My Golf Blueprint
YOUR GOLF FIELD GUIDELearn · Practice · Play

MY GOLF BLUEPRINT

Safe targets: aim for your whole pattern

A green golf course with rolling fairways, trees and a winding cart path.
Photo: Calvin Seng / Pexels

A target should allow for the spread of shots you normally hit. The flag is only one possible aim point.

Work through it

  1. Estimate your ordinary left-right and distance spread.
  2. Locate penalties, bunkers and difficult recovery areas.
  3. Choose a target that keeps most of that pattern in a playable area.
  4. Adjust when the lie makes the spread larger.

A practical example

A central green target can be sensible when the flag sits just beyond a bunker and your carry varies by several yards.

Practice task

Draw ten measured shots around an intended target. Move the target on a course sketch and see which hazards the pattern still reaches.

Common mistakes

Do not plan with the center of the pattern alone. A safe-looking aim can still leave half your ordinary shots over a penalty area.

Related video

Watch the demonstration, then return to the practice check in this guide.

Course management and shot strategy

Keep learning

Educational guide. See our editorial standards and review status.

Your progress

Was this guide helpful? Send feedback or report an error.

Questions about this lesson?

Ask below. Keep questions relevant and respectful. First contributions are moderated.

Sign in to comment