. It won’t always be easy, and the learning curve is anything but simple. But the more you practice, the better you will get. Just make sure you have a good understanding of golf course navigation and strategies.