My side of the bag

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

 

This summer I decided to caddie at a range of different clubs throughout the New York metro section. Sad to say, plenty of clubs have abandoned caddie programs and little was related to the global pandemic. In years past, caddies had a specific role and various private clubs — along with select resorts — sought to include them for the valuable role they provide in the spirit of the game.

One of the virtues in caddying for club players versus those at the elite professional level is the range of improvement golfers can clearly do for themselves.

When one caddies, observation is front and center. It’s also something many players fail to comprehend and, as a result, they are locked into doing the same things — which lose strokes — again and again.

Being your own caddie means thinking outside the limited window most players envision for themselves. 

Critical thinking is a crucial connecting point — the difference between making silly mental errors and capitalizing on situation to the fullest extent below.

Here are my ten commandments that golfers at a club level should heed in order to improve their overall golf performance.

 

 

1st Commandment

Thou shalt know thy limitations

Clint Eastwood uttered the famous phrase — “A man’s got to know his limitations” — in one of his Dirty Harry movies. The phrase fits golf perfectly. 

Far too many people attempt shots that no touring pro would likely entertain. Far too many players have an inflated sense of their golfing abilities and therefore instead of limiting errors — they add to them.

2nd Commandment

Thou shalt know the distance thou can consistently hit thy clubs

Far too many players have an inflated sense of how far they hit a golf ball with various clubs. This is especially true with the driver. Players will say they can hit a driver 250 or more yards when the reality is that the 250-yard number comes from having 20-30 yards rollout after the ball lands. Few players have an idea on how consistently they can “carry” the ball in the air. 

Why is that important? 

When sizing up a golf hole from the tee the knowledge in knowing how far you can carry a tee shot will set in motion how you should play a hole.

The same can be said with irons. Players will routinely assume that a given club will always get them a set distance and believe they can hit the chosen club right on the sweet spot with constant regularity. That’s a big error in judgement. 

If a shot calls for 150 yards — players will automatically assume it’s a certain club without weighing all the essential elements. Is the shot to a level target or one that’s uphill or downhill? Is there wind? Is there more trouble in front of the green than in the rear? The wiser course of action is taking one additional club and therefore expanding your probability in getting to the target without having the need to flush the shot perfectly. 

Separating ego and actual reality is vital.

 

3rd Commandment

Thou shalt take thy medicine when recovering

I cannot comprehend why when players miss a shot, they then feel the compulsion to play a recovery shot that even Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson would find incomprehensible. The single most damaging thing that can happen to a player is compounding a bad shot with another one that makes matters even worse. 

That’s when double and triple bogies or more can derail not only the playing of a given hole — but the entire round.

Players of modest ability levels need to realize that taking one’s medicine by eschewing risky recoveries can still provide the means to escape with a par or, at worse, no more than a bogey. 

4th Commandment

Thou shalt take enough club on approaches

If there’s ever a place for player improvement it comes when decisions are made on what club to hit on approach shots. Too many players fail to realize that just getting to the very front of the green is not necessarily a good shot when the pin location is still 30 or more yards deeper into the green. 

Once again ego plays a role and as a caddie I often counsel players that taking enough club will allow for a bit of room for error in the event the swing errs in some way.  The rule on taking enough clubs becomes even more pronounced on windy days and players will vastly minimize the impact the wind has on club choice.

Far too many players want to boast about the club they hit into a green when the more important issue is what score they actually place on the scorecard. 

5th Commandment

Thou shalt have speed control crucial for putting success

During my time with various players, I cannot count the number of times players routinely three-putt or worse. The heart of that issue comes down to speed control. 

Few players will spend any amount of time on a practice green to get a handle on the overall pace of the greens that day. Putting is the great equalizer and those that have sound speed on the greens can make up plenty of ground on those who possess “stone” hands.

Those able to successfully have a consistent speed when rolling putts will be able to make up considerable ground on their opponents.

6th Commandment

Thou shalt use the putter whenever possible

Far too many players eschew usage of the putter when just off a putting green. They instantly reach for a wedge — often times one with far too much loft such as 56 or 60-degree club. 

Keeping the ball on the ground whenever possible provides the highest percentage of success. The same can be said in using a hybrid when just off the green in order to roll the ball to the target. 

Rolling a ball is much easier to judge and do consistently over flying the ball to a specific landing area. 

Using the “Texas wedge” can play a meaningful role in avoiding careless errors on or around the putting green.

7th Commandment

Thou shalt have a proper selection of clubs in the bag

As players age the probability of using irons such as the 4 and 5 become less successful. Why? Players cannot generate the clubhead speed to gain the benefit such a club provides. 

Having a few hybrid clubs in one’s bag can be a major difference maker. For many people even having a 5-iron can be the wrong inclusion for what’s really needed.

The same can be said for wedges. Players need to have a specific gap between the lofts of clubs so that you have coverage for the needed distances you wish to attain. 

It’s debatable that golfers of average skill level need a 60-degree wedge. They certainly do not need a wedge which carried more loft than that.

Golfers can have a maximum of 14 choices for their golf bag. 

Choose wisely — and smartly.

8th Commandment

Thou shalt tee up a ball on the side with the most trouble and hit away from it

It amazes me how people pay so little attention to the teeing area before they tee off. Ignorant golfers simply plant their feet at whatever spot comes to their attention and go from there. 

Smart players look at a given hole and then place their body so that whatever side of the hole has the most trouble on it — they will then hit away from it. The teeing area is a big place and it’s one that can be used to benefit the player if they take the time to do so.

Take advantage of the space available and plan the hole correctly before you pull the trigger.

 

9th Commandment

Thou shalt avoid short siding thyself on approach shots

Far too many people attempt approach shots with little real chance of success. Then they find their ball on the short side where the pin is located and face a demanding chip or pitch shot. The net result? Wasted strokes and more frustration. 

Sometimes aiming “away” from the flagstick makes the most sense. It also helps to know as stated earlier that being totally honest about one’s ability level can be a vital asset in posting the best possible score. Club players watch elite professionals play flop shots and conclude they can do likewise. They can attempt the shot — but the result is more likely a flop.

Far too many golfers watch a telecast of the elite professionals and marvel at their consistency in getting “up and down” from just about any situation. Then these average golfers attempt to do similarly when they play. What’s missing is the countless hours upon hours that top tier players practice to gain such remarkable skills.

 

10th Commandment

Thou shalt move on from a bad shot / bad hole

Of all the commandments outlined this is the central one where players only hurt themselves in a major way. Once a poor shot has been played — it is “history.” You have to place it in the rear-view mirror and move on from there. 

Far too many players want to whine and constantly focus upon the circumstances or the “bad break” they encountered. The same can be said of a bad hole. The time to have worried about that was before matters snowballed in a downward manner. 

Great players are forward thinking — not dwellers in the past. They stay in the moment they are immediately facing. The only saving grace that comes from a bad shot or bad hole is understanding why it happened and using that information for one’s benefit down the line.

Golf is always about — what’s next. 

Remember — living in the past — guarantees you remain there.