Try this putting drill. Stick a tee in the
ground at one, two, three, four, and five feet
from the hole and, starting at one foot, hit
three putts from each distance. If you miss,
you have to start over. Grooving your
putting stroke from short range will help
you get a feel for the speed of the greens
and boost your confidence.
Get On Course
If your home course allows you the opportunity to go out late in the day and practice on
the golf course, do it. This is among the most
beneficial way you can spend practice time
because it puts you in realistic situations that
you often can’t re-create on the driving range
— you’re forgetting about your golf swing
and simply playing golf. For instance, go play
three holes and set a target score (maybe one
or two over par). If you don’t finish the three
holes in your target score, then play them
again. Or drop a few balls behind a bunker
and practice flop shots
from the rough (left).
The confidence you gain
from these on-course
practice sessions will
translate directly to your
next round of golf. ■
Dave Fusco is the
director of golf at Patriot
Hills Golf Course in Stony
Point, N. Y.
