INtro: lessons with the loopers

One thing I love about golf is how simple the objective is: put the ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is how many strokes you take. I’ve caddied over 1,500 rounds of golf in my life and would like to share some pointers to help you score better on the course.

One of the most important aspects of playing better golf is understanding "course management." Course management is your ability to make the right decisions between golf swings. This could involve club selection, where to aim, and — what I want to focus on today — where not to miss. Proper course management helps you make well-informed decisions that can eliminate scores worse than bogey and improve your chances of making par or better.

I understand that the average golfer doesn’t always want to put this much thought into their round. Some just want to make a solid swing or two and soak in the satisfaction of pulling off a great shot. For those golfers, more power to you — I love that you can find your own joy in the game. But this is for the golfer who wants to improve at a game that will never be perfected. Someone who cares to focus on the little details of the course, their game, and the situations at hand to make better decisions and boost their odds of success.

You’d think that playing the same course over and over would get boring, but golf offers so much repeatability because the course is ever-changing. Different pin locations, alternating tee boxes, wind direction, and who knows what your swing will look like that day. Every round presents a new challenge, and you must adjust your strategies based on the variables of the day.

The better you understand the golf course you’re playing, the more you can use these variables to your advantage. But there are plenty of general tips that will help you on any course. Remember: a well-designed golf course often tries to deceive you. Things may seem farther or closer than they really are, and subtle design elements can hide hazards from those who aren’t paying attention. In our first course breakdown of the Kingsley Club, you’ll see plenty of examples of this.

Going forward, we’ll be sharing weekly tips and hole breakdowns to help maximize your course management skills and improve your golf IQ. We’ll be posting this content on our website, with links shared through our social media channels.

We truly appreciate those who follow along, and we hope this translates into more fun on the course in 2025!

-Your hat caddies

Looperlids.com