One of the most enjoyable and frustrating aspects of golf is finding the best way to navigate a golf course. Each hole is unique and requires a different approach to get to the flag. Of all the challenges that golfers face, one of the most challenging, especially for those new to the game, is a dogleg hole. A dogleg hole is a hole with a bend, resembling the hind leg of a dog, where the green is often obscured from the tee. Doglegs are found on either par-4s or par-5s. Compared to a straight hole, doglegs require much more strategy and planning to get around the bend without getting into trouble. In this post, we will examine key things players must know when playing a dogleg hole.
Types of Dogleg Holes
A dogleg is when the course deviates to either the left or right. The difficulty of a dogleg can vary from small (approx. 20 to 30 degrees), significant (approx. 45 degrees), to severe (approx. 90 degrees). There is also the double dogleg (see below), which has two bends during the hole. A dogleg hole is measured slightly differently from a straight hole. Instead of the tee to green in a straight line, the dogleg is measured from the tee to the corner and then from the corner to the green, usually straight down the middle of the fairway.
Approaching a Dogleg Hole
Compared to a straight hole, where you can see a direct route to the green, a dogleg hole requires a little more preparation. If you haven’t played a dogleg hole before, there are a few things you need to know. The first is the distance from the tee to the corner, which will help you decide which club to use and which approach to take. You also need to be aware of any hidden hazards. Most courses will provide a course schematic on the scoring card or a sign at the teeing-off area. If you have a GPS device, you can also use it to help you plan ahead. This is important to know, as there are two ways to approach a dogleg hole.
Play a Dogleg Direct or Safe
Dogleg holes are risk-reward holes where playing more directly or cutting the corner of the hole is much riskier, usually due to a hidden hazard, but will get you much closer to the green. When cutting the corner, you will usually have to get the ball over some trees or coverage, making it a much harder shot. If cutting the corner is not an option, but you have the ability to fade or draw the ball, you can employ this to get the ball to naturally curve around the bend, especially if the bend is small. Both of these options will reduce your shot numbers if you get them right, but be warned, the penalty for not getting a dogleg right can be quite severe.
The safer option is to try to hit the ball straight down the fairway from the tee to give you another straight shot toward the green from the bend. One way doglegs trip newer players up is that they are encouraged to play a harder shot than they are used to. If you are uncomfortable with the riskier shot, apply the 80 rule (don’t hit the shot unless you know you have an 80% chance of hitting it). Going point-to-point may take you longer but will give you a greater chance of hitting a par. While a dogleg may embolden you to play outside your usual game, sticking to your playing level will always be the better option. Do note that where you tee off will usually make a great difference in how severe the dogleg is. The shortest tees will either eliminate the bend or reduce it greatly to help players reach the fairway.
Play a Dogleg Direct or Safe
Often the hardest holes on the course, a double dogleg requires great positional play from a golfer. Created by A.W. Tillinghast (a claim he made), the double dogleg features two bends in a hole and often requires a golfer to hit the ball in two directions -e.g., first to the right around the first bend, then to the left around the second. As with a regular dogleg, you can either play aggressively and try to cut the corners or be more conservative and follow the line of the fairway.
The best way to master one of the most difficult golf holes is through practice. Here at GolfX, our Indoor Golf simulators have multiple courses that feature these holes. Visit our San Juan or BGC location to test your skills on a dogleg hole.