Golf Tips Around Trees On The Golf Course
Playing a golf shot from behind a tree or a hazard leaves several choices for the golfer. Having several choices surely can create a big problem. Most salesmen will tell you, leaving too many choices on the table can confuse the sale. I know that I am way off topic here, but having more than a couple of choices can really slow down the decision making process, and trying to sell yourself can be quite the task at times. Especially when there is a golf stroke involved. This is when a question and answer period has to take place. If you are trying to sell yourself the thought of making it around, or over the tree in front of you; good luck!
Do you attempt to go over the hazard? Do you attempt to go around the tree from either side? The other alternative would be to go under the hazard. The safe golf shot would probably be to chip out of trouble, but a lot of us like to go for the gold.
This situation is a common problem for a lot of golfers, unless you hit the perfect golf shot all the time, and even a perfect golf shot down the middle of the fairway may land you behind trees that grow in the middle of fairways on some golf courses. To make a smart decision, you have to look at all your options and come to a reasonable decision on any attempt on trying to reach the green from behind trees. Taking your time on the decision making process is of great importance. Let us put a few options out in the open and see if we can make a wise decision.
First and foremost importance is choosing the right golf club. Ball placement distance to green has to be determined if you plan on going for the green. Let us assume that you are 169 yards away from the middle of the green and it is the perfect distance for your 6 iron. You also came to the conclusion that in order to climb the tree in front of you, the 6 iron will not be enough club, because of the height it will take to get the golf ball over the tree. There is a lot to consider before making the right decision.
One way of determining if you have enough loft is to stand behind the tree with the golf club in hand and place the golf club head on the ground with the face of the club towards you, and put the bottom of your foot on it and let the grip go. If the tip of the golf club shaft points up and over the tree, chances are the loft of the golf club is enough to go over the tree. If the tip if the golf club points at any part of the tree, chances are you need a loftier club. You may want to practice lifting up the golf club head right away on the take-away to get more height on these type of shots.
If you decide to do the opposite and attempt to go under the tree, you have to do the extreme opposite with a more closed faced golf club, like a 3 iron or 4 iron and maybe a low driver off of the grass, depending on your lie. You may want to choke down on the golf club to take a little distance off the ball flight. Again more decisions have to be thought out, depending on how low the branches hang from the ground.
Another alternative would be to try and go around the obstacle. Going up and over or around the hazard will always make the golfer reach for a longer club because of the added distance. If you decide to go around the hazard, you have to make sure the golf ball does not go straight and you are not going to end up in more trouble, unless you know how to maneuver the golf ball at will. Typically depending on the side of the obstacle you decide to go, you may have to open or close the clubface to manipulate the direction of ball flight. If you must attempt to go around, assure yourself that you can spare the couple extra strokes it may cost you, if you end up right back where you started because you hit it straight out of bounds. This is a very common mistake with amateurs.
Being positive is the way to think, but its okay to face the possibility of human error to keep us within our capabilities. Staring the situation down with the least amount of fear is the positive mindset that we all like to play. Question you have to ask yourself in that moment of greatness; what is my handicap? Once you are comfortable and honest with your answer; think no more and take the shot!
Taking your time and thinking it through, could help you save strokes. Try to avoid making quick decisions on the golf course. Also, do not forget that you are paying and playing for the enjoyment of being out on the golf course. You have every right to take your time with the golf shot within reason. Other golfers do not like to play behind slow golfers either. If you think you have to rush the golf shot, it does not become enjoyment any longer. Talk to your fellow golfers and possibly let the group behind you play through, if you feel rushed. Most importantly; think the shot out in your mind about all problems that may occur before you address the shot.
Source: George Gabriel
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