You will not find many golfers who enjoy playing to an elevated green. While an elevated green is not perched on to the top of mountain or anything that dramatic, the change in elevation from the surrounding fairway to the green can make the shot tricky.
The main difficulty is judging the distance from the ball position to the hole, as the bottom section of the flag tends to be obscured by the mound on which the green has been constructed. The fact the green is in a higher position than the ball tempts players into hitting the ball higher than is required and this is when the problems begin.
Playing to an elevated green often sees players attempt to play a shot they would never consider from the same position if the ground was flat.
If you are within 100 yards of the green, do not be tempted to move the ball forward in your stance to generate extra height on the ball. The thing to remember in this situation is you are not in the best position for an attacking shot.
Playing to an elevated green where you cannot see the putting surface or the bottom half of the flag stick, is not an ideal position and therefore the shot should be played with caution, especially if the hole is close to the front of the green.
Take at least one extra club when playing to an elevated green and try not to hook the ball because this will take the ball on a lower flight trajectory and could see it travel over the green.
Use your normal swing and try and get the ball on the green. Do not think about how you are going to get the ball close to the hole if you cannot see the hole. A professional golfer may be able to flight a nice shot and get the ball to stop dead next to the hole but for beginner golfers, this is not an option from this position.
Think about getting the ball on the green before anything else and accept a good shot will be walking up to the green and seeing your ball on the putting surface. Accepting this prior to playing the shot will allow you take an easy swing and not stiffen up.
By taking an extra club, you are allowing yourself the opportunity to relax a little and swing easy, so take advantage of it and do not get tense.
Wherever the ball lands on the green, be happy you made it there and if you are close to the hole that’s a bonus.
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