COURSE MANAGEMENT
Make the Climb Here’s how to tame even the steepest of holes BY MIKE LABAUVE
THE UPHILL PAR-4, 437- metre 15th hole at Bethpage Black ( pictured here ), site of
Adjust your stance and swing Before you play the hole, here are a few swing tips for uphill lies. The tendency is to mistakenly hang back, hoping to lift the ball into the air. To combat this, maintain pressure on the inside of your trail foot as you turn back against it, and start the downswing with a lateral bump of the hips towards the target. Aim right to compensate for the slope pulling the ball left, and swing to a forward, balanced finish.
next year’s Ryder Cup Matches, was the toughest hole relative to par in all three majors contested there. The hole almost always plays into the wind, and the final 180 metres ascends to a green 15 metres above the fairway. Not all uphill par 4s play the same, but you’ll avoid big scores on most of them if you stick to these sensible strategies.
32 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024
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