Playing to an Elevated Green

No matter where you play golf there are going to be times when you will have to contend with elevation changes.  Playing to an elevated green will present you with decisions that can and will affect whether you hit the green.

There are very few golfers, if any, that like playing to an elevated green.  There are many variables that you have to take into consideration.

It’s hard to judge the location of the hole, so even with yardage that you might get from your GPS; you still can’t visualize the shot.

Unless you have played the hole numerous times, you may not be able to judge the amount of elevation and so club selection becomes an issue.

These are just a couple of the things you have to consider.

Here are 5 things I consider when playing to an elevated green.

1.) Take one more club for every 15 feet of elevation.  This will vary depending on how far you are from the green.  If you are inside 100 yards, then you might only need 1 club for every 18 feet of elevation might be enough. If you are over 150, then you may need to adjust for every 12 feet of elevation.

2.) Aim for the center of the green.  It is much easier to sink a 30 foot put than it is to make a chip shot or sand shot from the same distance.

3.) Remember to factor the wind.  A wind in your face will have more affect on your shot than a wind on your back.

4.) Play your normal swing.  Don’t try and get more height from your shot.  This can lead to all kinds of trouble, including chunking or skulling the ball.  Take your normal stance with the club in your hand and let the club do the work for you.

5.) Don’t try shaping the ball. Playing a draw causes the ball to fly at a lower trajectory, so the ball will come in hotter and probably roll off the back of the green.  Playing a fade is a possibility, but you lose some distance so you would need to add more club.

Keep these 5 things in mind when faced with playing an elevated green to avoid a high number.  It is better to escape with par than it is too record a double bogey or worse.

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