Handling Hazards on the Course

Playing Out of the Rough

Despite our best efforts of trying to keep the ball on the short grass of the fairways, there will be times when we need to play shots from the rough. The first step is to assess the length and thickness of the rough to determine how far you can advance your next shot. 

Golf courses are frequently manicured to have varying lengths of rough, typically referred to as the "first cut" and "second cut." The closer to the fairway you are, the better chance you will have of finding a nice lie that may allow you to hit a shot similar to what you would from the heart of the fairway. If you find your ball with a less-than-inviting lie, you should consider the benefits of trying the miracle shot versus accepting your fate and hitting a recovery shot into the fairway.

While professional golfers can be seen hitting miraculous shots from all lies and locations on the course, the harsh reality is that most amateur golfers will risk making their score even worse. Consider taking a lofted club, such as a wedge, and simply pitching out into the fairway. 

If you work on your short game while at the practice range, you could save par by hitting a good approach shot and holing the putt - even if pitching out from the long rough.

Escaping from Sand

Relaxing on the 32 miles of Alabama’s sugar-white sand beaches is unbeatable, but facing sand traps on the course is generally not as enjoyable. However, with the proper technique and approach to handling sand traps, you will no longer need to have such a fear of playing from them. Hitting the ball out of the sand requires a technique unlike any other shot in the game. When you combine that with every type of sand being different, you have a recipe for a potentially difficult up-and-down. You can follow several tips to ensure you're ready to go the next time you visit the sand.

• Club Choice – Typically, your 56-degree "sand wedge" is the best club, designed for gliding through the sand. Sometimes, you may opt to use a more lofted club, and circumstances may arise that require a longer club, especially if you are playing from a sand trap further away from the green.
• Evaluate the Sand and Lie – Is the sand wet or dry? Is your ball sat nicely, or are you faced with a plugged lie? Are you playing from a flat lie, or is your ball on an upslope or downslope? All of these will determine your strategy for playing the best shot.
• Clubface – In most situations, an open clubface is the typical recommendation. If you are faced with wet sand or a plugged ball, you will want a closed clubface. 
• Swing Setup – You will want to widen your stance and dig your feet into the sand to create a solid foundation. Play the ball slightly forward in your stance and then aim to the left of your target (if playing a standard, open-faced sand shot). The shot will be played with a steep angle of attack, with the goal of sliding the club underneath the ball and hitting the sand an inch or two behind the ball. With this approach, you have a lot of room for error, and as you gain more confidence, you will learn how to adjust your shots from the sand.

Following these steps will leave you confident in playing out of sand traps, and perhaps even prefer to be in them rather than unforgiving lies in the rough.

Playing From the Trees

Whether you believe the myth that trees are 90% air, for the golfers out there, you know that this is far from the truth when playing on a course with tree-lined fairways. If you’re comfortable shaping your shots, playing from behind a tree may not be as challenging as one of the aforementioned hazards, but seeing a tall tree in front of you can be incredibly daunting for many.

When faced with a golf shot among one or more trees, consider your options as to whether you can go over or around them or if pitching out sideways is the better approach. Your lie will be another determining factor, but assuming you have found a decent lie, you do have some options to ensure your ball is advanced in the right direction. 

If you opt to hit over the trees, elevate your ball by playing it slightly forward in your stance, and be sure to take a more lofted club to enhance the height of the shot. If you play around the trees, always err on the side of caution, and play further away from the tree. You should also consider other surroundings when playing either of these shot types because if other hazards are away further down the hole, your better option may still be playing out sideways.

The Water Hazard

Water features on a golf course create a scenic environment…except when your ball is attracted to one of them! In most cases, if your ball heads toward the water, the likelihood is that you will be grabbing another ball. However, there may be some scenarios where your ball may be on the edge of the water hazard, and the temptation will be there to avoid conceding a penalty stroke and playing from the water.

If your ball isn't fully submerged, you always have the choice to play it from the water. There are a lot of factors to consider before attempting to hit the shot, but frequently you should consider playing this similarly to a shot from a sand trap.

Try out these techniques at one of the 15 stunning courses on the Alabama Gulf Coast and improve your golf game!