Pro Pointer: Good Golf By The Numbers

By Joe Rotarius*
1995-2000: Head Golf Professional
Oakwood Country Club, Kansas City, Missouri

About the only numbers most golfers worry about are the number of strokes it takes to complete a single hole or an 18-hole round.

But there are other numbers players can use to learn about and improve the weak points in their individual golf game.

For about five years I have been keeping track of several sets of numbers during my individual rounds of golf. I check such things as putts, fairways hit, greens in regulation, ups and downs, sand saves, use of putter from fringe, clear second shot and give-away strokes.

As I sit down to critique my round, I compare the numbers to my set of goals. I easily can pin point what improvements I need to make to achieve lower scores.

Let’s take each category individually.

PUTTS
Goal: Under 30 for 18 holes. During the course of an 18-hole round, if I can use 30 putts or fewer (six or more 1-putt greens for either pars or birdies) I should be able to eliminate some bogeys caused by bad shots.

GREENS IN REGULATION
Goal: 72-78 percent (13 to 14 per 18 holes) To reach more than 13-14 greens in regulation is a bonus. And being “on” the green means on the putting surface, not the fringe.

FAIRWAYS HIT
Goal: 79-86 percent (11 to 12 of a possible 18). Usually there are four par-3 holes on an 18-hole course, which leaves 14 fairways to hit with a tee shot. With most fairways from 25 to 50 yards in width, there’s no reason not to hit 11or 12 fairways per round.

UP AND DOWN
Goal: 65-80 percent (3 to 4 out of every 5) If you miss four to five greens in regulation during each round, you need to get on the green close enough to one-putt three or four times to keep your score low.

PUTTER FROM FRINGE
Goal: No more than 24 to 30 inches. Putting from the fringe does not count as a putt, but is considered an up and down if you hole out in two. Also, do not count being on the fringe as a green in regulation. I recommended not using a putter when you are farther away than 24 to 30 inches from the putting surface.

SAND SAVES
Goal: 50-60 percent (on green and one-putt form 50 yards or closer). The lower percentage expectations here is due to the type of lie, weather conditions or other factors that make sand save difficult.

CLEAR SECOND SHOT
Goal: 100 percent on all fairways missed. For the one or two fairways that are acceptable to miss, a player should not be more than a few yards into the rough. Being in a fairway bunker or having one limb from a tree blocking your path does not constitute a clear shot.

GIVE-AWAY STROKES
Goal: 0-1 per 18 hole round. Give-aways include penalty shots, a ball out of bounds or in a water hazard, making a bogey from the fairway at 8-iron distance or less, 3-putting from 40 feet or less on a flat surface or missing a three-footer. Your percentages in all these categories may vary. But if you give yourself some goals that are attainable, you will improve you golf game.

By keeping track of the numbers, you can find your weaknesses after each round or at the end of a season. You’ll know what part of your game you need to work on.

It doesn’t take much effort to keep track of these categories during each round. By using the system, though, you’ll have plenty of information to guide your golf fame toward lower scores.

For further information or to acquire other articles as listed below please send an e-mail to: JRRotarius@aol.com

*Joseph G. Rotarius was the assistant professional at Westwood C.C. when he authored this article. That same year Joe was presented with the coveted Gateway PGA Assistant Professional of the Year Award.

Other Teaching Articles
“Don’t Be Afraid of your Long Irons”, Great Lakes Golf, 1995
“The Fairway Sand Shot”, Toledo Golf News, 1994
“Good Golf by the Numbers”, Gateway Golfer, 1991
“Square the Foot to Get Straighter”, The Country Club, 1991
“Tips for the High handicapper”, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1990
“New Life for Grounded Pitch Shots”, The Country Club, 1989
“Set-up and Alignment are Vital”, Gateway Golfer, 1989
“Question and Answer”, St. Louis Golf Scene, 1988
“Executing Chips and Pitches”, Gateway Golfer, 1987