GOLF TIP by Ernie Barbour
1998 NCPGA Teacher of the Year
The Bridges Golf Club
San Ramon, California
(925) 828-8226

"Not Your Wedge....Your Putter"

Veteran golf teachers will usually agree that amateurs generally try to use the wedge far too often around the greens from 2-10 feet out. Your decision on club selection should be based on…how’s the lie, how far onto the green is the hole and is this a pressure packed situation? I suggest if your lie is manicured light fringe, baked hardpan or a pressure situation, use the putter. The ball seems to generally get closer to the hole when it’s running low to the ground. The wedge swing is a little longer, introduces more room for error, ball goes higher and could bounce off line, and you might hit it fat or thin. I recommend you put a couple of extra balls in your pocket, hit your usual club from the fringe, then drop a second ball and putt it. Compare the results, you might be surprised!