What is Approach Play?

Golf is one of the oldest sports in the history of this planet.  The origins date back to 1457 when the Scottish Parliament mentioned it in one of their legal documents.  But since then, not much of how the actual game has changed at all. Granted, there have been vast improvements in the equipment (i.e. clubs, golf balls, golf shoes, golf carts, etc.) but how the game has been played hasn’t changed. It is hard not to mention the evolution of the golf clubs in particular.

The shafts have gone from sturdy wood, to strong aluminum, and now flexible graphite shafts all aiming to allow players to drive the ball further and further distances. But, what good is a long drive if you are not able to put the ball in the right positions to put yourself within shot’s reach of making into the hole. This is where approach play comes full circle and has become one of the most important concepts to understand for fantasy PGA. So what is approach play? Essentially it is how the golfer approaches each shot to put him in a better position to get the ball in the hole in as little strokes as possible. Granted, this seems like a no brainer but the technique and daily fantasy PGA strategy of actually carrying it out is much more difficult.

Some important aspects of approach play is having the bravado of knowing where the various hazards of the course (the sand trap, lakes/bodies of water, and tall-standing foliage). Being able to successfully navigate through, over, and around these different circumstances is imperative to a golfer’s success. By getting caught in any of the hazards mentioned above, it will cost the golfer multiple strokes setting them back behind the pace for the cut line.  This is why having the ability to set yourself up and put yourself in a good position to make it onto the green is one of the most underrated and hardest things about golf. You will soon realize that when you are on the links yourself and you find yourself taking an extra stroke or two just to be able to get on the green in hopes to make your putt.