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Pro's Corner
By Andy Mackimmie, Head Golf Professional, PGA, Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course
Every golfer knows the golf holes well – the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, the 17th hole (Alcatraz) at PGA West Stadium Course and the 14th Hole (the world’s only floating green) at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. There is something disquieting, yet alluring to most golfers when they’re faced with the daunting challenge of an island green from the tee. There is not much room for error and if you let it, the island hole can beat you before you even play it. It has one advantage most golf holes don’t, the mental pressure of near perfect execution it places on that one swing of the club.
The excitement builds well before you arrive at the tee. These are golf holes that can make or break the round of golf. When you play these golf courses, no one really cares what your score was at the end of the day or how many strokes you bested your handicap by. For that matter, your peers don’t even care how you putted on the island hole. All they’re concerned with is “Did you hit the green on the island hole”. It’s all about that one golden shot out of 80, 90, or 100 strokes you took this day that truly matters. It all comes down to “pressure”. There are few shots in golf, without money on the line of course, that can trigger an emotional response of overwhelming pressure to land a soft spinning golf ball safely on an island green.
You stand over your ball and execute the perfect swing you know is in you. It’s always easier said than done. Island golf holes are not for the faint of heart. It will win the mental battle if you let it so I’ll take you through some of my key ingredients to improving your success in the battle to concur any fears of the ultimate water hazard.
1. Keep playing the golf ball you have in play. Too often I see golfers reach into their bag for the oldest, most marred up ball destined for the shag bag, expecting the worst. Your chances of success have just been cut in half at best… this is otherwise known as the kiss of death.
2. Play one club longer than you would play for the designated yardage. I suggest this for several reasons. The first is when you prepare for that golden swing; your tempo needs to be toned down to a smooth tempo with a more fluid swing motion to promote consistency. Second, if you do maintain your normal club head speed and flush the ball on the center of the club face sending it long, you now have the option of dropping your ball by rule on the island, providing it crossed a margin of land, saving yourself stroke and distance. And finally, you can’t putt from the water.
3. No matter where the pin is, make your target the absolute center of the green. Simple statistics here.
4. Close your eyes (to remove any distractions) and take yourself through mental images of the best approach shot you’ve ever hit. Remember how the swing felt and relive the emotions from those precious seconds after the shot.
5. Tee your golf ball slightly higher than usual. Nerves can do strange things and lifting out of a golf swing is one of them.
6. Take at least two practice swings and slow your tempo down to a relaxed controlled motion.
7. Take a deep breath or two before your golden swing. Trust me on this one, your brain needs all the oxygen it can get.
Confidence is the essential element to overcoming the mental obstacles residing at the heart of the ultimate water hazard. After all… It’s just another golf swing.
