The Open Championship has just finished and Xander Schauffele has taken home his second major of the season. The links-style course at the historic Royal Troon Golf Club provided a real challenge for all golfers due to the rain and blistering winds.
Here are some tips to play a links course like Schauffele did.
1: Low hit drives
Strong gusts of wind are a main feature of Links Golf and for an inexperienced golfer, this can lead to some issues when hitting the driver. There is one way to try and win against the elements. “Backspin is the real enemy in this situation, so try to achieve a lower and more penetrative flight by delofting the club” stated ShotScope in their article. To do this, one must grip down on the club or simply tee down on the ball when hitting.
2: Be cautious of bunkers
These aren’t like the normal bunkers a golfer would typically face on a golf outing. Having faces that are as steep as mountains, can cause some serious problems for golfers. A way to make it out of these treacherous bunkers is to play the ball backward or even sideways if you find yourself in one of them.
3: Use the bump-and-run tactic
The course has powerful gusts of wind and can make it hard to predict the landing of a lobbed shot. The fast and firm greens will make it even harder on the golfer when trying to judge how far the ball will roll after landing. So, try using your wedge in place of your putter. When doing so, ShotScope suggests, “Keep your weight forward in the stance, choose a slightly less lofted iron to avoid the club digging into the ground, and swing with your elbows locked.” Now, the only focus will be on your distance control.
4: Use the weather and course to your advantage
Instead of playing against the climate and the features of the course, try using it to your advantage. Some of the fairways and greens might make it harder for your ball to stop, so if you struggle with the distance of your driver this might be ideal! The same thing goes with a sliced or hook shot. If the winds are blowing hard in a direction, using this knowledge can make it more favorable for yourself.
If you find yourself playing a Links course, it might seem a bit intimidating. Playing the course, will allow you to develop newfound golf skills and to learn to adapt to all different climates and terrains. Using these newfound tips, playing the Links course should be a breeze!
Continue to check back on our Tip Tuesday Blogs for new articles weekly!