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In The Cards.
Take
a minute before teeing off to study the scorecard, particularly
the handicap ranking of each hole (they're assigned a value
from one to 18, hardest to easiest). Plan to play the
harder holes (lower numbers) more cautiously, saving the
heroics for the easier ones.
Stake It
Out. Before
hitting a drive, note the color of any stakes lining the
hole. White out-of-bounds stakes mean you'd have to take
a stroke-and-distance penalty (hitting three from the tee), so
consider leaving the driver in the bag for control. You
can be a little more aggressive when you see red or yellow
hazard stakes as they would require taking a one-stroke penalty,
giving you a chance to recover.
Gray
Area.
Your
yardage to the hole leaves you in between clubs. To help
decide, flip open the yardage book or course map and check for
trouble around the green. Is there a large bunker in front
of the green? Water behind? Choose the club
that allows you to avoid the worst trouble, even it means
leaving a longer chip or pitch.
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