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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...

Top 10 Golf Courses in Ireland: Links Heaven on the Emerald Isle

a man swinging a golf club on top of a green field
Photo by Benny Hassum on Unsplash

Ireland's extraordinary links concentration, ranked.

1-5

Royal County Down (£250-280), Royal Portrush Dunluce Links (£250), Ballybunion Old Course (£200-250), Lahinch (£150-200), Waterville (£150-200).

6-10

Old Head Golf Links (£300-350, dramatic Atlantic headland), Portmarnock, The K Club, Doonbeg, and Carne Golf Links round out Ireland's finest offerings.

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