Score. Chase Birdies or Avoid Double Bogeys?
Score. When it comes to golf, that’s what every golfer is chasing. Ego suggests that in order to score well, they must birdie every hole. Birdies, birdies, birdies. Let’s analyze golf scoring for a second and see if that’s true.
1 Stroke/Hole-(Hole in One/Ace)-Score 18
2 Strokes/Hole-(Par 3-Birdie, Par 4-Eagle, Par 5-Double Eagle)-Par 72 with (4) Par 3’s and (4) Par 5’s-Score 36
3 Strokes/Hole-(Par 3-Par, Par 4-Birdie, Par 5-Eagle)-Par 72 with (4) Par 3’s and (4) Par 5’s-Score 54
4 Strokes/Hole-(Par 3-Bogey, Par 4-Par, Par 5-Birdie)-Par 72 with (4) Par 3’s and (4) Par 5’s-Score 72
5 Strokes/Hole-(Par 3-Dbl Bogey, Par 4-Bogey, Par 5-Par)-Par 72 with (4) Par 3’s and (4) Par 5’s-Score 90
6 Strokes/Hole (Par 3-Trpl Bogey, Par 4-Double Bogey, Par 5-Bogey)-Par 72 with (4) Par 3’s and (4) Par 5’s-Score 108
Now, let’s say the average hole distance is 410 yards. That’s 2 shots of 205 yards to get on the green. Followed by 2 putting strokes to hole out and that will be a 4 on a par 4.
So, if you can hit 205, a 3/4 swing with that club would give you 153 yards, that’s either on a green or just to the front of a green on a par 3. Chip and two putt or three putt and you also have a 4.
So, before we even get to the Par 5’s…That’s 10 Pars on Par 4’s, and 4 Bogeys on Par 3’s. Your score is 4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4=56, or +4 with 20 strokes left.
So, just for the heck of it, let’s bogey every par 5. 4 strokes to get on and a two putt per hole. 6×4=24. 24+56=80 or +8 over.
So, what are the consistencies here? 1) You two putt every hole. 2) You get on the green in 2 on every Par 4. 3) No double bogeys or higher. 4)You use the 200-yard club to get everywhere.
The biggest problem I see with golfers is they want to hit driver far, but it will not go straight. Therefore, they waste 1 stroke per hole to get the ball back into a position to attack the green. That takes a 72 to a 90 automatically. They could hit 3-wood, hybrid, or even a long iron and sacrifice 20-30 yards, but be a fairway finder. I am telling you, for an experiment, leave driver and 3-wood at home, and play hybrid or long iron down to putter and see how many fairways you hit and greens you reach. You will be AMAZED at what you discover.
Sometimes a different method will help. Golf Sidekick has a great understanding on scoring. Watch a video one how he plays here: Sub 80 Scoring System
-David