If you want to play your best golf on any given day you tee it up, you need to master course management. 

But what is course management anyway? So many golfers think they understand the concept means hitting less than driver off the tee and always aiming for the middle of the green. Essentially, playing it safe… I’m here to tell you that is not the case. 

Let’s get into how the best golfers in the world manage their game using a proven system called DECADE golf. 

5 Course Management Tips From DECADE Golf

DECADE Golf was created by Scott Fawcett, who calls himself the “Moneyball” of golf. He’s all about using data from strokes gained (the most important metric in golf) to make sound decisions on the course - instead of letting emotions get the best of you. This proven system is used by guys like Max Homa, Will Zalatoris, and many other PGA players. 

I started the program roughly six months ago and as a result, have played some of my best golf ever. Here are five lessons I’ve learned from DECADE to 10X your course management skills. 

Quit Trying to Shape the Ball 

If you’re like most golfers, you probably think you need to shape every shot based on the fairway direction or pin location. It’s easy to think on a dogleg right hole that you must play a fade off the tee. Or, for a back left pin, you must play a draw to get it close.

Scott Fawcett disagrees and refers to a quote from Brooks Koepka’s swing coach. Essentially saying, “Most elite players can’t hit one shot consistently. Let alone two or more shot shapes.” 

Instead, he recommends playing your natural shot shape 90% or more of the time. Needing a change in my game, I decided to try and play my natural fade as often as possible… even with a left pin or dogleg left hole. 

The results have been astonishing. I’ve never felt more confidence in my long game since I quit trying to shape shots based on the hole or flag location. 

Now, I get up on the tee box, find my spot on the left or left-center of the fairway and fire away. The same goes with a left flag - since irons don’t move in the air as much, I can still get it close and even a miss usually finds the right side of the green. 

Play one shot shape more often than not. 

Play Conservatively From Trouble

How many times have you hit a wayward tee ball only to find your ball in the trees and then say, “I’ve got a window.” Sometimes you miraculously hit the window between trees and your hero shot is rewarded with a birdie putt. Other times, your ball hits the trees and a double bogey or worse happens.

Using the data from DECADE and inside the book, Every Shot Counts by Mark Broadie, it’s evident that playing aggressively from trouble isn’t the right choice. Don’t get me wrong, it’s tempting when you have a window but it's normally your ego talking, not the statistical best decision. 

When you’re in the trees, get yourself back in position to make par. If you make a bogey, no worries just avoid a double bogey. 

Upgrade Your Body Language 

The DECADE program was originally designed for professionals and collegiate golfers. Since Scott would watch college events frequently, he found one thing in common - their body language. He found college players often got visibly frustrated and that showed with negative body language that resulted in a downward spiral of bad shots. 

Instead, always think “Eyes on the horizon” during the round. This mantra ensures your eyes are up (not down, dwelling on a bad shot), with proper posture. Don’t forget, positive body language can have a direct impact on your mind and lead to better performance on the golf course. 

Stop Firing at the Flagstick so Often 

Course management doesn’t mean hitting it in the middle of the green every time. That’s actually a bad idea in some cases as the longer you are from the hole, the more likely you are to three putt.

Instead, it’s about being strategic and choosing your target based on the distance into the flag. 

The DECADE rule is simple - the shorter the distance, the more aggressive you should aim. With wedges and short irons, you can take only almost any flag. But the longer the club, the more you should aim for the fat part of the green to give yourself a birdie putt (even if it’s a long one). 

Make More Pars 

The final lesson I’ve learned from the DECADE golf program is that your best rounds come from avoiding bogeys, not making more birdies. Sure, birdies help, but the fastest way to shoot lower scores is by having fewer squares on your scorecard. 

Aside from the obvious that a par is a lower score than a bogey, the main thing I’ve found is that pars keep momentum alive. A bogey, or back to back bogeys, kill your momentum and make it hard to bounce back. 

Wrapping Up 

Playing your best golf doesn’t mean hitting three wood off the tee and always aiming at the middle of the green. Instead, it’s being strategic about every shot, avoiding bogeys, and playing your game.  

When you find yourself in trouble, quit trying to play hero golf and get yourself back in position to make par. Finally, don’t forget you control your body language - make sure it's helping, not hurting your game.