The Golf Shot That Won the U.S. Open

There are several factors to consider when an amateur decides whether or not to play an aggressive or safe golf shot, from the lie of the ball to where your next shot will land. Do you usually go for those shots that may have repercussions or do you lay up?

I must admit that most of the time I go for the safe approach, figuring I would rather have a second shot that I could make rather than picking myself out of troubles that lie ahead. There are times, however, where the safe shot is not always the best option.

Case in point... Gary Woodland, during the final round of the 2019 U.S. Open, decided on an aggressive play knowing that the trouble that lay ahead, namely, Brooks Koepka, was a birdie putt away from a tie for the lead.

What did Woodland do?

Well, in this case, his caddie made the ultimate call which was for Woodland to take a 3-wood and hit the ball 255 yards to a raised green, knowing that par wouldn't win the U.S. Open.

The golf ball landed on the fringe and Woodland wound up with a birdie, putting him ahead of Koepka and in a position to win.

Not many amateurs can hit a 255-yard 3 wood (especially under pressure) but when should we take the long shot in golf or play it safe?

There are several bullet points to remember before taking a long shot.

- Never go for low percentage shots. If there is trouble near your target and you think the golf club you selected will get you there, steer clear!

- Get out of trouble safely. If your golf ball is buried in the woods or behind a tree, don't try a miracle shot - instead, get the ball back into the fairway with a look at the green.

- Take the trouble out of play from your first shot. Position yourself properly so that, if you need that next shot to be a miracle, you have the option.

Photo: Wikimedia.org

How to Get Out of Hard Sand Bunkers

During the spring and summer months, when there is more rain than usual, you might not be able to find a fluffy lie in the sand - bunkers are water-soaked and packed hard, thus the term "hard-pan".

No bounce, hard-packed sand and lots of water can turn a normal bunker shot into a two or three shot mistake. How can you get out of these hard sand bunkers in a single stroke?

I came upon this exact dilemma as I navigated my way through the beautiful and exceptionally maintained River Club this past week. After a deluge, even the most pristine golf courses have hard packed sand. I must admit, I was at a loss when it came to extracting my golf ball safely (and in the least number of strokes) from both greenside and fairway bunkers....and, I was racking up the shots.

These are not your normal bunker shots and I can guess that these are not shots that we normally practice so I have enlisted the advice of several teaching professionals to give us the "bounce" on the subject of hardpan.

Mel Sole, a local legend (and teaching professional) in the Myrtle Beach area says to reach for a different club when escaping hard-packed bunker sand. "You definitely don’t want to use a sand wedge…or lob wedge," says Sole.

A sand wedge gives you too much bounce and is designed to help you through fluffier sand. Mel instead suggests using a pitching wedge or 9-iron and to change your normal technique.

"Address the ball as you would a normal bunker shot. Instead of cocking the wrists early in the swing as you would normally do, have less wrist cock and a shallower arc on the backswing, taking just a thin sliver of sand. Still hit about two inches behind the ball and keep [your hands] ‘under’ so that the club won't dig."

Read: Picking Your Wedge With Confidence!

Instructor Jim McLean suggests a change in technique for a greenside bunker challenge.

"Think, Steeper, shorter and easy."

Don't open the clubface (keep the face square), adjust your stance to be on your front foot (lean towards the target), take the club back steeply and hit one-inch behind the ball.

That's it! Easy-peasy advice...now, it's off to find a wet bunker and practice!

What advice do you have for getting your golf ball out of a hardpan bunker? Let us know in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Jack Nicklaus on How to Win a Golf Tournament

When Jack Nicklaus talks, golfers listen and, this past week, his words helped Patrick Cantlay cruise to victory at The Memorial Tournament.

Can you apply his sage advice in the heat of a tournament and come out victorious?

When Mr. Nicklaus visited Pawleys Plantation, (one of my company's golf courses), his audience was filled with both executives and children from The First Tee Program, all hanging on his every word. How many times has any of us had the opportunity to be up close and personal with the Golden Bear?

Whether he was regaling us with stories of his wins or helping the next generation of 'Tiger Woods golfers' how to grip a club, Mr. Nicklaus imparted some golf wisdom which we will not soon forget.

This week at the Memorial, however, the advice offered to Cantlay was parlayed into victory. What advice did he tell the young PGA Tour golfer?

Nicklaus said to Cantlay, "You need to go out there, have a good time. Look around when you’re out there. Look at all the people having a great time. And then you need to have a great time and realize that that’s why you’re there, and relax and go have fun and go win the golf tournament."

What? No thoughts on how to play the holes, how to avoid trouble, what clubs work best at Muirfield Village, aka "Jack's Place"?

According to Mr. Nicklaus, two years ago Patrick Cantlay came to him seeking course strategy and advice but this time, the advice had a more comforting and joyful tone.

Sage advice from the master! How many times have you gotten bogged down in the details instead of just enjoying the day, the round, your clubs, the trees? How many times have you just gone and played golf for the fun of it?

Cantlay said that he gave the idea a lot more thought because it came from Jack Nicklaus, so here is your chance to read the Jack Nicklaus advice that won Cantlay the Memorial Tournament. Give it a chance to resonate the next time you are out with your mates and, instead of getting frustrated the next time you hit a bad shot, remember that we all hit wayward shots and, instead, enjoy the walk.

How has Jack Nicklaus inspired you? Let us know in this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

3 Beginner Golf Mistakes You Need To Fix

In order for a golf beginner to move to the next level, it is imperative that you heed the actions of those who have been there and done that - this is precisely why Golf for Beginners is in existence!

This blog helps not only beginners but all amateurs who strive for game improvement.

Let's start with the basics - you need a fairly repeatable golf swing, knowledge of your golf clubs and how they relate to the distances on the course. Golf etiquette should also be learned as soon as possible so that you and your playing partners enjoy a pleasant outing.

That being said, here are three beginner mistakes that can be easily fixed so that you can quickly advance in the learning process.

Read: How to Win Tournaments Like Koepka

1. Hire a Qualified Golf Instructor. This may sound obvious to you but all tour professionals, including Tiger Woods, one of the best golfers in the world, has several golf instructors in his corner, helping him with everything from the mental game to putting. Even if you only take your first set of lessons from the instructor, you will gain invaluable insight into the game and your swing and you will probably enjoy the game more when you play it.

2. Play from the Correct Tees. How many times have you seen golfers want to play with better amateurs and their egos come into play, so they step back to the white tees when they should be playing forward just one tee box (or maybe two)? The stigma attached to moving forward is only mental but you will have more fun playing the game as it should be played, that is, getting onto the green in the correct number of strokes, than you will by having everyone wait for you as you hit shot-after-shot and everyone waits for you to catch up.

3. Know the distance on your clubs. Almost all beginners/amateurs believe they hit a golf ball longer than they really do. Hank Haney once told me that beginners should always club-up if there is no trouble around. I have taken Mr. Haney's advice and it has helped me save par on numerous occasions.

There you have it. A simple golf blog with easy advice this week. Now, get out there and learn something new about your golf game.

Share your advice with us on the comments section of this golf blog and tag us with your advice on Twitter @Golf4beginners.

Photo by Jopwell x PGA from Pexels

How to Win Golf Tournaments Like Koepka

Just around this time last year, Golf for Beginners posted a guest article focusing on the 2018 statistics of Brooks Koepka whose phenomenal season came on the heels of a wrist injury late the previous year.

In 2018, Koepka was on the PGA Tour top-10 list for scoring average and driving distance, to name a few stats, and won the 2018 PGA Championship after a come-back from an early deficit with a 63 to tie a record. Now that's perseverance!

How can the average golfer learn from Brooks Koepka and apply that knowledge to win golf tournaments? Most of us don't have the distance of a PGA Tour pro but, as this golf blog's tagline states, "...because we're always learning" stands firm in its resolve that we can find something useful in every situation.

That being said, here are a few golf tips which may help you to win like Koepka.

Mental Toughness Stops the Dreaded "Choke"

If you can understand that during a round of golf everyone has their "choke moments", even Koepka during the final round of the PGA Championship (that is when the pressure gets too great to handle), you will be able to move past your mates quickly after the moment strikes. Breathe deep, pull positive thoughts from within and move on.

If you do nothing else during your round, do this...

Say NO to Snowmen: make a plan of how you will tackle each hole as you get to the tee box so that you can steer clear of trouble and get close, get on, and get in the hole in the least number of strokes. Koepka avoided large numbers and so should you. That's the game of golf...play it!

Remember - No Win Comes Easy

Even if your round of golf seems to be slipping through your fingers, don't give up. If you feel that you are not suited to stroke play, why not give yourself the advantage and suggest a round of match play golf?

Comment on Brooks Koepka in this golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Ultimate Guide -The Best Golf Drivers For Beginners to Seniors

This golf guide of the best golf drivers for beginners to seniors was written by freelance writer Lisa Kent (see bio below) who has a passion for golf and wanted to share it with our readers. She sent this article into Golf for Beginners and we are pleased to present it. 

For golfers who don't want to spend $500 on a new driver, Lisa has included a few models which you can still find on the shelves but won't break the budget. If you are interested in learning more about these golf clubs, there is a wealth of information on the internet which will give you more in-depth information.

Enjoy and feel free to make comments at the bottom of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

There is nothing to fear if you are new to golf. There are so many advancements in equipment and teaching methods so learning the game has become much easier. With the wealth of knowledge, gadgets, and equipment on the market, it should be easier to improve in a short period of time than, say, twenty years ago.

Choosing the best golf driver for beginners and seniors is extremely vital to proceed in the game and that is what we will be focusing on in this guide.

Here are some of the top golf drivers for beginners.

• Callaway Epic Drivers: Starting in 2017, features included Jailbreak Technology which offered amazing stability and flexibility. Epic Flash technology (computer AI learning) offers a more powerful impact through the ball improving forgiveness from off-center hits.
• Callaway Men's XR 16: For mid and high handicappers, beginners and seniors alike, this is said to be the most forgiving driver. The club head shape is large and it is more aerodynamic.

READ: The Driver That Inspires Confidence to Tee Up

• TaylorMade M6 driver: Everyone now knows the term "Twistface" thanks to TaylorMade. A safe choice for off-center hits., the M6 offers a huge sweet spot, good the slicers. It is very forgiving with a great distance.
• Cobra Men's Fly Z: It is an impressive driver for newbie and intermediates. It offers a secure feeling while holding. It has an adjustable loft and the SmartPad Technology helps to customize trajectory even when you are sure about the performance. Adjust the center of gravity zone and you will get better balance and a big moment of impact.

• PREVIOUSLY OWNED DRIVERS: TaylorMade M Class Driver: The golf club which seems perfect in almost every category is the TaylorMade M1 Driver. It is considered to be the best regarding distance and it is quite forgiving as well. There are many adjustability options as well. The composite head is very light and it moves the center of gravity low and back to get that penetrating ball flight along with a low spin even u miss some hits.

Golf Drivers For Seniors:

• There are many factors which manufacturers have considered when designing the drivers for senior players. They have considered better aerodynamics, sweet spots, etc. Following ones are the best golf drivers for seniors:
• Titleist 915 D2 9.5 Graphite Stiff Driver: The optimum launch angle produces low spin that is good for seniors that have a slow swing speed. It is the longest driver for seniors and works on Active Recoil Channel (ARC) technology which causes the bottom of the face to flex and connects with the ball. It improves energy transfer. It is ultra forgiving, offers great control and hits straight consistently.
• TaylorMade SLDR Golf Driver: It offers a good amount of adjustability because of Loft-sleeve technology. It offers superb forgiveness and a very slow spin rate. As a senior golfer, you can have more weight on the grip end rather than on the driver end.
• PING G25 Graphite Regular Driver: It is a real treat for seniors. You can customize the loft setting easily and achieve a perfect launch for swing speed. It will maximize the distance off the tee. It has a well-designed shaft, good carry, roll and you can achieve consistency accuracy as well. It is also considered amongst the best golf clubs for seniors.
• Callaway Men’s XR Driver: Allows seniors to strike the ball with more consistency. It offers a good combination of distance and accuracy. The face weight is reduced by ten percent and enhances energy transfer.
• Cleveland 588 Altitude Driver: Ideal for ultralight performance. You can swing a bit faster. It lacks adjustable weights and offers a solid feel. It is slightly less forgiving than other drivers and great for those who do not like to fiddle around with adjustable hostels and weights.

BIO: Lisa Kent is an Independent Teacher, Freelance Writer, Conservationist, Eco-Friendly Environment Crusader. Writer at — http://ezinestack.com/. She has been writing since 2014 and sharing information on various topics. An avid reader and outreach expert.



Golf for Beginners does not agree or disagree with this golf article - we are just allowing a golf freelance writer to voice her opinion. Opinions do not reflect the ideas of the staff of GFB and we are not responsible if you go out and purchase a driver and it doesn't do what it is said to do. The claims are that of the manufacturer and of the writer who is a guest writer on our blog. You are free to comment in the space provided below.