Ty Daniel’s Golf

"You drive for show and putt for doe !" This just about covers it, just missing the fairway, ruff, and bunkers and water that make up the round. But the quickest way to lower your score is "lowering your putts".

Getting down to 2 putts max per green is key !

If you could only putt once each hole, well anyone would settle for that. It's the greens that end up with 3 or more putts that will keep you struggling to lower your handicap.

When you are practicing putting alone you can gain confidence with this tip, or even try to only use one ball, you might pay attention more and concentrate on each putt since you know you have to walk and get it.

But if you are practicing with others or at least one other person, you can try these three putting practice games.

1. Closest short to win : So you try and work on control of your distance and leave the ball short but still trying to be as close as possible.
2. Closest past to win : Again working on your control of the ball you want to pass the cup and leave it long, staying as close as you can.
3. Make the putt to win : Well this one is pretty obvious, just make the putt first to win, you can play "Best out of 5" and loser buys drinks or snacks

When playing golf you often say words that you might not fully know why you use them. Some are obvious and some are not, like why we yell "fore" not everyone knows. But then there are some golf terms that are just somewhat clear, like knowing that each hole has a "par". But why say par ?

The term "par" was originally used in the stock market, to show if a stock was above or below it's standard "par price". But not till 1870 was the term integrated into the sport of golf by Mr. AH Doleman. He was a golf writer back then that had asked two golfers what the score was to win the trophy at the Open, and then when the tournament was over the player whom won got 2 over that score. He then wrote how the golfer won by "2 over par".

Golf courses are designed around this theory of par. Each hole is designed to be either "Par 3″, "Par 4″, or "Par 5″. Each hole is designed so that to get par you would need 3, 4, or 5 strokes. Each hole you get 2 strokes to putt in, and either 1, 2 or 3 to "get on the green" (as see n below).

As seen above you can see the strokes needed to make par on a each type of hole there is.

Here are the common terms that go along with par :

• "Hole in One" - Speaks for it's self
• 3 under par = "Double Eagle" (Only on par 5)
• 2 under par = "Eagle" (on both par 4 and 5 holes)
• 1 under par = "Birdie"
• Par
• 1 over par = "Bogie"
• 2 over par = "Double Bogie"
• 3 over par = "Triple Bogie"

After that it would be up to your handicap whether or not you pick-up, and it's only good golf etiquette to pick-up rather than take too much time on the course. You can slow down the groups behind you.

Just a random golf joke we recently heard on a local golf course right here in Southern California.

Bill was teeing off from the men’s tee; on his downswing, he realized that his wife, Jenny, was just about to tee up on the woman's tee box right in front of him.

At this point unable to stop his swing, he hits it, and strikes her directly in her temple, killing her, instantly.

A few days go by, and Bill gets a call from the coroner regarding her autopsy…

Coroner :  "Bill, your wife died from blunt force trauma to the head. You said you hit a golf ball and struck her in the temple, is that correct ?"

Bill :  "Yes, that's correct."

Coroner :  "I also found a golf ball wedged up her butt."

Bill :  "Was it a Titleist 2 ?"

Coroner :  "Yes Bill, it was."

Bill (says in disbelief) :  "That's where my mulligan ended up ?!?!"

 

Golf etiquette should always be followed, but when it comes to the rules of golf most of them are very important to follow yet some rules are really just up to the people playing. Obviously when playing in any competition or at the professional level you have to follow every single rule to the "T".

Then if you are just out playing a round for fun with friends or family, it's best to set the "guidelines" at the first tee box before you tee off. This way people won't get upset for not knowing just how seriously or not seriously your playing by the rules.

For the average amateur golfer playing a round, if the ball lands behind a tree they might move it slightly just so it's playable, not count every penalty, or use the ever so common mulligan.

If you are not familiar with the terminology mulligan, it basically means a "takeover shot". It's normally used when a player messes up or "muffs" his or her first attempt at a tee box. Some people only allow a mulligan if it's on the tee box, they say you can't take a do-over in the fairway, ruff, green, etc. Others say it is allowed to be used anywhere on the course, these are normally the beginers, or "practice rounds".

The most common uses of mulligans are :
• "1 per-nine holes"
• "1 pre-round"
• We have even heard "1 mulligan only at 1st tee box"

Another common name :

• "Breakfast Ball"

But it's really up to the players playing.

Keep in mind when you "bend the rules" like when using a mulligan, you can not count your score as being official for anything.

A common golf term that is misunderstood is “executive course“. At first glance one might think it is some type of VIP course or very high end, but in fact the terminology “executive golf course“ really mean shorter.

These types of courses normally don’t have any par 5 holes, and have more par 3's than par 4's. This brings the total par of the course from the average 70-72 to around 58-62.

Don’t let that fool you though, a lot of executive courses are still quite difficult and can still make you pull out every one of your clubs. Not just your wedge and putter !

Do you think the course pictured to the left is a full size course or executive ? When your at the tee box it is very hard to tell which it is. Well this one is hole is a very tough par 3 at David L. Baker which is an executive course.

If you are short on time or have someone in your group that either doesn’t want to pay the price of a full course or doesn’t have the stamina or patience to play a full round, then an executive golf course is a great answer !

If you are ready for the cost, time and energy for a full course…. there is no substitute !

To recap ; the main differences between a full-course and an executive course are :

• Shorter than a full-size course
• Normally no par 5 holes
• More par 3 holes than 4's
• Some are only 9 holes played over
• Average around total par 58 to 62
• Can still allow you to use all your clubs