The Match Golf Tips
Set a Course for Success
#1 – Lengthy straight away. Tee the ball on the left side of the tee box to eliminate the water left. There is plenty of room to the right side of the hole. Layup shot short of the water in the middle of the fairway to a favorite yardage. This may require you to ‘do the math’. Standard 3rd shot to a large, receptive green. Make sure to club accordingly to cover the water. Leave the ball on the lower right level of the green.
#2 – Dog leg right-to-left. Tee the ball on the right side of the tee box not only to eliminate the water right, but to provide a better angle down the left side of the fairway. This line will reduce the distance off the approach shot. Large, inviting green to approach, but make sure to leave the ball below the pin because there is significant slope from the back to the front of the putting green. This will leave an uphill chip or putt.
#3 – Short & tight to a narrow green. There is a high premium on accuracy and precision relative to the pin position. If the pin is located front right, take a direct line at the flag, if anything, bail out short right. If the pin is tucked behind the front bunker left, club up to cover the distance over the bunker and play to the middle of the green. Leave the ball on the level of the hole.
#4 – Short dog leg left-to-right. Given the length, you have 2 options off the tee. (1) Use a fairway wood down the center of the hole to stay short of the fairway bunkers and provide a better green accessibility. Or (2) use a driver with a fade ball flight over the right side fairway bunker. Either way, position is more rewarded than power in this case. Standard approach shot to a narrow green, but remember to check the wind direction (pin movement or tree tops) because the swirling breeze around the stadium of trees. Leave the ball on the front lower level of the green.
#5 – Lengthy double dog leg. Tee the ball on the right side of the tee box to eliminate the fairway bunkers and hazard right. Challenging layup where surrounding areas include marsh left and hazard right. Execute a club and/or shot to leave it right of the marsh left and short of the hazard right. This may require you to ‘do the math’. Good decision making and positive imagery are a must. Large, slightly raised green for the 3rd shot so club accordingly to cover the elevation. Leave the ball on the level of the hole.
#6 – Short straight away. Tee the ball on the left side of the tee box to eliminate the water left. Club accordingly to cover the water short of the green. The bailout is right side because it is shorter distance to carry the water and it leaves an easy chip or putt. Leave the ball middle left on the lower level of the green.
#7 – Dog leg right-to-left. Tee the ball on the right side of the tee box not only to eliminate the water right, but to provide a better angle to the left center of the fairway. This line will take distance off your approach shot. Inviting green to approach with zero trouble short and straight, however, this green possesses 2 dramatic tiers. Know the yardages to the front level and the back level and club accordingly. Leave the ball on the level of the hole.
#8 – Soft dog leg left-to-right. The tee shot is visually and physically demanding, with water right and bunker/OB left with a narrow fairway between. Pick the lesser of two evils and play your shot down the left center inside the fairway bunker. For better accuracy, elect to utilize a hybrid or fairway wood off the tee. Tricky green to approach protected by bunkers on each side so middle is the only option. Leave the ball on the lower right level of the hole.
#9 – Short straight away. Wide open tee shot so club for comfort and play your stock ball flight. Standard approach to a large slightly raised green, so club accordingly to cover the elevation. Plenty of room right of the green and a simple greenside bunker left of the green. Very high ‘flag hunting’ percentage with minimal trouble surrounding. Leave the ball slightly right of the hole.
#10 – Lengthy dog left left-to-right. Tee the ball on the right side of the tee box to eliminate the collection of fairway bunkers right. Driver may be enough club to carry the bunkers if you choose this more aggressive line. Tricky approach shot with the prevailing winds, green is protected by greenside bunkers and possesses multiple levels of undulation. Play to the middle of the green, but bail out short right to negotiate a lag putt or an uphill chip. Leave the ball on the right level of the green.
#11 – Short straight away to a wide green. Tee the ball on the right side of the tee box to eliminate the greenside bunker right. Keep in mind, this hole typically plays into the swirling wind so club up to cover the wind and the bunker right. Leave the ball in the middle of green.
#12 – Lengthy dog leg right-to-left. Tee the ball on the left side of the tee box to eliminate the water & trees left. Elect to use a driver to the right side of the fairway. This will provide green accessibility around the trees. Standard approach to a narrow green, so play to the middle of green with safety left. Leave the ball on the level of the hole.
#13 – Short dog leg left-to-right. Tight tee shot with water right side and OB left. High premium on position so use a hybrid or fairway wood for better accuracy down the center of the fairway. Distance control is important for the approach because there is water short and a greenside bunker long. Be decisive with the club selection and execution. Leave the ball on the lower right level of the hole.
#14 – Short dog leg right-to-left. Fairway bunkers guard both sides of the fairway. Options include tee off with a fairway wood away from the bunkers left and short of the bunkers right (or) blast driver over the corner of the dog leg. Keep in mind, the driver must be executed with power to cover the bunker, high launch to carry the trees and precise accuracy to thread the needle. Always opt for the high percentage shot to the wide part of the fairway. Favor the left side of the fairway on the layup to avoid the water right and play the natural left to right slope of the fairway. Bunkers guard the entire green so ‘flag hunting’ is warranted, with short right being the bailout. Leave the ball on the lower right level of the green.
#15 – Short dog leg right to left 90 degrees. Tee the ball up on the left side of the tee box and aim towards the right hand side fairway bunkers for the best result. Trick approach shot over water to a well guarded green.
#16 – Short straight away. Tee the ball in the middle of the tee box and play to middle of the fairway with a fairway wood. This will leave you inside the fairway bunkers right and better green accessibility from the trees left. Standard approach shot to a wide, slightly raised green so club accordingly to cover the elevation. Leave the ball on the lower right level of the hole.
#17 – Straight away over water. Demanding tee shot with water surrounding the green and swirling wind. Tee the ball on the right side of the tee box to eliminate the water and greenside bunker right. Club up to cover the bunker and the wind. This may require you to ‘do the math’. Leave the ball on the lower left level of the green.
#18 – Lengthy dog leg left-to-right. Tee the ball on the right side of the tee box not only to eliminate the trees right, but to provide a better angle for the layup shot left. On the layup, take a line down the left center of the fairway inside the fairway bunker right, but be sure to club accordingly to bypass the trees right. This will provide a better angle to attack the pin on the approach shot. Tricky approach over water to a well guarded slightly raised green with steep undulation. Club accordingly to cover the elevation and greenside bunker right. Be mindful on which level the pin is located with the bailout being short left. Leave the ball the level of the hole.