| The long game refers to your drives (shots off the | | | | trap. Knowing how to get the ball out of a trap will |
| tee) and fairway shots; everything short of the | | | | cut your score. Plant your feet firmly into the sand, |
| shots you make to get onto the green. | | | | with your left foot turned toward the hole. Imagine a |
| Each hole has a different difficulty level, different par | | | | 4-inch circle around the ball and try to hit the edge of |
| and distinctive hazards, so instructing you to use your | | | | the circle that is away from the ball. |
| Driver on every tee would be blatantly wrong. This is | | | | Take lots of sand with your ball and swing |
| something you will learn over time as you learn the | | | | completely. Don't decelerate at all when or after you |
| various shots you make according to the club, the | | | | hit the ball. It should pop up onto the green and stop. |
| placement of the ball and your personal swing. | | | | This doesn't work unless the sand is very soft and |
| When talking about short game, we've all the seen | | | | powdery. On hard surfaces, you might need to avoid |
| the long accurate drives of Tiger Woods. The ball | | | | actually hitting the sand. |
| flies through the air and lands in the middle of the | | | | As in all aspects of the game, only practice will help |
| fairway, 300 yards away. The green-eyed monster | | | | you to improve. Generally speaking, the lower the |
| of envy consumes us as we wonder if we could | | | | club number, the longer and lower your ball will go. A |
| ever hope to drive like that. | | | | 4-iron shot will travel long and low and will most likely |
| Fortunately, long drives are not the be-all-end-all | | | | roll, whereas a 9-iron shot will have much more loft |
| game of golf. Enter the short game. Without good | | | | and go less distance both in the air and on the |
| short game skills, all the long drives are for naught. | | | | ground. |
| The short game is those shots that get us onto the | | | | The professionals on television make it look so easy; |
| green from about one hundred feet out, be it from | | | | they consistently hit the ball long and straight and |
| the fairway, a bunker, the rough or a drop zone and | | | | never miss-hit the ball making it dribble ten feet, or |
| includes chips, sand shots and pitches. | | | | completely miss the ball. Driving is very important to |
| This is where your higher numbered clubs would be | | | | the game, and many hours spent at the driving range |
| used, as well as your pitching iron, sand wedge or lob | | | | will help improve your distance. Experiment with the |
| wedge. Most golf courses have practice areas as well | | | | same club to see what works for you if you move |
| as a driving range. Spend some time working on | | | | the ball forward or backward in your stance. Take a |
| hitting your ball onto the green from different | | | | lesson, if possible, and learn the proper swing from |
| distances. Aim for a ten-foot circle in the center of | | | | the beginning. |
| the green at first. Experiment using your wedges; | | | | Mastering the long game helps you get to the green |
| what works for someone else, might not work for | | | | in fewer strokes, keeping your score and frustration |
| you and your articular swing. | | | | level down. Remember that it takes a long time to |
| After you get accustomed to doing this drill | | | | learn consistency and remember to have fun! |
| consistently, it's time to spend some time in a sand | | | | |