no. 9 Par 4

Since our last issue, the Nelson Golf Club professional, Keith Foxton, has announced his intended departure from Nelson to join other professionals in playing' the Australian golf circuit. We, like many golfers, are sorry to see him go for in his short stay here he has helped raise the standard of many golfers. We intend, however, to complete this series over the next few months. We wish Keith well in his new venture. We would like to emphasise here that while this feature applies expressly to the Nelson course, the tips on playing each hole can be applied to many other courses.

As with the 8th hole I tee to the right to hit away from the possible out-of-bounds on the. right, and aim well to the left of the fairway. Although this makes the second shot a little longer it is much safer here. We will assume that I have hit through the green with my second and the ball is lying in "tiger country" (left). In this situation, many golfers attempt to hack their way out of long grass with a 2 or 3 iron. The club to select is a well-lofted club, preferably a sand iron, as this shot is played the same as a bunker explosion shot. Aim one to two inches behind the ball, pick the club up on a very abrupt back swing keeping the eyes one to two inches behind the ball, and "bounce" the club down on to this spot and up again abruptly. Try and keep in mind a "U" as the arc of the swing, as opposed to the flatter dish-like swing. The "U" swing is to enable the club to stay clear of the long grass as much as possible. The pictures below show the high back swing, the blow and the abrupt follow-through.

no. 10 Par 5

The 10th is a wide-open hole, but it is made difficult to play if you are on the right-hand side of the fairway. With this in mind 1 tee up hard on the left-hand side of the tee and I will endeavour to keep as far to the left as possible. For my second shot, 1 am slightly left of the green (slightly to the right of the light standard above, but well to the left of the ringed pin). In this instance we will assume that my second shot, a fairway wood, came to rest on an uphill slope leaving me with an uphill pitch to the green. Adopting a narrow stance and keeping the weight well forward and the hands in front of the ball (right), I play the ball from about 3 to 4 inches wide of the left heel. Endeavour to keep the club face as square to the hole as possible throughout the shot. Hit firmly down on to the back of the ball with no attempt to follow through to the pin. The club head may follow through a short distance carried only by its own momentum. The shot is something akin to a stab shot. The importance of not consciously trying to follow through the ball cannot be overstressed.