Is "Below the Hole" Truly Optimal When Putting? + the History Behind Secession Golf Club

TIPS & DRILLS
Fix Your Putting with Just an Alignment Stick + Advanced Pro Tips
Your ball position is doing so much more than you think it is

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To Recap…

We all know putting is hard enough - reading the break, getting the right speed, starting the ball on line... but sometimes we overlook the basics and none of the above matters if you can’t get past the 101 level. So grab an alignment stick (or a golf club), and let’s get that ball rolling end over end:

-STEP 1: Lay the alignment aid on the ground between your feet, and place it approximately one ball forward of the center of your stance.
STEP 2: Put the golf ball directly in line with the alignment stick and hit putts from the station that you’ve created. This position will get the ball rolling end over end without skipping or jumping off the face, as it ensures optimal delivery of loft and angle of attack.

PRO TIP #1: If you really want to perfect the delivery of your putter head at impact, place two tees on both sides of the ball exactly one club head apart and hit putts while your putter head passes through the tees. This “gate” drill forces you to have a straight path and strike the ball in the middle of the face. You can also use gates ~1 foot in front of your ball to ensure it’s staying on-line.

PRO TIP #2: In THIS VIDEO, you can see Hideki Matsuyama practices with a tee in the ground directly behind the ball just above ground level. This is another way to ensure you’ll get the ball rolling end over end from the start (without skipping off the face).

COURSES
A History Lesson + A World-Class Golf Course?
Bruce Devlin designed Secession Golf Club with the Civil War in mind

Secession Golf Club
Beaufort, SC

Tucked away in Beaufort, SC, Secession Golf Club is unlike any golf course you've played before. The club naturally takes its name from South Carolina’s pivotal role in secession during the Civil War, as it was the first state to leave the Union in 1860, marking the beginning of the war. The land surrounding the course played a key part in this historical era.

Designed by Bruce Devlin, the former PGA Tour Aussie that has 140+ courses to his name, Secession is all about pure golf and incredible views. With 14 holes winding through marsh landscapes and winds that change your approach every single time you play it, the course feels more like a Scottish links track than a typical American golf venue.

What Makes This Place Special

First off, you must walk - no golf carts allowed, and every player gets a caddie. The insider tips you’ll receive are vital in navigating the tricky marsh terrain. The club has some really cool features, too:

• EcoBunkers designed to stay perfect for 20+ years - revetted faces made from artificial turf, requiring no maintenance

• The "Shitty Shoe Award" - a badge of honor given to the player who spent the most time in the marsh

• Holes named after Civil War battles - Harper’s Ferry, Antietam and Gettysburg all make an appearance

• Zero houses around the course, just pure golf landscape

When you finish your round, the clubhouse’s wrap-around porch makes for a prime post-round viewing (and heckling) spot, so be sure to spend some time there with an Arnold Palmer (or John Daly) drink in-hand. The course is currently ranked #159 on Golf Digest’s Best Courses in America (public or private), and with only 825 members and a long waiting list, playing here is certainly a challenge. If you get an invite to Secession, drop everything and go.

Rates: Private

Check out these photos from @linksgems

STATISTICS
Stat of the Day: Uphill Putt Make Rate vs. Downhill Putt Make Rate
presented by…

The Stat: According to a study done by Puttview that had 20 golfers each putt 10 uphill putts and 10 downhill putts (i.e. 400 putts analyzed in total), the uphill putts were holed ~50% more frequently than the downhill putts. This was retested and the same results were reflected - uphill putts go in ~60% of the time whereas the downhill putts only go in ~40% of the time.

The Takeaway: When hitting approach shots into greens, most of us are just happy to be on the putting surface. But with a little research prep or a yardage book, you can also consider the contours of the green. Try to give yourself as many uphill putts as possible throughout a round. Having a downhill 20 foot slider is a sure-fire way to 3-putt, easily avoided if you emphasize misses below the hole!

Pro Tip: This advice is especially true when the greens are lightning fast. Quick downhill putts tend to finish further from the hole than uphill putts on equally fast greens, naturally, making 3-putts that much more likely.

TODAY’S TRIVIA
Answer to Win a GolfForever Swing Trainer Plus Bundle + 1 Year Membership Subscription
(1 winner chosen on 1/31/25 across all January trivia entries, 1,000 correct respondents minimum)

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