The Dartmouth men’s and women’s golf teams have the Ivy League championships this weekend. Both teams are solid and have a good blend of juniors and seniors and some very talented freshman and sophomores.
The crazy thing about spring collegiate golf seasons in the Northeast is that the season will be over before Dartmouth’s teams get to play or practice on their home course. How do they get in the groove at the beginning of season?
Most of us are in the same boat as well. If we haven’t hit a golf ball all winter, then how are we expected to get back our games at the start of the season?
I asked both Dartmouth coaches, Rich Parker and Alex Kirk, what they do to get the most performance out of their teams when the season is so short and they’ve had so little time playing on the golf course.
Both coaches emphasize the short game to their teams as a place to start at the beginning of season to lower your scores.
“Chipping and putting,” Parker said. “It takes a while of hitting some balls and playing a few rounds before our ball striking is where we want it to be. If you’re looking for the best score early in season, I tell these guys to get a head start improving the feel of your chipping and putting. It has helped us with our best finishes this spring.”
“I tell my team all the time: It’s early in the season and to swing the club freely with minimal swing thoughts,” Kirk added. “Don’t be overly critical. It will just work against you and prevent you from hitting a good shot. I see lots of golfers play well in the early season, and then they add too many thoughts as the season progresses and it works against them.”
Course management is also a big score-saver early in the season. As your swing may take a few rounds to get better, making better decisions can begin right away.
“Our motto is, ‘Don’t hit two bad shots in a row,’ ” Parker stated. “If you’re in the woods, punch it out instead of going for that hero shot. You will save shots and prevent the high number.
“What do they always say? Never be above the pin, right?” Parker added. “When the pin is in the back of the green, why try to hit it all the way back there? If you hit it over the green, the up-and-down will be impossible. Hit the ball 20 yards short of the pin, and now you’ve got a chance at a two-putt and you take the high score out of the picture.”
“Be patient,” Kirk emphasized. “Don’t let one bad shot ruin the hole. On par-5s, our team has been working on putting yourself at a yardage that will give you the best chance with the third shot. A full-swing wedge is much easier to execute than a half-swing wedge shot that requires more touch and feel this time of year.”
Great advice from Dartmouth’s golf coaches. Dial in the short game at the start of the season. Be patient.
Peter Harris is the director of Golf at the Fore-U Golf Center in West Lebanon. His column appears weekly in the Recreation page during the golf season.