Golf Strategy Based on Your Skill Level: Playing to Par
On the course, you grab your driver—and then what? Pierre-Antoine Notarantonio, a pro at J’swing, works with Stany from the “Je vous emmène golfer” channel to develop a strategy tailored to your skill level. On the simulator, hole by hole, he shows you how to aim for a bogey and stop taking unnecessary risks.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
The starting point is your index finger. An 18-year-old golfer is aiming for 18 bogeys, or “regulation plus one stroke”: reaching the green in two on a par-3, in three on a par-4, in four on a par-5, and then making two putts. On a 470-yard par 5, the math shows that with four shots of about 110 yards each, you’re there: the hole is no longer out of reach. You also need to know your network and your trusted clubs, such as a 90-110-yard pitch or a 9-iron.
At the start, Pierre-Antoine Notarantonio places the ball on the dangerous side on the tee box to aim for the opposite side of the hole. Next, he plays it safe: a 140-yard shot well clear of the water rather than skimming the hazard, a 6-iron that can’t reach the water, and aiming for the safe side of the green rather than the flag. The par becomes a bonus. Aggressive play is best reserved for match play, since in stroke play, a high score on a single hole can be costly. Finally, he advises players to keep track of their strokes relative to their bogey target.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Set your goal based on your skill level: an 18-handicap player aims for a bogey on each hole.
- Calculate the number of shots needed to reach the green (par plus one) and the average distance of each shot.
- Before each hole, check the sign, the scorecard, or your watch to identify any hazards.
- On the tee box, place your tee on the side of the hazard so you can aim for the opposite side.
- For the next few shots, choose a club you're comfortable with and move well clear of the hazard.
- When approaching the green, aim for a safe spot based on the flag and the bunkers, even if that means missing the flag entirely.
- Count your score relative to bogey: bogey +1 or bogey -1.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Use the driver on every tee shot without thinking about the hole.
- Skimming the water or aiming for the flag with every shot.
- Playing clubs whose distances you don't have a good feel for.
- Think of a long par-5 as an unreachable hole.
- To dwell on a bad play throughout the entire game.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Measuring your distances and dispersion with each club
- Identifying your go-to clubs, such as a 90-110-yard pitch
- Hole-by-hole game plan prepared using the scorecard
- A practice round where you keep score relative to bogey
Your Questions
What is regulation?
This is the number of strokes expected to reach the green: one on a par-3, two on a par-4, three on a par-5, followed by two putts. Pierre-Antoine Notarantonio advises 18-year-old players to add one stroke to that.
How can you make a par-5 hole seem less intimidating?
Divide the distance by the number of strokes you expect to take. On the 470-yard par-5 shown in the video, four strokes of about 110 yards each are enough to reach the green in regulation plus one.
Where should you place your tee on the tee box?
On the hazard side. If there is water on the right, stand on the right side of the tee box: you’ll have a better line of play toward the left side of the hole.
Should you aim for the flag on every shot toward the green?
No. He recommends aiming for the safe part of the green based on the position of the flag and the bunkers. The goal is to reach the green and make two putts; par is a bonus.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Pierre-Antoine Notarantonio). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.