Most golfers are going to miss greens. That’s not the problem. The problem is where we miss them. Shot Scope data shows how normal it is to miss greens: 15 handicap: hits about 4 greens per round 20 handicap: hits about 3–4 greens per round 25 handicap: hits about 2–3 greens per round So for a lot of everyday golfers, that means you’re missing around 14–16 greens every round. (Golf Monthly) And once you miss, getting up and down is hard. Golf Monthly's breakdown of Shot Scope data puts the 20-handicap benchmark for getting up and down at around 32%. (Shot Scope - ROW) That means if you keep short-siding yourself, firing at tucked pins, or missing in the worst spot, you’re asking your short game to save you over and over again. That’s not strategy. That’s gambling. The smarter play is simple: Stop chasing flags. Aim at the centre of the green. Give yourself the safest miss. A 30-foot putt from the middle of the green is usually better than a short-sided chip, a bunker shot, or trying to save par from the rubbish. This is your goal next round: Aim at the centre of the green instead of chasing flags. Comment below and let us know where you tried it — and what the outcome was.

This is where the Fairways Optional chaos begins. I’ve dropped a quick intro video to get things started. At the end, I ask some quick questions - so jump in below and let us know: Name: Where you’re from: Where you play: What you’re working on: Your golf goal: Bonus question: What’s your most Donny moment? A Donny moment is any shot, decision or disaster that seemed like a good idea for about three seconds. I’ll go first in the comments. Welcome in. Golf’s hard. Let’s suck less together.