Dog-Leg on the Golf Course

What is a dogleg in golf?

A dogleg is a hole that forms a bend: the fairway runs straight from the tee, then curves to the left or right to reach the green. The name comes from the English dogleg, “dog’s paw,” by analogy with the bent shape of the hind leg.

It is most commonly found on par-4 and par-5 holes, and less frequently on par-3 holes. The bend—or angle—is generally located within driving distance: that’s where the hole’s entire strategy comes into play.

Dogleg or dog-leg: Which spelling is correct?

The two spellings are used interchangeably. In English, the most common form is dogleg, in a single word; in French, it is often written dogleg, with a hyphen. We say “left dogleg” or “right dogleg” depending on the direction of the turn. When the fairway bends twice, like an S, we say double dogleg, a layout typically found on par-5 holes.

Left- or right-dogleg: What's the difference?

For a right-handed player, a ball that curves from right to left (the draw) naturally follows a dogleg to the left, and the ball that curves from left to right (the fade) features a right-dogleg. A player whose ball often slices will therefore find left-doglegs more difficult: the slice carries the ball toward the outside of the turn, where the fairway ends. For a left-hander, it’s the opposite.

How do you play a dogleg?

Measure the distance to the elbow

Before choosing your club, check the distance from the tee to the corner of the fairway using the course map, a GPS, or a rangefinder. The classic mistake is to reach for the driver out of habit and to cross the fairway: The ball flies straight into the rough or the trees, beyond the bend.

Select the landing zone

A good tee shot lands the ball at the corner of the fairway, with a clear view of the green. Often, a 3-wood, a hybrid, or a long iron is all it takes to place the ball exactly where you want it.

Use the entire starting area

The Rules allow you to place the ball anywhere within the teeing area, between the two markers and up to two club lengths back. Depending on the shape of the bend and your ball flight, teeing off from one side rather than the other can open up the angle toward the landing area. Take a look at the hole before placing your tee.

Cut the corner or play the fairway?

Cut the dogleg, it means hitting the ball over the obstacles on the inside of the turn (trees, bunkers, penalty areas) to shorten the hole. On some short par-4s, long hitters can even reach the green in one shot. The reward is real, but so is the risk: a shot that’s even slightly short or off-target often results in a lost ball or a penalty stroke. Ask yourself a simple question: How many of your shots actually clear the hazard? If the answer isn’t “almost all,” play the fairway.

The Most Common Mistakes on a Dogleg

• Taking too many clubs start on one side and end up on the other side of the fairway.
• Force an effect that we can't control enough to make the turn.
• Aim for the inside of the elbow without knowing the carry distance needed to clear the trees or the bunker.
• Forget the second shot: A ball hit too far inside the turn may end up hidden by the trees.