Watch the Course

Since the golf course is your first opponent, you should make a point of knowing what sort of condition it's in. Some practice putting before the round will help you with the speed of the greens. As you walk through the holes of the match you should pay attention to flag positions on the upcoming holes. Most important, watch the way your ball and your opponent's ball behave on landing -- this will give you an idea of the hardness of the fairways and greens, a factor that affects club selection both off the tee and into the green.  

 

Nicklaus claims he won the 1959 U.S. Amateur because he paid close attention to the course. By the last hole of the 36-hole final between Nicklaus and Charlie Coe at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado, the course had become hard and dry. Coe, hitting first, played an 8-iron approach that landed near the flag but bounded well over the green. Observing this, Nicklaus punched a low 9-iron that ran along the ground and stopped within eight feet of the hole. He then sank the putt for a one-up victory.

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