Butch Harmon’s Playing Lessons, (04) Hole 4, Notes

Post date: Oct 13, 2017 4:00:41 PM

Butch Harmon’s Playing Lessons by Butch Harmon with John Andrisani

Hole 4: National Golf Links of America, Par 3: 177 yards

• 1. Tee Shot -

     1. Proper planning prevents poor performance. The smart play on greens with small narrow targets, surrounded by treacherous traps and trouble spots is to proceed with caution. The priority is to hit the green, take two putts, and run to the next tee. Always respect par. Judge the wind perfectly and choose the correct club. Honestly analyze our game on that day, knowing when and when not to attack the stick. Play smart, save par. Play the required club that allows for the natural shape of our shot, not letting ego become involved. The situation has to be perfect to play a creative shot (a fancy draw or fade) gunning for the flag. Concentrate harder on hitting the green.

     2. Toss grass in the air, take note of which way the flag is blowing and look at the tops of trees to get a good read on the approximate strength and direction of the wind.

     3. If possible, play a straight shot into the wind and let the wind hold it on the green. A hard fade or a soft cut with a longer iron are also better than a draw into the wind. Nevertheless, play a draw by aiming the body to the right (more or less depending on the degree of the draw), setting the clubface down square to the target, then employing a normal swing. This method imparts less right to left spin.

     4. It’s not how, its how many. It is better to choose more club and swing within our self rather than take less club and swing harder. Forget about what our playing partners are using and play our shot. If it bothers us that we can’t use the same club as our more skilled friends, start practicing harder.

     5. Always allow for your natural shape shot. Don’t tee the ball as high when hitting into the wind.

  2. Greenside

• • 1. Chipping. Develop a wide range of shots. Learn new shots every day. The best club to use when the ball sits down in the second cuto of fringe grass is a 3-wood which allows for a slower, shorter, level stroke that’s easy to employ. The shape of the clubhead lets it slide through the grass and produce solid contact. Feel like you are putting. Position the ball in the middle of an open stance, with hands in line with the clubface. Keep the wrists quiet and control the stroke with the arms and shoulders (just like a putt), so the club stays level as it swings back and through. The 14 or 15 degrees of loft built into the clubface allow the ball to launch softly over the fringe grass so that it runs quietly to within three feet of the hole.

    2. Bunker shots. In a trap with a slight downhill lie, with the ball very close to the back lip, set the shoulders along the level of the slope, open the blade more, and wing down the slope a trifle harder than usual, making sure to hit the sand, not the ball.

    3. Putting. Just because the putt is uphill and for a birdie doesn’t mean to charge the hole. Rather, lengthen the putt and maintain the same tempo. Swinging too hard, we run the ball through the break and make it nearly impossible to drop the putt. Use common sense. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Birdies are great, but respect par. Don’t allow one putt to affect the next one. Concentrate on one putt at a time.

    4. Drill for learning to pace putts. Take the normal putting address and set the putter face square to a hole about 25 feet away. Next take the head and look at the hole. Keep the head locked on the hole and take a rhythmic stroke.