COURSE MANAGEMENT LESSON | HOW TO REDUCE YOUR HANDICAP

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In this video we will be continuing our journey with Lee and his road to getting to a scratch handicap. This is a follow up video from a few other areas we have covered so please head over to look at those videos.
We are at Lee's new home course Ashbury Manor and trying to see if we can help Lee get around the course in a score that will help him reduce his handicap long term.
This video we will be focusing on course management which I am sure may be able to help with your own games.
Join us as we follow Lee's journey and hopefully you can pick up a few tips also.
Please feel free to comment below.
Social Media:
Dan:
Instagram: / danhendriksen
Twitter: / hendriksengolf
Facebook: / hendriksengolf
Lester (Mince)
Twitter: / lesterbarnesy
Instagram: / lester_mince_barnes
Facebook: / hendriksengolf
Lee:
Instagram: / lee_whittaker_golf
Twitter: / golf_whittaker

[@billybastar4022]

Risk management applies to many things in life, including golf. I did not make much advancement in my golf game, until I submitted to scoring. I spent my a round chasing the perfect shot, when I should have been planning the perfect last shot on any given hole. Doing that makes me plan from the flag stick back to the tee. In doing that, I concluded that the riskiest shot, in most cases, is the first one off the tee box. Most course designers design courses to test you from the tee, pass that test you can reap the reward of the next shot afforded by the designer. Unlocking what the least risky shot to get to that point has been missing my entire golf life because I can’t spend every day out on the course honing that skill. It was very cool to get a taste of how to dissect a hole shot by shot, thank you Dan.

[@paulh7589]

Brilliant video. Most golf videos teach swing mechanics, this one teaches how to play the game.

[@nTo-vlog]

I like that Dan is really eloquent and Lee is really open about how he plays his game. Making us viewers able to learn an awful lot of lessons. Thank you guys! Amazing channel!

[@vivwilson3745]

From the first explanation on the tee of the first hole I knew I was going to learn here. Absolute priceless info and help 👌👌👌

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boLRhZiLp9GjjLs

[@vivwilson3745]

@@DanHendriksenGolf excellent 👍👍

[@nigelcooke8590]

Any golfer should play to their strengths.. I once discussed course management with a 2 hcp golfer who was struggling to score..,great driver / striker and great putter but not putting scores together.. I asked him what his favourite iron in his bag was and how far it went.. eg 9 iron / 150. Then what his most difficult distance was eg 80yds.. it was apparent that over the course of a round he was leaving himself a lot of pitches between 60/90 yds. We played 9 holes where he had to leave himself a 9irn in no matter what that meant he hit off the tee (working back from pin).. over 9 holes he shot under par as he was hitting it stiff nearly every time and giving him more hole able birdie putts.. sometimes distance can be detrimental to the ability to score.. 👍👍⛳️⛳️

[@paulbull3431]

Get the idea but I would recommend a 2hcp work on hit short wedges/pitches. You have to be strong at all distances 150 yards and in.

[@christheodorou31]

Very cleaver Uncle D, zapping the range finder and showing the average golfer another level! Just a brilliant insight to how PRO golfers really think👏👏👍

[@davidm7031]

“Just hit it at the flag” not been playing long but definitely the best piece of golfing advice I’ve heard 👌🏻🤣

[@Coinhunter-km4qo]

Very good lessons to be learned here. I like how you are teaching Lee to think his way around the course to take out a lot of the risk. One of the best lessons I ever learned was to walk a course backwards, i.e., start out on the 18th green and work back towards the tee, figuring out where the risk was in the design of the hole, how to avoid it, and look for good angles of attack and flat areas to be hitting from. On greens analyze the design to see where the drop offs and danger areas are to be avoided. Do that for all 18 holes and see if your score gets better over time. Nice to hear an experienced Pro like yourself walk us through your thinking processes on these shots. Well done.

[@justapedn1]

This is why I always enjoyed watching Golf Channel’s “Playing Lessons with the Pros.” They explained their thoughts/strategies for playing holes, not so much about how to swing the club (other than flighting shots, that is). Good work here.

[@billdunlop8683]

Love these types of course management videos, absolutely play the yardage back from the green to a comfortable wedge, Myself I try to leave 115-120 ( PW) on every Par 4/5. I love how Dan breaks it down to a Chess/Math type game. Nothing makes me happier on the course knowing I've played a controlled round from tee to green. Great insight Dan. PS: Lee does a great job in listening to Dan and pulling off the shots, Great job Lee !!.

[@brendan9340]

This tactic has been proven wrong. Mathematically it is almost always better to be closer to the hole

[@kylebell2365]

“I’m still going to hit driver” 😂😂😂

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boLRhZiLp9GjjLs

[@jojobradley7433]

This is awesome. Process oriented instead of goal oriented. Have a process/game plan and stick to it!

[@craigmccormack948]

Brilliant channel . This is my new number 1 golf channel.

[@adampace2775]

This is exactly how I like to play from the green backwards much prefer my 110 yard pitching wedge shot than anything closer to the green! Great lesson Dan

[@roadtoscratchgolf3481]

Dan, fantastic video on course management. Flic did an excellent job of showing us what goes thru her mind prior to picking a club and target. I certainly learned quite a bit and the best thing I learned was think about your surrounding before grabbing a club. Then figure out your target and distance taking into consideration weather conditions of the air and grass. Then make a sensible decision for your ability and be positive,

[@neilb9682]

Some comments recently regarding Lee haven't sat well with me. I enjoy the corse vlogs, but this was a superb and well thought out video, which has given me something to think about. Cheers Dan and fair play Lee, great to see you in control of the ball. Your attitude will get you where you want to be 👍

[@The_lefthandedgolfer]

Very good, just had a look at my home course and it’s completely changed how I’d play it. Can’t wait to get out and play again!

[@rohitpratap4174]

Dan, you're one of the best out there with the course management/thought process stuff. Please more of this!

[@ianpike9285]

Excellent on course lesson showing that we need to take our egos out of the tee shot. Hope to get out and put into practice soon. Cheers Lee & Dan.

[@reginaldalford952]

Would love to see this for 18 holes so we see more of the ups and downs and change in strategy depending on score

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boLRhZiLp9GjjLs

[@lothario4one]

More videos like this please! Brilliant! Great course management tutorial. My problem is consistency in my swing, fat shots and pushing ball to the right.

[@th3manias]

Classic lesson. Handicap golfer works out the distance from tee to green. Pro works backwards, from pin.

[@brituk1776]

Love this one! Here's to more "course management" vids! Extremely helpful.

[@RTOHIO]

This taught me a lot, especially the working backwards from the hole to determine the club selection. avoiding the danger and tayloring the shot to your strengths. Spot on.

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

Try this one also: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boLRhZiLp9GjjLs

[@torlefborsting471]

Even as a new golfer, I have found the course management approach really helps my game. My improvement has been very steady because I really challenge myself to consider the whole scenario for each hole I play. This video adds even more to my thought process. Thank you for that :)

[@markwalker521]

super information to keep in mind as a 5.6 capper from10 years of playing and a complete golf nut.

[@craigjames1355]

Lee hits a great ball, not many using a two iron so great to see . Brilliant informative blog lads . Great work and helps all types of handicappers 👍

[@travisg.1310]

Def like the way you show the viewer more than one option for every shot. Hope lee gets to his goal of 5 handicap in 2021!

[@lax5939]

Thank you very much. I am a 12 handicap and want to get into single digits this year. This really helped and I definitely will work around the course better and be more mindful of what I am doing instead of just trying to drill the ball as hard as I can. Happy New Year.

[@davidpeterson552]

Great video on strategy and choices to reduce the risk. We golfers many times focus too much on the club and distance and forget the club you hit with confidence. Put yourself in confident, lower risk higher success situations and you will improve and reduce the catastrophes.

[@stuartbain3353]

Should of played 2 balls. Lee’s ball that he would play. And the ball Dan wants him to play. See the difference.

[@PetSKi67]

When playing someone elses plan could affect the mentality, how decisive and confident the player would be executing it. Ofcourse when vloging a lesson, it gives a touch more to it, but as the coach said on the other hole, it was a good thing to go with the shot the player was confident with.

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boLRhZiLp9GjjLs

[@mattbrooking2146]

Great Video Dan, could see Lee might of been struggling to agree with what you wanted him to do but the results were obvious!! Food for thought will defo take it to the course! 👍🏼

[@davehurley26]

Great video. Learnt something very valuable...I play set yardage like lee was saying. And I get to much spin on greens so will be learning 3/4 shots with lower end of the bag.

[@hnasdad]

Great video Dan, first full vlog I've watched of yours. Ol muppet fan. What a great line of questions to learn from. Really like you slowing down the thoughts.

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

Thanks Kit, hope you have just found us 👍

[@AquaIgnis2012]

Great approach.... like the questions and workingfrom the pin and back!Lee is a solid putter👍🏻 thanks for sharing!

[@mangelarsson7774]

What Lee is about to learn, I think, is that to be a good golfer you need to play to your hcp, not try to play like a pro. I thought when he had his in the bag video that he was fitted like he was a pro, thats not making him better, get fit to the hcp youve got. Well played Lee. I believe in you, that you can come down a lot in hcp.

[@The-OC]

Superb video, they teach us so much about changing our frame of mind on the course to get the best out of our abilities. 👌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@trxe420]

This is it, this is how I broke par for the first time. Basically I asked one simple question, "Can I get on the green from here" if not, the next question is "What club gets me to 120 safest". I think Peter Cowen said golf is a game of where not to hit it. Such an eye opening lesson, btw this dude has probably never missed a shot on the short side of the hole, tremendous pace :)

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

Thanks Tommy, are you a new Subscriber?

[@trxe420]

@@DanHendriksenGolf I am :)

[@tonyrobinson31]

I need my own Dan to help my game and course management 👍

[@TramSpotter649]

Aha! But you do have your own Dan already! His advice should be in your mind when you play. "Take control of you own game" (club selections etc) - "Have you learnt anything from today Lee?" - "Plan your play from the green backwards". And, in planning, notice slopes on the course (in your stance, on the green etc), also wind, hazards, out of bounds etc. There is a lot in the video, and probably worth a second viewing.

[@pvillepat]

love this content. I'm a 3.8 currently but I am streaky as all get out. I struggle with being disciplined with course management because the little I do get to play I just want to bomb the driver. lol. Keep up the great work Dan. I've never had a caddie at any course. I'd love to hear from a caddie at like one of the higher end courses and see how much they are actually able to affect a tourists score on the average day.

[@rufussthoo4083]

Short but effective. This was probably the best 'course management' video I've seen, because you didn't just tell Lee what to do but explained the 'why' and the nuances. It is something I'm trying to do better so I'll definitely be using some of these learnings. Thanks Dan.

[@jvelez1998]

Dan, these video playing lesson are invaluable. Truly gold highlighting the benefits of proper strategic course management. Very well done. It is quite a refreshing difference from others who spend a great deal of time on KZbin testing clubs and chasing swing speed while taking us along for the ride. Keep up the great work! Cheers

[@chriscurtis742]

Great coaching from the Danmeister 😂👍⛳🏌️‍♂️

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

Who 🙈😂

[@chriscurtis742]

😂😂 ..... It's what Lee called you in the Dunlop 65 vlog 😂😂

[@spu5990]

Wonderful Vlog Dan, great insight into managing your game around the course. Well done Lee

[@Carlos-yn2ob]

Great video. I like the idea of working the hole backwards, makes sense.

[@sarahhawkes7231]

Well played, Lee. Great advice, Dan. P.S. The gunfire in the background brought back some nice memories of playing golf in Belfast in the early 90s.

[@roadtoscratchgolf3481]

Nice instruction on course management. I’ve started to think about each hole from the green backwards and it has helped lower my scores and reduced my bogeys.

[@Jurra80]

It´s great watching Lee not playing "course vlog-golf". Would love to see him playing more like this once a while on your ordinary vlogs so people who doesn´t understand the difference can lay off. Great stuff as always!

[@robertcourt8593]

Yeah I agree. I don't get this "course vlog golf" whereby you have to hit the hero shot all the time. Personally I want to see people playing as well as they can and scoring well rather than hear them making excuses all the time.

[@michaelgrossman1403]

I have enjoyed every video from Dan. His WITB are fantastic. His interview with his brother and John E. Morgan are awesome...but this was amazing! Thank you for this!! I am a 1 handicap and this was fantastic!! Thank you

[@aidandodd3906]

These types of videos are great for people new to golf like me. Please can we have more 🙌🏻 🏌️‍♂️

[@robertwatson8385]

Brilliant and will definitely be using this strategy Have reduced my handicap this year from 23 to 16 after a long time away from the game and I need to think along these lines to keep improving

[@ianburke2490]

Working backwards on par 4's instead of just smashing the longest club in the bag and clubbing up to play for my usual strike as opposed to my perfect strike are great tips for a mid-handicapper like myself, great series. Also, Lee can play with just a bit help!

[@davidthomson6209]

Really interesting again Dan and team 👌🏻 made me realise I need to pay way more attention to the course I’m playing and not just the yardage of the shot. Great content as always 👍🏻

[@benjr.padilla6999]

Thank you, working back as a strategy is something that I learned from your video and will certainly looking forward to trying that. Cheers!

[@lesleypeterkelly365]

simple talk through a golf shot, can listen forever, excellent, working back is a good thought process

[@mrkipling3841]

Well done to both of you. Excellent playing lesson.

[@andyblair8058]

Great video Dan and Lee. More of the same through the winter would be great. 👍🏌️‍♂️

[@stevewilliams190]

With his 3/4 shots he could try with his feet a lot closer together to take the power off or drop down the shaft a bit.

[@roberthall61]

Great video! Learned alot. Like the idea of play from hole to tee box. At times use less club. Play smart. Take trouble out of the equation.

[@CheviotHills]

I’m off 8.6 index now down from 14hc at start of 2020. I feel its all about ball control and keeping the ball in play. Obviously if I want to keep improving I need to start attacking holes so need to start hitting it further. No three putts always helps.

[@brianh8801]

Excellent video. Not only should we plan from green to tee, but learn the same way. Too many spend their time beating buckets of balls on the range when starting the game, myself included when I was younger. After being away from the game for 10 years, I now spend 3/4 of my time practicing my short game and now hit a small bucket of balls just to keep the full swing in practice. Short game and course management keep my scores consistently lower versus bombs away and trying to recover.

[@obedtorres7445]

My favorite series last year was following your brother as he thought through every shot. Extremely educational. This is in the same vein. Good stuff

[@ebenlaubscher4153]

Years ago i played a 72 par by avoiding trouble and playing to my tendencies.I was 10handicap then .I remember clearly that i did not hit any perfect shots that day ,but a lot of good ones .A few surprise birdies and no double bougies and par it was .Much easier than I anticipated

[@timhoward1888]

Lee’s putting within 8 feet has been very good I’d say.

[@DDH54]

Great coaching Dan, lee will be a much better player with your advice 🏌🏻‍♂️⛳️

[@andrewjohnston5942]

Golf is a great game, great golf is a thinking mans game. Listening to Lee for a while, I think a Mind Coach would be a great addition

[@S.forbes]

Really enjoyed this one. Quality content boys 👏🏾👏🏾

[@hesa9849]

Great content ! So rare on youtube. Thanks a lot.

[@andrewdavies8451]

Compelling viewing, Its good Lee has trusted the process and ignored his ego. Great video

[@stevenhodson2173]

Very interesting to hear the shots being talked through. Thanks guys !

[@markholder4619]

This is an excellent video. Real situations and practical steps to deal with them. If we all did this we would knock half a dozen shots off our round.

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

Hi Mark, are you new to the channel?

[@jamescarney8527]

I do appreciate these videos on how to work your way around a golf course. Good job and thank you.

[@chrisrazzle4761]

Good luck getting down to scratch Lee, I’m in a similar boat shifting from 12 to single figures. Dan is far better placed to advise you than I, but I’ve played quite a few rounds without certain clubs, such as Driver or 58 degree. Removing Driver temptation instantly improved my course management and think back from the green. Likewise I favoured my 58 around the green and for short pitch shots, so removing it forced me to play a wider variety of shot types with my 54, plus bump and runs with PW which wasn’t really in my arsenal. Rounds without PW also forced me to hit knock down 9’s - you touched on much of this in the course vid, but playing a few rounds without some of your “go to clubs” just makes you get on with it :)

[@nickyc162]

Great video guys. I think I need to incorporate that into my game

[@woodyfairway3933]

Good video, Dan. You should be doing more of these.

[@seancook2264]

Aggressive shot to conservative target....worked for Tiger 👍🏼

[@timackland5411]

Fantastic vlog. Brilliant to explore the way to get round the course. Take the ego and pop it in the back pocket. Very much the way as we get older. Its not how far its how many! Putting is worth 6-8 shots a round. The one area all amateurs can match the pros in practice and on the course. If lester putted like lee he would be on tour without a doubt.

[@richarddavey7884]

Think its great to get him hitting controlled, softer, less spinny shots. Its so important to control trajectory with irons especially when the wind gets up 👍

[@bradleysturley4180]

I probably appreciate the content of this video more than most and what Dan is trying to teach Lee. Up until about 6 months I was guilty of eating shots unnecessarily like Lee has in the past, I like Lee can hit the ball a long way with driver over 300 yds etc. But also like Lee has played in the past, I’ve chosen the big glory shot which has a much smaller percentage to make it than the slightly shorter and much safer shot. On reflection I’ve not chosen the bug shots not on a glory basis, but maybe because I can hit the big shots (but not always accurate) and maybe because I rush a tee shot decision based only on distance and not danger of how my second shot will be if my tee shot is way off line? Now I’m breaking a hole down by distance and danger, some your brother Paul said a couple of months ago when you all playing for a 59 round or a similar vlog? Paul said if your 100 percent on your yardage then your never be far from the pin even if your off line slightly. So if I’m on a par 4 now which is about 330 yards, rather than trying to kill the ball and knock it on the green (more often it was straight in to trouble or I have no clear second shot), I look at breaking the distance down in to 2 more controlled shots with the aim of my 2nd finishing close to the flag and a birdie chance with par as a fail safe...not needing to hit my 3rd close to try and save my par! I’m sure like myself, if Lee can just slow himself down slightly and think about all aspects of the hole his score will improve no end as he certainly has the ability to score low. Another great vlog guys!! 👍👏

[@juanhunglow2220]

Just broke 80 for the first time before lockdown. A result of hours and hours of chipping/pitching practice during the last lockdown and no 3 putts, but most importantly,finding the fairway. Great vid. Course management is so often neglected

[@Luis1958able]

Awesome! great strategy, brilliant pre visualisation at the task at hand. It definitively opens up great possibilities. A powerful way of looking at a Golf course.

[@sharnoconnor3640]

Love it, more Videos like this please

[@patl3497]

This is where Lee shines on the channel! Great to hear his thought process, whether correct or not, as many will be able to relate. Great video, I like "self-improvement" Lee more than "chirpy, just be quiet" Lee 7 days a week. Good job guys!!

[@jimdavey7094]

This is super useful and definitely a mindset / skill I’d like to develop on the course. Outstanding putting Lee, that really is a weapon. Nice one gents.

[@nevillehubbard7347]

Very helpful video, particularly about the thought process on the par 3's and the ideas about leaving a number, rather than hitting driver and playing from that point. Thanks for the reminder!!!!

[@dangeonardis2935]

Dan please do a serious golf vlog with Lee. Would love to see how he can do this over 18 holes instead of whacking everything in a scramble. I also think it would build his confidence for future vlogs. Oh and please help him with his driver 😂

[@karlheinzgurtl661]

Would love to see it too, same with Lester, probably more 3 woods than drivers

[@paternoborlagdan8586]

Very good practical course management...Got it!...Thank you very much.

[@DanHendriksenGolf]

Glad it helped Paterno!

[@danialz3468]

Very good vlog Dan..I think in short irons, Lee’s ball compressions were always good, so his full swing is in perfect distance..if he can control his distance in 3/4 swing for lower ball flight, Lester would be in trouble..🤭😂

[@stephenbeach1933]

We now need the opposite when Lee coaches Dan (again) round the new home!

[@MikeSoutham]

What a great video... Really makes you step back and rethink how you'd play your local differently. Cheers!

[@dwed1234]

This is so good Dan and I would love to see loads more of this type of content. Still the best stuff on KZbin, thank you to you and the guys, brilliant. 👍

[@harrys8001]

I agree with some of the other comments. Really good to see a video focusing on course management

[@PetSKi67]

Playing lessons are pure gold. They are too rare in real life with club golfers. Obviously, aiming to scratch is a big goal and working all the aspects of the game is big part in it. Lot of, all mid-teen cappers could play stints below, but many times get ahead the game when on the reds and gets sloppy in routines blowing the score on the first slight mistake not able to recover and make a couple doubles in a row.

[@PetSKi67]

Kind of the same both ways, if a 10-capper starts off with a wrong foot and bogies the first two to three holes, it is not uncommon for then to try force the rest of the round birdies to cancel something allready unsalvageable. We all know, that no birdie will come in if you force them, anxiety and must-make takes over and you forget, how you play your best shots, routines change, setup change and the way you swing it changes. Basically everything changes, but there is not any one bad shot, that could ruin your score. It is the bad attitude and playing either in the past or future.

[@davidjohn7510]

Dan......Think you should write a course management aide memoire ( pocket size )......and sell it as merch! You offer great advice. Thanks! :-)

[@flash521]

Thank you. I have thought before about playing from the tee to my best approach shot - say par fours or fives - however, I admit I am a rather “go for it” which can bring me into hazards more often by doing so. So - I like the idea about playing from the pen back to the tee and playing and making the hole as much as possible designed for my game. 👍

[@sbeasley1120]

I love this. Definitely need to work on building up my shot strategy from the green back. I tried doing this last season where flag is on the left side of the green trying to position my shot on the right, so that I have more green to work with, but I think next level is like you said here, taking in all the dangers, and don't just necessarily wack driver all the time.

[@tonywestwell]

Dan if you could just sit in my bag for a few rounds we could get my game sorted too. Great advice as always. Keep up the great work. Loving it.

[@mikerobbie838]

Really useful thought process. I walk up to a par 4, check the yardage and pull out driver. I like the idea of working back from 100yards, where I’m comfortable hitting my 56deg wedge. Cant wait to get out and try it.

[@dancorun6650]

I'm working on both ideas you talked about. Think about keeping the ball in play by looking from the green to tee instead of the opposite and take a club more when needed and then swing smooth and don't come out of your shoes. I could use more mental lessons like this and IMHO so, could Lee.

[@ozzie_golf1157]

Some excellent tips there! Something I will definitely take to the course when we’re open again. Playing off 8 and with this help I could get lower! Great video! ⛳️🏌🏻