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Course Management All clubs Intermediate ⏱ 17 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Golf Strategy: Aim for the Safe Zone, Lewis Wallace

Why does a bad shot end up in a disaster hole? Lewis Wallace takes you through three holes at the Heritage Golf Club in Mauritius and breaks down each decision: target selection based on hazards, three planned shot paths off the tee, and self-talk after a missed shot.

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Lewis Wallace
Lewis Wallace · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

9 minSame problem5 Pro Tips from Tommy Fleetwood: From the Drive to the GreenTommy Fleetwood · Intermediate7 minSame problemTiger Woods' Course Management: Starting from the GreenTiger Woods · Intermediate14 minFrom the same proCombo Iron Set: Custom-Made Head, Shaft, and GripLewis Wallace · Intermediate / Expert

What the lesson shows

Lewis Wallace starts from the premise that: Consistency means, first and foremost, not letting a bad shot turn into a disastrous hole. Standing 115 yards from a flag protected by four pot bunkers at the entrance to the green, he doesn't choose his club based on the distance to the flag, but rather based on the safest part of the green: Behind the flag, slightly to the left, far from the two bunkers on the right. Instead of the pitching wedge, he plays a 9-iron with a three-quarter swing, positioning the ball slightly back, taking into account a slight headwind. He plays it too safe, but still lands on the green.

At the start of the par-5 hole, there’s a bunker in the middle of the fairway: he wonders whether to play it short or clear it, then takes a 3-wood. He explains his three possible paths: the perfect shot, the slight miss (his go-to today—a fade), and the big miss, which happens about 10% of the time. He manages to keep all three in play, and his big miss to the right ends up on the fairway. On the last hole, he plays aggressively but smartly: tapered on the left side with a fade, so as never to end up in the water. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining an objective internal dialogue after a failed attempt.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Before taking your shot, assess the green and the flag's position: where are the hazards?
  2. Determine the safest spot to land the ball, even if it takes you farther away from the flag.
  3. Choose the club for this area, taking into account the wind and the possibility of a poor contact.
  4. First, identify the obstacle and decide whether to play it short or clear it.
  5. Adjust your aim so that both your usual shot and your big miss remain in play.
  6. To play aggressively near the net, choose the side and spin that won't send the ball there.
  7. Next, analyze your shot objectively, without beating yourself up mentally.

Key Takeaways

Choose your club based on the safest area of the green, not on the distance to the flag.
Identify the traps protecting the flag and the area you must avoid at all costs.
When faced with an obstacle at the tee, decide whether to play it short or clear it before choosing your club.
Plan for three possible outcomes: the perfect shot, the usual minor miss, and the major miss.
A poorly hit shot that's still in play doesn't necessarily mean a bad score.
After a failed attempt, stay positive or objective in your self-talk.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Attack a flag located in a very difficult area without worrying about missing the shot.
  • Choose your club based solely on the distance to the flag.
  • Plan only for the perfect shot at the start.
  • Listen to your instinct when it tells you to go for it, even when your head tells you to play it safe.
  • To put oneself down after a setback.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. For each target on the driving range, define a safe zone rather than a single point
  2. Write down your usual minor mistake and your major mistake
  3. Simulate a tee shot: Align yourself so that all three fairways remain in play
  4. A 9-iron hit three-quarters of the way, with the ball positioned slightly back, instead of a full wedge

Your Questions

How do you choose the right club to attack a protected green?

Lewis Wallace chooses the safest spot on the green based on the area, not on the distance to the flag. From 115 yards away, with four bunkers at the entrance, he aims behind the flag and hits a 9-iron with a punched shot instead of a pitching wedge.

What are the three possible paths to consider at the outset?

The perfect shot we’re hoping for, the minor miss that fits his pattern (for him, a fade), and the big miss, which happens about 10% of the time. We need to plan so that all three remain in play.

Should you play a short shot out of a fairway bunker or hit it over the bunker?

That's the question to ask yourself right from the start. On this par-5 hole, with the bunker right in the middle, he chose to clear it with a 3-wood instead of using his driver.

How can you play aggressively without risking a penalty?

On the last hole, he leans to the left and hits a fade so the ball never ends up in the water. He uses a hybrid to keep the ball short of the bunkers.

Learn More

All “Course Management” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you 5 Pro Tips from Tommy Fleetwood: From the Drive to the GreenFive habits from the Tour: placing the tee in front of the ball when using a driver, no calling out shots with irons, planning chip shots in advance, keeping a distance log, and reviewing the round afterward. Tiger Woods' Course Management: Starting from the GreenTiger designs each hole starting from the green, refuses to allow himself any mental errors, and advises amateurs to aim for zero three-putts first. Tiger Woods' Iron Play: The Wind and the HandsTiger keeps two shots in mind until his final look at the wind, adds speed for a fade compared to a draw, and controls everything with his hands. Lewis WallaceAll of his lessons

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