The five key shots for winning at The Old Course
3. Hit high, soft-landing approaches
The 17th is a great example of why you need to be on the right side of the fairways on the Old Course. Yes, going left is a safer option, but it leaves a harder second. Here, the green runs diagonally from front right to back left so from here you’ve got a good angle to attack the whole length of the green. If you’re over on the left there’s no angle and, as well as a tricky lie – the rough there is some of the longest on the course – you’re going into a shallow target. Mounds on the fairway are a feature and you can get some awkward slopes with only the big hitters able to roll off or past them.
Club selection
Unless it’s into the wind, the guys will be left with around 180 yards – a 7-iron for most of them. They’ll need to hit a nice, high approach that lands soft. Lots of players will use stronger lofts during the week to help.