I usually play 2 or 3 times a week, and there are many, many courses within a 40 mile radius from my house. I've visited close to 10 facilities last month.
My question is this: Am I benefiting my game by varying difficulty and layout, or slowing my learning by not having consistently similar tasks to overcome?
P.S. I started playing in April '05, and can't wait to break into the 80s!
In my opinion, hitting the golf ball is hitting the golf ball. It doesn't matter where you do it: range, backyard, cow pasture, one course or another. I feel that it's best to be able to hit the ball from all kinds of lies in all kinds of conditions.
Now, scoring is a different issue. If you become used to the speed, contours and conditions of particular greens, you will probably putt them better. If you get used to particular fairway conditions, you will learn to hit the ball best off that kind of lie. If you learn the strategy that works best on the holes of a particular course, you will be able to save a few strokes a round by avoiding trouble and maximizing your effort. There is also a comfort level that one has playing in familiar territory that improves relaxation. I would conclude that playing the same course all the time would probably save you some strokes, but even so, you still have to hit the shots.
I play a different course every week during the season, and the same course about once a week. I have shot my best round this season on the course I play every week, but then it's shorter than most of the other courses I play.
Since you haven't been playing very long, you may not yet be used to the incredible inconsistency that one can experience from round to round.
It dependes on the difficulty of th ecourse. If you are playing courses that are too difficult for a starter it will harm your game as well as your pocket. Play easier courses until you break 90.
Great post by valeogut. I used to play a lot of different courses - we have over 90 public courses in my area (DAllas/Fort Worth Metroplex), and I've played almost every one of them, before I joined a private club.
Frankly - the enjoyment of seeing/playing different courses outweighs the potential score improvement of playing the same course every time. I enjoyed the different courses, HOWEVER.........Iwould advise you to buy a laser Rangefinder, as it really helps get yourdistances to hazards, targets, etc. etc. when playing new courses.
I went private for other reasons (public courses are far too crowded around here), but if I were a public player - I would play as many as possible, and enjoy myself.
In the end I think playing different tracks will help your game with regards to your ability to adapt. You'll be forced to learn a lot of different shots.
The important thing is to hit from the tee box that your skill/handicap dictates. If the slope of the course is 140 hit from the forward tees, if it's 120 try the intermediate.
I HATE being stuck behind a group playing from the tips with a 25 hadicap!
The colonel made a good point about variety helping your ability to adapt. I also play many different layouts, so changes in green speed, difficulty, etc. rarely faze me. That said, I'm certain that my handicap would improve if I stuck to one course, but I wouldn't necessarily be a better golfer.... and I'm sure I'd find it quite boring.
Great post by valeogut. I used to play a lot of different courses - we have over 90 public courses in my area (DAllas/Fort Worth Metroplex), and I've played almost every one of them, before I joined a private club.
Frankly - the enjoyment of seeing/playing different courses outweighs the potential score improvement of playing the same course every time. I enjoyed the different courses, HOWEVER.........Iwould advise you to buy a laser Rangefinder, as it really helps get yourdistances to hazards, targets, etc. etc. when playing new courses.
I went private for other reasons (public courses are far too crowded around here), but if I were a public player - I would play as many as possible, and enjoy myself.
Sam T,
I just found out mama and i will be moving to the Dallas Area VERY SOON.......we're gonna be looking mostly in the Grand Prarie and Ceder Hills area'a but may look other once we arrive. How is GP Country Club? maybe we should stick a peg in the ground sometime october time frame.....
I usually play 2 or 3 times a week, and there are many, many courses within a 40 mile radius from my house. I've visited close to 10 facilities last month.
My question is this: Am I benefiting my game by varying difficulty and layout, or slowing my learning by not having consistently similar tasks to overcome?
P.S. I started playing in April '05, and can't wait to break into the 80s!
If been playing for about a year and I've only played the same course consecutive times once. Frankly I like the variety of different golf courses and the different challenges different layouts offer.
Much better to play variou courses. IMO, playing the same couse over and over is not a true test. My buddies & I play a lot of courses, including your RTJ trail. Capitol Hill is wonderful.
SellMate Much better to play variou courses. IMO, playing the same couse over and over is not a true test. My buddies & I play a lot of courses, including your RTJ trail. Capitol Hill is wonderful
Is that the one in Scottsboro? I haven't played any RTJ courses yet.
August 24th, 2005, 01:12 AM
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