CALVIN'S TIP
Calvin's Golf Tip
Master the Awkward Distance
That uncomfortable distance between 50 and 100 metres catches so many golfers out. You’ve hit a great tee shot, you’re feeling confident… and then the next thing you know, you’ve duffed it short or thinned it over the back of the green. Sound familiar?
In this tip, Calvin shares two simple ways to play this tricky shot to help you become more consistent and hit more greens.
👉 Option 1: The higher, spinnier shot
Using a 56° wedge, place the ball slightly back in your stance, widen your stance a touch, and strike down on the ball, taking a small divot. This produces more height and spin — but it does require commitment and a confident strike.
👉 Option 2: The safer, more controlled option
Take a longer club, like a pitching wedge, even though it feels like too much club. Narrow your stance, keep the ball more central, and make a shorter, controlled swing. Focus on clean contact rather than hitting hard. This delivers a consistent flight and, on today’s softer greens, the ball will stop more often than you expect.
The goal from this distance is simple: get the ball on the green as often as possible. Do that, and you’ll quickly start shaving shots off your score.
Hope this helps you dial in those awkward yardages — have an awesome round and we’ll see you on the fairways soon!
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW?
How Well Do You Know?
Embedded Ball Relief
With all the recent rain, we’re seeing more plugged lies and embedded balls on the course — and over the next few months, knowing the difference can save you a penalty.
In the video, we show two common scenarios:
👉 Ball 1:
At first glance, it looks like a great lie. But once lifted, you can clearly see it’s in its own pitch mark, where the ball has broken the surface of the ground and part of it sits below ground level. ✅ This ball is entitled to free relief.
👉 Ball 2:
This one looks much worse — buried deep in the grass. However, when lifted, you’ll see it has not broken the surface of the ground. There’s no crater, just a tough lie in the rough. ❌ Unfortunately, this ball is not entitled to relief and must be replaced, replicating the original lie.
Understanding when you can and can’t take relief is really important, especially in wet conditions. Hopefully this helps you make the right call on the course in the weeks ahead.
Wishing everyone an awesome festive season, good luck with your golf, and we hope to see you out on the fairways soon!