Practice until you can master this shot. Then build your golf game with that thought in place. By doing so, you won't be worrying as much on how to hit bunker shots, chips shots and other tough greenside shots.

        Instead of being completely frustrated, you'll find yourself having more fun.

         Once you have this shot in your bag, then you can focus on putting, driving, or hitting your long irons. Until then, put all your efforts into mastering the 125-150 yard shot. If you will take this advice I can honestly tell you that you will dramatically lower your golf scores.

         You have to know what your strengths and weaknesses are on the golf course.  This is essential to the principles of course management.  You must know how far you can hit the ball with specific clubs in order to navigate the course in as few shots as possible.

         When you are managing the course, you are taking into account the problems and strengths of your game and applying them to the way the course is laid out.  Let’s look at two examples:

You are on a par 5 hole with light rough on the left side of the fairway and a lateral water hazard up the right.  You’re pretty confident you can hit the green in regulation, but you have a propensity for hitting a “banana ball” or a hard slice.  How should you hit this shot taking into consideration the way you play?

Most players would just hit it up the middle trying to hit the ball straight hoping to keep the water out of play.  However, that water hazard is the hole’s strength and your slice is your weakness.  It’s foolish to pit the two against each other because you will probably be the loser.

Aim your teen shot to land in the rough on the left side of the fairway.  In this case, your normal slice will result in a second shot from the fairway while a straight ball will result in a second shot from the rough.  However, you will probably still be able to reach the green in regulation from the rough.