Playing Better Golf: Tips For Different Places On The Course

Thursday, May 27th, 2021
image of green grass with golf club and golf ball
Every part of a golf course calls for particular abilities and clubs. The decisions a golfer makes for each could mean the difference between winning or losing. On top of that, every golf course has a distinct series of challenges to be determined by the layout and design of the course. Success will be easier to achieve with an understanding of the main parts of the course, and how to play them. Here is a short list of golf course areas, and how to play each one.

Tee box

The tee box (or teeing ground) is where players attempt their first swing for every hole. The terrain is flat, with close-cut grass, allowing golfers to perform their finest tee shot toward the green or fairway. Colored markers in blue, green, white, and red feature at each hole. However, there are not any rules overseeing the number of tee boxes or their colors. Every marker is a distinct distance from the hole and is intended to be used in accordance with the player’s skill level. Accomplished or professional players employ the tee box with the farthest distance, while novice and young players use the tee box with the shortest distance. The middle tee markers are usually used by average players, depending on their handicap.

Fairways

The dense, grassy area that extends from the tee box to the green is called a fairway. Most fairways are just straight paths, but some have sharp turns called doglegs. These make the hole more difficult. The phrase “long game” (the drive down the fairway that eventually moves the ball to the green) is a common term many players use. The kind of grass on the fairway determines the way the player chooses to hit a shot. Bentgrass fairways are prone to bigger divots and can make hitting far shots easier. However, other kinds of grass can cause shots to be more troublesome. Hitting approach shots out of the fairway lets players spin the golf ball more than they would when hitting from the rough.

Greens

A golfer’s goal is to get their ball onto the green and into the hole, from the first stroke. Golf course architects and groundskeepers deal with the challenge of maintaining a golf course’s greens, rather than using them. Each degree of slope, type of grass, or manner of mowing can change the way a hole needs to be played. Greens are usually kidney or oval-shaped and have thick grass mowed down very short, allowing the golf ball to roll. Although usually found near the center of the green, the hole might be anywhere in this specific area. The conditions of the course cause greens to vary in difficulty. For instance, in dry, hot weather, a green will play more quickly, but approach shots will be less likely to hold on to the green. Wet weather can make the greens slow, and approach shots might catch. When assessing the green before a putt, look out for the topmost point on the surface. Putts will frequently roll in another direction from that point.

Hazards

Hazards on a golf course are the ponds, streams, areas of plant growth, and sand traps. These are the regions of the course where a ball can easily be lost and are a source of every golfer’s misfortune. Hazards require the player to offset the distance from the golf ball to the hazard with the appropriate club and swing. This takes knowledge as well as skill. If the ball is in a hazard, the player is allowed to hit it. However, if the golfer cannot get to the ball, they have to take a one-stroke penalty. The player can either hit or place the ball close to the hazard, but not closer to the hole. Sand traps also are regarded as hazards, but the player can hit out of them without penalty. These necessitate a particular kind of swing to get the ball up and out of the sand. The shot is usually made with a golf club called a sand wedge.

Rough

The part of the golf course around the putting greens, fairways, and teeing grounds is known as the rough. The towering trees, abundant plant life, and tall grass make it challenging for a golfer to get their ball back onto playable ground. For a player to be successful, they have to dodge the rough. When swinging from the rough, golfers have to use an extra club than they ordinarily would to arrive at green. In order to swing from the rough more efficiently, the golfer has to hit the ball somewhat back in the stance and grip down on the club some. This method will aid the clubface in making blunt contact with the ball.

Learn from the experts at Academy of Golf Dynamics

The game of golf involves many variables that influence play, such as the weather and the length of the grass. New players need to grasp these concepts in order to be successful golfers. Want to find out more about improving your golf game? Get in touch with the pros at The Academy of Golf Dynamics! Our school of golf includes superb lodging and education from professional Instructors. Call us at (512) 261-3300  or Contact Us by email to learn more.