Emergency at Bentgrass Golf Courses in September Due to Heavy Rain and Heat
Prohibited Lofted Shots, Choose Putter or 9-Iron
Hold Grip Short and Roll Putting Stroke
The autumn season, the prime time for golf, has arrived swiftly. The monsoon season has ended, and the intensity of the heatwave has somewhat subsided. However, the situation at domestic golf courses is not favorable. As the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, golfers are traveling abroad for golf trips. Additionally, many fields have been damaged due to heavy rain and heatwaves. Golf courses planted with the resilient Korean-type grass are relatively fine, but those with bentgrass courses are in terrible condition. Many areas have been scorched. Around the greens, the grass is gone, making play quite challenging.
How should one approach shots on bare ground without grass? If there is no grass around the green, you should absolutely avoid lofted shots. Grabbing a wedge carelessly could lead to disaster. For amateur golfers, it is advisable to play a probability game. Rolling the ball with a pitch-and-run shot is the safest approach. Using a putter is better than a wedge. When the ball is near the green, choose the putter. This increases the chance of getting the ball on the green and can reduce your score. Make sure the leading edge of the clubhead just grazes the ground. This helps prevent mishits such as hitting behind the ball.
Distance is crucial when near the green. The distance from the green’s edge to your ball should not be far. If it is about a step away from the green, it is best to take out the putter. Grip the putter about 1 cm lower than usual. Lift the toe of the putter 1 to 2 cm off the ground. Aim to strike the ball with the lower third of the putter face. The fairway near the green is slower than the putting green. Stroke as if the distance is about 30% longer than it actually is. When holding the putter, check the grain of the grass. When the grain is running with the putt (down grain), it is easier to judge distance. When the grain is against the putt (up grain), putt a little harder than usual.
One concern when using a putter near the green is when the ball and the green are far apart. If the distance is more than three steps, using a putter becomes difficult. Judging the distance is challenging. For beginners, using a 9-iron is not a bad option. Roll the ball as if putting. Practice is necessary for using both the putter and 9-iron around the green. Always train on a practice green under various simulated situations.
Weekend golfers are highly recommended to use running approaches rather than lofted approaches. When performing a running approach, position the ball in front of the right foot. When gripping the club, the hands naturally move ahead of the clubhead. This is called hand-first. If you do not have a hand-first position at address, it is meaningless. To achieve a perfect hand-first, position your hands close to your left thigh.
When doing a running approach, stand with a narrower stance than usual. Maintain the wrist cock angle throughout the downswing. You must swing while keeping the wrist angle intact. This is the secret to achieving accurate contact and distance control. Approaching is not just about using your hands. You must naturally rotate your body while striking to secure both distance and direction.
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