How to stay in control

4 ways to keep your game from
​falling apart during a round

Tom Burley, PGA

    We’ve all been there during a round of golf. Everything is going along just fine. Then, all of a sudden, a bad hole. Then another. And another.
    “Too many golfers I come in contact with say the same thing when I ask them how their game went,” says Indian Wells Golf Resort’s PGA Head Golf Professional Tom Burley. “They say, ‘Great, except for about three holes.’ I find that a lot of golfers can hold their round together for a while, but not all 18 holes.” 
​    We asked Tom to share a few ways to remedy that. Here’s what he had to say: 

---

• • •
Avoid the blow-up hole 
    Typically, the “blow up” holes come from penalty strokes or when you are faced with a bad lie, such as in a bunker or behind a tree. 
    But if you can avoid big numbers on the golf course, you should see your scores improve. A great way to manage your blow-up holes is to always try to manage the golf course. 
• • •
Play for position 
    Learning where to hit it and where you can afford a miss can often lead to par saves or at worst a bogey. As a golfer, there is nothing wrong with bogeys from time to time as we all make those, we just want to avoid the 6’s, 7’s and 8’s that add up in a hurry. 
    As an example, setting yourself up properly on the left or right side of the tee box to allow for the most room for your tee shot is something that should be done on every hole.
• • •
Know when to play safe 
    It is also wise to know when to play your approach shots into the green away from any hazards or bunkers. 
    If the sand trap is on the right side of the flag stick, there is nothing wrong with aiming slightly left to take the “big miss” out of play. Too often we go for the big play looking for a birdie and end up with a six or worse. 
• • •
Understand the course 
​    Learning how a golf hole should be played is necessary to avoiding big numbers. This will give you the best chance for a nice round. Anything we can do as golfers to make it easier to keep the ball in play and in position is a must.