Course Management 3: The Art of the Approach Shot

Firing at every pin is a recipe for high scores. A smart golfer assesses the situation, weighs the risks, and chooses a target that gives them the highest chance of a good result, even on a slight mis-hit.

Want sharper approach strategy? Course Management 2: Tee Box Strategy to Set Up the Hole sets better angles before you ever pull an iron, and Course Management Basics: The hidden fundamental keeps the big-picture decision framework tight.

How do you play the middle-of-the-green pin?

• The Play: Green Light. This is your opportunity. The pin is in the safest possible location with plenty of green around it. There's no reason to be shy here. Take dead aim, make a confident swing, and try to make a birdie.

How do you handle the tucked front-right pin over the bunker?

• The Amateur Play: The amateur sees the flag and their ego takes over. They think, "I can stuff it in there." They take dead aim at the pin. A perfectly flushed shot is great, but any slight push or under-hit shot ends up in the deep bunker. Now they are "short-sided," with no green to work with, making an up-and-down almost impossible. This is how pars turn into double bogeys.
• The Smart Play: Ignore the pin completely. Your target is the centre of the green, a good 20 feet left of the flag. Let's analyse the outcomes:
  1. You hit it dead straight at your target: You have a 20-foot putt for birdie.
  2. You push it slightly (your common miss): The ball ends up right next to the hole.
  3. You pull it slightly: You're on the left side of the green, safe, with a longer putt. By aiming for the fat part of the green, you have made a two-putt par your worst-case scenario. You have completely taken the big number out of play.

How should you adjust when the pin is cut at the back?

• The Amateur Play: The laser says 150 metres to the pin. They take their 150-metre club. If they don't strike it perfectly, the ball comes up short, often on the front edge of the green or in a bunker guarding the front. Now they are left with a 60-foot putt, often over a ridge or up a tier. A three-putt is almost guaranteed.
• The Smart Play: The number one rule for a back pin is: take enough club. Your goal is to fly the ball past the middle of the green. Take the club that would normally fly 5-10 metres past the pin (your 155- or 160-metre club) and make a smooth, controlled swing. A shot that flies a little long is often a simple chip from the back fringe. A shot that comes up 60 feet short is a disaster.

How do you negotiate those in-between yardages?

• The Amateur Play: They're 145 metres out. Their 8-iron goes 140, and their 7-iron goes 150. They decide to "kill" the 8-iron. They swing way too hard, which ruins their tempo, and they hit a massive slice or a chunk.
• The Smart Play: Never try to force a club to go further than it's designed to. You have two much better options:
  1. The Knockdown: Take the longer club (the 7-iron), grip down on it an inch, play the ball one inch further back in your stance, and make a smooth, three-quarter swing. This will take 5-10 metres off the shot and produce a low, controlled, accurate flight.
  2. The Safe Miss: Take the shorter club (the 8-iron) and aim for a spot 140 metres away that leaves you with the simplest putt or chip. Hitting your stock yardage to the front edge of the green is always better than trying to force a shot.

A smart approach shot isn't always the one that ends up closest to the hole. It's the one that avoids trouble and gives you the best chance for an easy par.

What are the quick questions golfers keep asking?

Q: How do you choose the smart target when the flag is tucked?
A: Aim at the fat side. If the pin is front-right, take the middle of the green and give yourself a stress-free putt.

Q: What's the trick for in-between yardages on approach?
A: Choke down a touch and make your normal tempo. Taking a little off beats trying to smash the longer club.