There’s no better way to stay in the groove than with a solid routine that’ll help when the time comes for your next Drive, Chip & Putt competition. For those who’ve been to one, you know they move quickly – it’s only a couple minutes at each station and you’re done!
Ed Elsner knows a thing or two about how Drive, Chip & Putt competitions go. He’s a PGA Assistant Professional at Blackwolf Run who’s run a bunch of them at sister course Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, including local qualifiers and a Regional tournament in 2018. Ed says there’s nothing more important on competition day than being ready to roll, which leads us to the first of four keys that’ll help you improve.
This first tip is a big one, namely because it’ll really help you when time comes to compete. “Drive, Chip & Putt is different than other tournaments,” says Elsner. “It’s 4-5 minutes, with three drives, three chips and three putts – no more, no less. Perfecting your routine now will get you ready for that environment.”
If you haven’t yet, maybe think about competition day and what routine works best for you. One practice swing? Two? Maybe a few strokes of your putter and a deep breather? Write down a few things now, and slowly work on them this fall.
“We all tend to hit range balls a lot, but forget about our short game,” adds Elsner. “Try splitting time equally between chipping and putting, trying a variety of shots so you can handle anything. At the end, hit five chips and don’t leave until you make one. Now that’s pressure!” Short game practice can even be done indoors if it’s too cold – put your routine from tip No. 1 to good use. Oh, and remember to take small swings and no flop shots inside!
As the Wisconsin PGA’s Junior Foundation President, Ed has seen first-hand how many kids benefit from playing in tournaments. “You get used to being in the situation,” says Elsner. “Take advantage of the local events and you’ll become more accustomed to the pressure.” Although 18 holes is miles different than Drive, Chip & Putt, what’s similar is the focus you need to succeed. That’s an experience you only get in tournament golf.
You might not have email, but you’ve probably heard of Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Next time you’re on your smartphone, “follow” and “like” your local Section’s handles and channels. “We do social blasts all the time to inform people of what’s going on at the Wisconsin PGA,” notes Elsner. There may be something you didn’t know about coming next!
