Course Management How Important?

[metallion]

I've gained some from better course management. I started collecting stats when playing my home course and after some 30 rounds I could see some very clear tendencies. Made adjustments one a few holes and got the average down by maybe 2-3 strokes.

So I think considering experimenting with more or less aggressive play on the par 4's and par 5's can save some strokes.

I think the best scores come from very conservative playing, but I feel the drawback is that that kind of play can not take you to the next level.

Example 1.
A long par 4 (430 yards) with a pond close to the green was my worst scoring hole on the course. I decided to stary playing it as a par 5. Result: Lowered my average on that hole by almost a shot.

Example 2.
A shortish par 5 of some 480 yards. I always played for eagle, but often got stung after a bad drive costing me a shot. I started playing it with a 3W which still left me a chance to go for the green or at lest get close to it. Result: Lots of birdies and lowered average by maybe half a shot.

Example 3.
Shortish par 4 with a difficult green area. Always played conservatively to avoid water, get in play and be on the fairway for the approach. I switched to start playing driver over a bunker and did not always end up on the fairway, but got closer to the green. Result: Lowered average by maybe half a shot.

Example 4.
Another relatively short par 5. After a reasonably good teeshot I often had to decide to go for the green (risky) or layup. One day I realized there is an in-between shot: Go for the green almost. Instead of trying to place the second shot on my wedge spot or hitting a wood to the green I hit a long iron running up to the green. That shot would guarantee that I did not flirt with the bunkers or trees (as with the go-for-green approach) but leave me 20 yards short of the green. It turned out I was much better at making birdie from that close-up location than from my wedge spot. Result: Less problems and many more birdie putts.