If you are used to playing on the lush green turf of an American golf course and you have booked a holiday to play in the UK on links courses, then there are a few pointers you may wish to consider.
Bunkers
Most bunkers on links courses are generally deep. If you've never played from them before it's worth practicing on the deepest bunker at your own course, so that you have one standard shot for getting your ball out. Remember you just have to get the ball out. There's nothing worse than having a good score ruined by taking multiple shots to get out.
Turf
Most courses will consist of fine fescue turf. This means your ball won't sit up on the top like it does at home. This will mean you won't be able to get under the ball like before and you'll have to "pinch" the ball with more of a descending blow. You can practice this on a worn area of your range were the grass is quite thin.
Divots
Because divots on a links will take longer to grow back than in the States, you may well find that you have to play from them with more regularity. This may be either a bare divot or one filled with sand. You can practice this shot quite easily at your home course.
Green Speed
Because of the chance of regular wind at links courses, green speeds will generally be kept on the slower side in case they dry out and stationary balls start to roll. Maybe practice for this by putting later on in the day at your home course when the grass has grown a little.
David Van Woodbeaard has been in the golf industry for 25 years and has observed many useful thingsBunkers
Most bunkers on links courses are generally deep. If you've never played from them before it's worth practicing on the deepest bunker at your own course, so that you have one standard shot for getting your ball out. Remember you just have to get the ball out. There's nothing worse than having a good score ruined by taking multiple shots to get out.
Turf
Most courses will consist of fine fescue turf. This means your ball won't sit up on the top like it does at home. This will mean you won't be able to get under the ball like before and you'll have to "pinch" the ball with more of a descending blow. You can practice this on a worn area of your range were the grass is quite thin.
Divots
Because divots on a links will take longer to grow back than in the States, you may well find that you have to play from them with more regularity. This may be either a bare divot or one filled with sand. You can practice this shot quite easily at your home course.
Green Speed
Because of the chance of regular wind at links courses, green speeds will generally be kept on the slower side in case they dry out and stationary balls start to roll. Maybe practice for this by putting later on in the day at your home course when the grass has grown a little.
0 comments:
Post a Comment