Zone-Based Course Strategy: A Lesson from a Shopping Cart
Is it possible to save strokes without changing your swing? On the La Boulie course, Cyril Miranda—who served as Benjamin Hébert’s caddie for four years—shows Adrien Callou how to play to specific areas rather than specific distances, choose a club based on the flag’s position, and stay focused on the facts no matter what the score is.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
First post: We play for a region, not a club. The target area is defined in reverse: start from the spot on the green where you want to end up, and work your way back to the best position from which to approach it. On the 1st hole, the ideal zone is between 225 to 255 yards from the back of the tee, where the trees don’t interfere with the angle of attack. This zone doesn’t change; it’s the wind or your game on that day that determines whether you play it with a driver, a 3-wood, or a hybrid. The paper scorecard (“it never glitches”) is used to define this zone, ideally during a practice round where you’re observing the course without trying to keep score. And you stick to it: not after a double bogey, nor after a string of birdies.
When it comes to shots toward the green, Cyril Miranda offers a golden rule: short flag, long club; long flag, short club, when you’re torn between two clubs. A flag just behind a bunker calls for the longest club: hit it well, and you have a birdie putt; hit it less well, and you’re right at the flag. He draws on a frequently cited statistic: a player with a 10 handicap averages 0.8 birdies per round, while a scratch player averages 1.7. The key, therefore, is not to make more birdies, but to Remove duplicates and triplicates. Other tips: Position yourself on the side of the tee opposite the target area, adjust your shot based on the day's break, and read the putt from the lowest point of the circle around the hole.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Before your round, pick up a course guide and identify the best spots on each hole.
- For each hole, start at the flag and work your way back to the spot that offers the best angle of attack.
- To start, choose the club that reaches the target area under today's conditions.
- Stand on the side of the tee opposite the direction you want to hit the ball.
- As you approach the green, check where the flag is located on the green; if it's near the front, use the longest club; if it's at the back, use the shortest one.
- Aim while taking into account the trajectory you're producing that day.
- On the green, imagine a circle around the hole and read the putt from its lowest point.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Decide, “On this hole, you never drive with a driver,” instead of thinking in terms of zones.
- Change strategy after a double bogey to “gain 20 yards.”.
- Play it safe after a string of birdies.
- Aim for the flag when it's right next to a bunker and you're not sure of the distance.
- Treat a practice round like a real round: competition, hit drives everywhere, score.
- Assign a club to a partner instead of giving them the distances.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Reconnaissance on foot, notebook in hand, without keeping score
- Note the key areas and carry distances (bunkers, green approaches)
- On the course, review the shot plan before each shot
- On the practice greens, use a putter to putt from the center outward to get a feel for the slopes
Your Questions
How do you define a zone on a hole?
Thinking in reverse: Start by identifying where you want to be on the green, then look for the part of the fairway that offers the best angle to reach it. Cyril Miranda notes the distances from the back of the tee.
What does “short flag, long club” mean?
When you’re torn between two clubs and the flag is at the entrance to your green, take the longer one: a perfect shot leaves you with a birdie putt, while a less-than-perfect shot ends up at the flag. With the shorter club, even the slightest miss ends up in the hazard ahead. Flag at the back: it’s the opposite.
Should you change your tee club depending on the wind?
Yes, the area stays the same, but the club changes. With a tailwind, a hybrid or a 3-wood may be enough; with a headwind, the driver may be the better choice.
What is the low-point putting pre-shot routine?
After taking an initial read behind the ball, imagine a circle with a radius extending from the hole to the ball, and then read the putt from the lowest point of that circle, where you can see the contours of the green more clearly.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Cyril Miranda). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.