Play for the 150's

A good goal, especially when you're playing a new course is to get to the 150-yardage markers. Most amateurs can hit the green when they're 150-yards away since it's only a 5, 6, or 7 iron.

Let's say you're on the tee on a 380-yard par 4 and it's a hole that you've never played before. It may be an elevated fairway and you don't know what's over the hill, a lake, bunker or some kind of trouble. Well, if you see the 150 markers then you'll know that a safe drive of 230 will leave you at the markers. You don't need to boom a driver 270 and may not want to if you don't know the hole.

The same strategy can apply to a par-5. Try to get your second shot to the 150 marker and then you'll have a pretty good chance of getting on the green in three. You never know what kind of trouble is right in front of the green so play safe and smart until you've played the hole a few times. There's rarely trouble at the 150 markers but there's often trouble closer up to the green. Leave the heroics for the tour pros.