GolfPlayerMania

In baseball, everyone loves the home run hitter.  The player that can hit 500 foot homeruns and pile up 40, 50 or 60 homeruns in a given year is incredibly popular for his ability to wow the fans.  What many people do not realize, however, is that the team this player is on wins championships based on the unsung tasks of advancing the runner, shifting the infield at key times of the game and etceteras.

The same paradigm exists for golf; there are many people out there who can drive a golf ball well over 300 yards and perhaps even 400 yards.  These so-called “Driving Range Kings” will delight with their power but more than likely never win a great amount of money because of their high scores.  What causes the high scores you might ask?  A poor short game!

Anything under 100 yards is absolutely crucial in golf; your entire scorecard depends on your ability to chip the ball close to the hole and sink your putts in one try.  Many amateur golfers will hit good shots of the tee but then take 5, 6 or 7 more strokes before the ball gets in the hole.  The net result at the end of the day is an 18 hole scorecard that looks like a high-scoring basketball game; 98, 103, 110, etc.

There is often at least one thing wrong with an amateurs’ game that contributes to the bad score; on one hole they might hit a great approach shot but then 3-putt.  The next hole it might be the reverse; it could take 5 shots to get on the green, then they might sink their first putt.  This can be incredibly frustrating for the golfer, however they are guaranteed to keep playing as long as they hit that one good shot during the round!

Amateur golfers should spend as much time as possible improving their game inside 100 yards.  Doing this, instead of trying to hit the driver 300+ yards, will have the most dramatic and longest lasting impact on their overall score.  The old saying “drive for show and putt for dough” could not be any more true; players consistently at the top of the leader board have a better short game than the rest.