I received an email from Brian Dickert who lives in Charlottesville, VA, saying “I'm 5'6 and 135 (and I'm fully grown). Any tips for playing long courses.” First of all, as long as you have played a practice round on the course, think through the course before you play the competitive round on it. See what clubs you most likely will hit into each green and I bet you’ll be surprised that you still will have more than a few wedges or short irons. On most par 5s, unless over 600 yards, you should be able to get close enough to the green for a wedge third shot. Also note how many fairway woods or long irons you will hit into greens. Then in your practice sessions leading up to playing the long course, concentrate on those clubs more than usual. Finally, don’t be intimidated by just stepping on the first tee of a long course. Remember that you have prepared for it. Click here for more questions...