A Course with No Bunkers?!! + How to Stop Topping the Ball

TIPS & DRILLS
How To Stop Topping The Ball
Hint: It’s not your bobble-head that’s the problem

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To Recap…

Do you struggle with topping the ball? If so, you’ve probably been told to keep your head still. But that might not be the core issue- you might be coming in too steep on your downswing, which requires a precise low point at impact for solid contact. If you’re not perfect, you may be pulling your hands in / up in order to avoid chunking it, which consequently results in a top. So here’s your fix:

-STEP 1: Take a few practice swings, and be sure to keep the hands relatively close to the body in order to shallow the club properly. If your hands move too far away from your body, it’s almost impossible not to come in too steep on your downswing.
-STEP 2: Practice long, low & level swings with an abbreviated take-away and follow-through. To do so, don’t let your hands get too far above your waist.
-STEP 3: As your club head moves through the impact zone, try not to take a divot, but instead clip the ground just slightly. Practice this motion repeatedly and move to a full swing when you’re comfortable.

COURSES
No Bunkers, No Problems… Right?
“The hummocks left me flummoxed!”

The Preserve at Eisenhower Golf Course
Crownsville, MD

It may seem like a dream come true to find a course with no bunkers at all. But reviewers share mixed feelings about the lack of beachy hazards on The Preserve at Eisenhower Golf Course. The course was built in 1969, but underwent some major renovations from architect Andrew Green early in the pandemic. In an effort to make the course more environmentally sustainable, new grass varieties were installed that require less chemicals and watering, and sand bunkers were replaced with fescue knolls (referred to as “hummocks”), hence the re-naming to “The Preserve.” But for the average golfer, the hummocks seem to be even more challenging than a traditional bunker.

Located a mile down the road from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, the renovation to The Preserve increased the wetlands by over 13 acres, aiding the nearby Chesapeake Bay’s watershed. It also expanded the volume of natural hazards that will eat up an errant shot with no remorse. It was a controversial move, but the lack of bunkers has certainly caught national attention. Many thought it might start a trend of bunkerless courses, as sand maintenance makes up a sizable portion of any course’s labor costs, but that hasn’t come to fruition. Regardless, The Preserve is a formidable challenge, and it’s worth the price of admission for a course in the DMV, capping out at just $85 with a golf cart on the weekend. Just do yourself a favor and aim away from the hummocks or you’ll be in for a long day of weed whacking.

Rates:$85 during peak season

Check out this rundown from @coursesyouneedtoplay

STATISTICS
Stat of the Day: Shot Dispersion Patterns By Handicap
presented by…

The Stat: The shot dispersion pattern of a 0 Handicap covers a 237 yard area, whereas a nearly average golfer (15 Handicap) has a shot dispersion pattern area that covers 828 yards - nearly 3.5x wider!

The Takeaway: Naturally, the more you can tighten up your dispersion pattern, the less trouble you’ll find yourself in. If you’ve never tracked your shot dispersion patterns, it’s definitely worth a trip to your local simulator facility or at least a more detailed scorecard during your rounds. For example- if you know you tend to miss your mid-irons right and the pin is tucked on the right side of the green with water to the right as well, you may decide to aim for the far left fringe. A lost ball in the water in a situation like that is a tough pill to swallow for simply not knowing your tendency.

Pro Tip: You’ll likely want to break down your dispersion pattern among a few club categories: Woods, Long-irons, Mid-irons and Short-irons/Wedges. It’s not enough to simply know that you typically miss your irons right. Your own individual dispersion pattern with a wedge is almost certainly very different than with a 4-iron.

TODAY’S TRIVIA
Answer to Win a TaylorMade Summer Commemorative Staff Bag
(1 winner chosen on 7/31/24 across all May trivia entries, 1,000 respondents minimum)

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