The Back Nine: June 2009 Archives

Today The Front Nine talked about playing some games within the game of golf, especially for the average player.

Yes, you can play match play, or alternate shot, or better ball or even four ball when you pair up. And, aside from alt. shot, you play your own ball anyway. It just adds some fun to the round. In the spirit of the upcoming Solheim Cup, bring some games within your game.

But there are some things to know.
On the serious side, there are some different rules for match play. Be sure to check them out here.

On the fun side, PGA and Wilson Golf professional Billy Nestel gives you a couple of other match play games:

Scotch Game
This is a great 2 Person Best Ball Game to play if your looking for something different this US Open weekend.

If all six points are won by one team, then the points are doubled, equaling 12pts.
Otherwise known as a "Blitz or Umbrella"
This is a great game to keep everyone involved on every hole, while getting a taste of both, stroke and match play!

Nestel was also kind enough to give you some strategic tips for playing match play...

Match Play Strategies

As a PGA Member, I have commonly been asked if I prepare differently for match play events versus stroke play events. The answer is, yes!

I will always break a match play event into 3, six hole matches when preparing. Just like a team in baseball, football, or basketball, in match play there are always in game adjustments that need to be made.

Holes 1 - 6
I will prepare for these first six as if it were a stoke play event. I want to play my game against the course and remain focused on how I want to play each shot on each hole. I will normally play all six holes in my mind on the range before I tee off. This gives me a sense of relaxation that I have already played this hole or hit this shot.

Holes 7 - 12
As I enter the seventh hole I want to know exactly where the match stands and at that point will have a general idea of how my opponent is playing. My first "In Game" adjustments are then put into play. If we are all square, I continue to play my own game. If I am 2 down or more I will begin to play much more aggressive. I may hit driver off the tee where I normally would or aim at flags that I wouldn't usually go at. If I am up 2, I do the opposite. Play for middle of fairway and center of greens!

Holes 13 - 18
If the match goes this far you should have a pretty good idea of where this match is headed. At this point you may need to make another "In Game" adjustment. I always try to keep in mind that there is no, let's make a couple pars and get to the clubhouse and we make some birdies tomorrow. In match play there is no tomorrow!

The Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms is rapidly approaching, and one of the biggest (potential) draws the event could have is 19-year-old Michelle Wie.
The Front Nine touched on the subject today.

I've seen her up close at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, and not only is she a great golfer, but she's a huge star and the biggest on the LPGA Tour. She would draw tens of thousands to Rich Harvest alone, which would make the entire event that much more special.

Now, the point of the Solheim is to win, and if the Big Wiesy is playing well she will only help the US team continue its run of dominance over the weakend Euro's. She's a big hitter, which will be needed at Rich Harvest, and she has experience winning in match play.

For the tip of the week, Hughes Creek head pro Sam Bradberry helps us get aligned correctly with a simple foot drill....check out the club here and sign up for several of their great events in the coming weeks.

This week's Front Nine examined how the average player can save at least two shots a round by doing some simple things before a round, off the tee and around the greens.

Area head professionals Kyle Rich of Fox Bend Golf Course in Oswego, Tom Tierney of Orchard Valley Golf Course in Aurora and Chad Johansen of Blackberry Oaks Golf Course in Bristol gave us some insights.

Before the round
Here's a putting drill from Johansen that he says will help you shave those shots (visit his golf academy here).
"Take a golf ball and put a line completely around the middle of the ball. Take a chalk line from a hard ware store and you snap a chalk line five feet from the hole. Put the line that's on that ball on that chalk line and you putt two tees in between your putter. Do that for 10 mintes a day.

"All you're going to do is just putt in between the two tees and you want that line to stay on the chalk line for five feet. Any time you've had a good round, ever, you've made a lot of five foot putts. If you want to take 2 strokes off your score, if you do that for 10 minutes a day it's definitely going to help."

Johansen also says that many players don't know how far they actually hit their clubs. At Johansen's studio at Blackberry Oaks, they print out a bag tag of that player's average yardages per club. It's a service that costs just $50.

"If you did that first drill I gave you and came out and did one of these training sessions and knew how far you hit every club, I can guarantee you'll lose two strokes off your score, no doubt about it."

Off the tee
A lot of players find themselves off the fairway after launching a tee ball, and many times that ball is nestled among the tree line. Naturally, there are gaps in the trees, but this is where players can save shots.

Said Rich: "Guys try to hit that shot and the ball kicks 20 yards into the woods and now they're really making a high score."

Rich says that a way to save those shots is to get it in your mind before the round that this round is the one where you're going to think your way around the golf course and play the smart shots.

And a beneficial side effect of such a strategy is that it becomes habitual - and you start doing it all the time.

"That's the way I play. If I hit a bad shot or I'm in a bad situation in a tournament, if I can just get it back into play and move on from there, my score is going to be much better than trying to hit that one spectacular shot you see the pro's pull off."

Around the greens
A lot of times, players choose to get too creative around the greens with wedges when the smarter play would be to use a putting stroke - either with the putter or by using a 7- or 8-iron from 30 feet away.

Said Tierney: "You're playing a less lofted club. Even if you belly it and you hit it in the middle of the ball, the thing is still going to roll out there about 10 feet from the hole. If you swing a sand wedge hard enough to loft it up to the hole and hit it in the middle of the ball you're over the green. Or if you hit behind it, you stubbed it. It's pretty hard to stub a runner or a chip and run."

Tierney also suggested the age old formula for improvement: Practice.
"If you miss a green, you're throwing another stroke in there, so in order to get that stroke back you need to have a good short game. Is it fun to practice your short game? Not for most people."

"The short game - that's where you do your scoring and its the most important part of the game and it's probably the most neglected."