The ball isn’t travelling very far at the moment, is it? You feel like you’ve hit a decent drive, only for the ball to plug in the mud with absolutely no run. The only silver lining in these conditions is that you can really attack the pins, knowing there’s zero chance of the ball rolling through these soft greens!
This got me thinking about our collective obsession with distance, especially off the tee. Many of the leading brands have recently launched their new models, and if you read the marketing spiel, almost everything is designed to help us generate more clubhead speed and, ultimately, greater yardage.
It makes sense, of course. If we hit every shot further, reaching the green in regulation on long par-4s and 5s becomes a damn sight easier. But in reality, regardless of whether we have the latest clubs in the bag, many of us simply don’t carry the ball very far, which can be a real challenge on certain courses.
I know I’ve struggled to reach the fairway from the tee at times, and it’s demoralising, not to mention the frustration of spending three minutes hunting for a ball in thick heather! Another pet hate of mine is a course with long par-3s because it makes me feel very inadequate when I have to pull my driver out of the bag. Whether it’s due to technique or physical limitations, being a shorter hitter should never spoil your enjoyment of the game.
In this article, PGA Professional Katie Dawkins provides some brilliant tips on how to negotiate your way around the course when distance isn’t your strength. Many of the female golfers Katie coaches will send a driver soaring with a great strike and be lucky to carry it 90 yards, so this can be a huge challenge at many courses even off the forward tees.
One way to really outshine the long hitters is to perfect your short game. It inevitably takes the pressure off your long game and you’ll likely find yourself hitting the ball further simply because you’re playing more relaxed.
If you’re just starting your golf journey and considering joining a club, choose wisely. If a course is packed with forced carries and feels like a slog, it might not suit your game yet and, more importantly, won’t be much fun.
On the other hand, if you’ve been a member of the same club for years, leaving your friendship base is never easy. But if your enjoyment is suffering because of the course’s length, it might be worth considering a change. There's no shame in spending your twilight years on a course that actually lets you play your best golf.
For the shorter hitters among us, it’s all about managing expectations and playing smart. That’s how you find the maximum joy in this game, even when the weather is doing its best to dampen the mood!
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly.
