We get it, golf is hard and takes quite a bit of time! So how can you get better without spending hours on the driving range every week?  

Don’t worry, we got you covered!  

Golf gets a lot more fun once you start playing better and score lower! And to your luck, there are a couple of things you can start doing differently without even changing your technique.  

We have coached countless golfers on how to improve their game, even if they don’t have time for practice.  

Here are our favorite tips for dads to play better golf without spending hours at the driving range.

Learn About Course Management

Improving your course management skill is probably the simplest and quickest way to score lower on the golf course! 

But what is course management actually?  

Simple, on the course, you constantly have to decide which clubs to hit, where to aim, and even how you want to shape your shot.  

Good course management skills mean that you always aim for your highest percentage shot but don’t get into trouble if you miss-hit it.  

For example, when planning your approach shot onto a green, look at the exact flag position.  

Is it in the middle of the green? Or to the right of it? And is there a bunker in front or next to it?  

Based on that, you select your target and choose a club you want to hit.  

As a rule of thumb, always aim for the middle of the green. This way, you might have a long putt ahead of you but didn’t land in the bunker just next to the flag.  

Even pros don’t always aim for the flag. Over time, the middle of the green is always a higher-percentage shot, and it’s way easier to hole a putt, than hole out from a bunker or chip!

Simplify The Game

You are allowed up to 14 clubs in your bag on the golf course. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to use all of them, every round! 

Try this;  

Play your next round, only using these clubs:

●     3-Wood or Hybrid

●     6-Iron

●     8-Iron

●     Pitching Wedge

●     Sand Wedge

●     Putter 

How will that actually help you?  

It sounds odd, but having fewer clubs to choose from, often will dictate how you have to manage your way around the course.  

Without a driver, you’ll be less often in trouble off the tee box. Without a 4-Iron, you’ll more often decide to lay up to a wedge distance instead of going for the green every time.  

It’s a simple trick to reduce the number of decisions you make on the golf course, and you’ll often be rewarded with lower scores!

Upgrade Your Equipment

Granpa’s clubs maybe have a lot of sentimental value, but are they the right clubs for you?  

Maybe you bought some clubs off eBay, and they were fitted to suit their previous owner’s body and playing style! 

Club fitting is a process where a professional adjusts the shaft, length, lie angle, and grip of your clubs.  

Everybody’s swing is different, and chances are the stock options don’t actually fit your style. 

Technology made the golf game easier! And upgrading to more forgiving clubs, or clubs that were fitted specially for you can improve your performance dramatically.  

New drivers, for example, are designed to perform well, even if you don’t strike the ball out of the center of the clubface.  

Forgiving irons, do the same and make it easier for you to launch the ball up in the air.  

You can even look at beginner-friendly golf balls or invest in a rangefinder or GPS watch that helps you make better decisions on the course.  

Your options are limitless and only defined by how much money you want to spend on the game!

What To Do Next

Golf is just a hobby for most of us, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy getting better and score lower.  

As dads, we don’t have time to go to the range to work on our game regularly. Try these tips during your next round of golf and let us know how it went in the comments down below!

 

Author Bio

Hi, my name is Francesco, and I’m the owner of mygolfheaven.com.  

I enjoy helping golfers get better at the game, and write about general tips & tricks, and review the latest golf equipment.  

I work with a small team of expert writers that share my passion for golf.  

Currently, I play off a 4 handicap and my favorite club to hit is my 8-Iron.