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Why Distance Control Matters More Than Direction on Approach Shots

Photo by Lo Sarno on Unsplash Statistical analysis of amateur golf performance consistently reveals a counterintuitive finding: distance control errors on approach shots cost recreational golfers more strokes than directional errors, even though most golfers practice and worry about direction far more. The Statistical Pattern Shot-tracking data from systems used across recreational and competitive golf shows that amateur golfers are typically far more likely to miss an approach shot short or long of their intended distance than they are to miss significantly left or right of their intended line. A shot that's 15 yards short or long frequently finds trouble — a bunker, water, or simply a much longer subsequent putt — in a way that a shot 10 yards left or right of the pin, but still on the green, does not. Why This Happens Directional misses are usually caused by face-to-path errors, covered in our ball flight laws article , which tend to be relatively consistent for an individual g...

Pinehurst No. 2: Donald Ross's Masterpiece and US Open History

person playing golf
Photo by Mick De Paola on Unsplash

Pinehurst No. 2 is Donald Ross's most celebrated design. Here is the complete guide.

Donald Ross at Pinehurst

Ross refined No. 2 from 1907 to 1935, using the sandy North Carolina terrain for his finest achievement.

The Crowned Greens

Ross's signature sloping-away greens punish approach shots that merely find the surface. The 2011 Coore/Crenshaw restoration returned the course to its naturalistic character.

US Open History

Payne Stewart's 1999 winning putt produced one of golf's most iconic and poignant images, four months before his death.

Playing Pinehurst No. 2

Resort guests only, roughly $400-$500 per round with multi-course package options.

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