When Should Golfers Play It Safe?

Phil Mickelson, one of the most recognizable risk-takers in golf, asked a kid in the stands during the Dell Technologies Championship for advice; should he go for the green or lay-up?

Mickelson needed a 260-yard club to get him safely on the green and the ball was in the rough.

Whether we are beginners or average amateurs, most of us do not have that shot in our bag, so the decision is slightly easier - go for the green in two shots....but which two shots do we take?

Aside from the two-stroke penalty he should have incurred (Rules of Golf), Mickelson decided to go for the green and made the shot.

What does the average amateur or beginner golfer need to assess in order to play it safe or go for the gusto? Here are a few tips to help you determine your next shot in the least number of strokes.

1. Try looking at the hole in reverse order, from green to tee. If there is water right up near the green, you may wish to lay up in front of the green and make an easy pitch shot.

2. Properly place your shot off the tee, so you take the trouble out of play. If there is sand or water on the right-hand side of the fairway, tee off on the right side.

3. Golf ball lying in a thicket of trees? Your best bet is to get the golf ball back into play. Consider where on the fairway you want to position your ball for the next shot onto the green before you take your next shot.

4. Putting: my playing partners in the EWGA used to talk about the "circle of trust"; an imaginary circle within three feet of the hole that golfers should try to aim for when making a long putt. Although you always want to make the putt, you don't want the ball to roll too far from the hole, leaving you a long, trying putt coming back.

5. Don't go for low percentage shots. Think you won't make it over the water? Are you standing in the trees with no easy way out? Is your ball buried in the sand? Think safe and you won't be sorry!

Share your thoughts on when is the best time to play it safe or go for it on this golf blog and tag us with your response on Twitter @Golf4Beginners!

Photo by Markus Spiske freeforcommercialuse.net from Pexels

You CAN Be a Successful #Golf Beginner. Here's How

After introducing several of my colleagues to the wonderful world of golf, they caught the bug. It was inevitable - the ball was airborne, the weather cooperated...all things necessary for a successful start.

What steps were taken to ensure success for these two golf beginners and what is needed by the newbie to establish advancement of their golf goals? Here are three tips to help beginners get in, and stay in, the game.

1. Set a plan into motion. Most beginners want to get right out there on the golf course but that is not the best course of action. Time on the driving range is essential and, although practice is good, targeted practice is even better.

You have to be able to move your playing piece before you take the next step, otherwise, playing "military" golf is no fun (left, right, left, right). Step one leads us directly to step two (see below).

2. Qualified instruction is key to success. Although I put my colleague in the correct positions so that she could get started (she was very eager to hit the ball), when the professional golf instructor arrived, he noticed things I did not, such as a weak grip which was causing her to slice the ball. Take lessons but make sure to understand and learn each one before moving to the next.

3. Get custom fit for golf clubs. (This tip goes for all golfers!)
Did you know, it costs the same amount of money to buy golf clubs "off the rack" as it does to get them fit to your exact specifications? Also, a custom club fitter makes sure that the lie and weight of the golf clubs suit your particular swing.

If you are reading this and you are the beginner, remember that only focused practice will allow you to improve. I know you are in a hurry to get out onto a golf course but you will have so much more fun if you learn the basics! Remember, this is a game that will last you a lifetime. Take your time and enjoy the process.

What is the mentality of any golfer who wishes to become a winner? With so many different skill sets needed, from mental to physical, Golf for Beginners took one section from an infographic from Onlinegolf.uk to show you what, in their opinion makes The Perfect Golfer.

1. Every shot counts, so remain focused on one shot at a time. If you hit a bad shot, it's automatically in the past and you must then focus solely on the shot you face next.

Play to your own strengths and try not to overthink shots. Keep it simple: aim to find the fairway and middle of the green every time.

Make your practice time a pressured environment. Imagine being in a scenario where that one shot counts. Apply your pre-shot routine and evaluate the success of each shot. This will help you when you play in your local weekend Stableford or medal competitions.

Are you a golf beginner who needs answers? Ask away, we're here to help.
Contact golfforbeginners@aol.com, leave a comment below or tweet us @Golf4Beginners.

Thanks for sharing Onlinegolf.uk!

3 Steps to Achieving YOUR #Golf Resolutions

Resolutions are made this time of year and, for golfers, the main theme is to work on areas which are weak and need improvement.

What is your most important new year golf goal?

PGA Tour players, in general, rely on the short game to get them into contention, so it seems like a just and proper resolution to work on wedge and putter development. Other golfers like Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson, may be looking ahead to a certain major victory in 2018., and devising individual goals to get them there.

One thing is for sure - luck and/or wishing won't make it happen. "You are what you do, not what you say you'll do." - Carl Jung

In this Golf for Beginners blog, we hope that you set reasonable and achievable targets. Here is how to start this process:

1. Look at your game and decide where you are at your weakest or where you lose the most strokes. For me, it is in my approach shots and putting.

2. Put your goals down on paper - make a list and determine how you will achieve those goals. Break down each goal into smaller parts. As I have been told in the past...how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! SET YOUR GOALS NOW!

As for my personal golf goals, I need to get to the range more and focus on shots that are 100 yards and in. I also need to bone up on chipping with clubs other than my sand wedge, such as my 8-iron.

SET GOALS THAT WILL MOTIVATE YOU!

A good tip I found on Mindtools.com is to write down why your goals are valuable and important to you. Make sure that your goals are: specific. measurable. achievable, relevant and you attach a due date to them. Just saying, "I want to improve my putting this year" or "I want to lower my handicap" isn't enough.

3. Get out there and make it happen!
Many a resolution has been broken because we are not determined enough to work our way through our sluggishness ...we also make excuses. After reading this blog, why not work on one of your resolutions?

Read: Golf Resolutions for a Happy New Year


Which golf resolution will you be working on this year? Write it down here, in the comments section of this golf blog, and tweet us at @Golf4Beginners, then make it happen!