A bogey feels recoverable. Sometimes, you can even make a “good” bogey. But double bogeys are different. Now you need two birdies to erase it and your hope of posting the low round of the day starts to fade. The key is to keep double bogeys off the scorecard. Here are some practical tips to help you do it
Play from the correct tees
If you have lost distance or your skill level does not justify playing from the back tees, it’s time to accept reality and move up. Playing from tees too long for your carry distances makes it even harder to hit greens in regulation. You will force long irons and hybrids into your approaches and bring more hazards into play.
Stop turning one bad shot into two
Every golfer hits bad shots during a round. The key is avoiding the “hero” recovery shot that leads to a double. If your ball is in the heavy rough or the woods, take the safe route out and focus on getting up and down.
Trying to squeeze a shot through a tight window or hitting a knockdown shot you are uncomfortable with only adds unnecessary strokes. Think through your options, choose the shot with the highest success rate and return to a safe position.
Chipping out of trouble can result in a bogey which is much better than letting one bad swing turn into a double or worse.
