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Hole Breakdowns

One picture per hole type, with the aiming error drawn on it. Every breakdown follows the same four steps: the mistake most golfers make → the math → the correct target → the strokes you save.

#1 Dogleg right, par 4

How to Play a Dogleg Right

Cutting the corner feels aggressive. It's actually the slow way to a bogey. Here's the aim that scores.

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#2 Dogleg left, par 4

How to Play a Dogleg Left

A left bend is brutal on a slice. Match your aim to your shape and the fairway gets a lot wider.

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#3 Short par 4, water left

The Short Par 4

The scorecard says "short," so out comes driver. Usually the wedge you love scores lower.

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#4 Reachable par 5

Reachable Par 5

Going for it in two is fun. It only scores when a bad swing still leaves an easy chip.

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#5 Long par 3, forced carry

The Long Par 3

Everyone fears the front bunker and comes up short anyway. Play the middle and it disappears.

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#6 Tight, tree-lined par 4

The Tight Par 4

On a corridor of a hole, the 20 extra yards from driver aren't worth one chip sideways out of the trees.

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#7 Uphill approach

Uphill Approach

Uphill shots die short into the same front bunker, round after round. The fix is one club and some honesty.

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#8 Downhill, downwind par 3

Downhill, Downwind Par 3

Downhill and downwind stack up fast. The back bunker, not the front, is where this hole bites.

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#9 Par 4, OB right

OB Right? Aim Left and Give Yourself Room

OB is the most expensive miss in golf: two strokes gone. Set up so your bad swing simply can't reach it.

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#10 Tucked pin behind a bunker

The Tucked Pin

A corner pin behind sand is a trap set for your ego. The middle of the green is the aggressive-smart play.

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#11 Island / forced-carry par 3

The Island Green

All carry, no bailout. The club that clears the water to the middle is the only one that matters.

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#12 Split fairway, par 4/5

The Split Fairway

Two fairways, one question: which side gives you the shot you want in? Decide that first.

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#13 Blind tee shot

The Blind Tee Shot

The landing's hidden and nerves take over. Pick the marker, make your normal swing, move on.

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#14 Crosswind approach

Crosswind Approach

Fight a crosswind and you short-side yourself. Aim off, let it ride, and widen the target.

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#15 Unreachable par 5

The Three-Shot Par 5

Can't get there in two? The second shot's only job is to set up the wedge you love.

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#16 Elevated / downhill tee

The Downhill Tee Shot

From a high tee the ball flies and runs farther, often into the trouble the flat number hides.

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#17 Long par 4 (half-par)

The Long Par 4

The long par 4 is a par 4.5. Two smart shots and a chip beat the field and dodge the double.

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#18 Front pin, back-to-front green

Front Pin, Sloped Green

A front pin on a green that runs away is bait. Aim past it and leave the uphill putt.

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#19 Fairway bunker

The Fairway Bunker

Most fairway-bunker doubles come from greed. Clear the lip, advance the ball, take your medicine.

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#20 Recovery from the trees

In the Trees? The Punch-Out Almost Always Wins

Threading a two-foot gap feels heroic and usually costs two shots. Take the clean way out.

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Strokes-saved figures are approximate, based on expected-value (strokes-gained) course management for a mid-handicap golfer (roughly 8-18). These are real ranges, not guarantees. Start generic (these), then move to named local courses.

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