Golf Games to Play in Level 3 That Are Actually Worth Playing...
Welcome to Level 3 Golf!!
I hope you have all managed to arrange your first post lockdown game, and I’m sure a few of you have already been out there! There are specific regulations that your club will be following by advice from the NZ Government and NZ Golf. These regulations include changes to the course- you won’t see any rakes in the bunkers and there will be adapted or no pins on the course- plus facilities will be closed. These are just some of the regulations. For more information, follow this link: https://www.golf.co.nz/NewsMedia/
Remember, these guidelines are designed to keep us all safe as we make our way back to normal everyday living. It means that ‘golf’ will feel a little different for a while. Scoring will not be applicable until we have the course back up and running as normal under The Rules of Golf, and in some cases you might not be able to hole out.
Because of this, many of us will feel that playing golf isn’t a real measure of our game. BUT there is opportunity in every obstacle!! As a golf coach, I often ask my players to keep stats- that is to measure different parts of their game so that they can see WHERE they can make improvements that will affect overall score.
Here are a few games that you could play, based on some simple but important stats, to help improve your game despite perhaps not being able to keep score as normal.
Game 1: Bingo, Bango, Bongo
This is a great game to play as a family. There are 3 points available:
Bingo (1 point) = Longest Drive (on the fairway!!)
Bango (1 point) = First person to get the ball on the green
Bongo (1 point) = Nearest the pin/hole once the ball is on the green
The beauty of playing Bingo, Bango, Bongo is that you don’t need to hole out!! Plus it gives everyone a chance to wins some points no matter what level of golfer they are. You must play in order, furthest away plays first, so that everyone has a chance.
Game 2: Bunkered
This is a game of tactics and accuracy. The basic concept is that you must hit it in a bunker before you can go for the green. The winner is the player to get to the green in the least number of shots. Plus you get some extra bunker practice. If the bunkers haven’t been raked due to rakes being removed, don’t be scared to clean and place the ball. Handicap is irrelevant in the current climate so make the most of some quality practice.
Game 3: Nearest The Pin in Regulation (Flag Race)
Take the par and add the number of shots you get for that hole, then minus two. That’s how many shots you have to play the hole.
So for example, an 36 handicapper gets two shots on every hole. So on a par four they get six shots minus two- so they have four shots to play the hole.
The winner on each hole is the person who gets closest to the hole after they have used all their shots. Again, this is a brilliant way to even the playing field so that all levels of golfer can compete against each other.
You may be asking yourself why bother playing these games? Stats are considered vital for any player looking to improve their game. Stats allow us to see where our strengths and weaknesses lie. So by playing games that don’t just focus on overall score, but more on specific statistical measures, we can make improvements in one area that can have a dramatic effect on score in the long run. If you’re interested in looking into how measuring stats can help your game, visit https://shotstohole.com
Don’t burst those bubbles team! Keep safe and enjoy some golf.
Love Coach Em x