Ok, this post could help u out really well on shooting low scores on different courses and the basics of the game. I have been playing this game for about 9 months and didn't spend a cent on it. I just did surveys and gained experience to shoot around 67. i think the most important part of my game is the short game and recovery. Now I want to share a few tips of short game with u guys. The most important part of short game for me is to choose the right type of shot at the right situation. When you find your ball in the rough or fairway about 1-3 yds from green, then you have the best postion to chip, and u should change your spin according to the distance that if it fits the club. For example, my wedge chips 13yds, and the distance is 12, i will put backspin, and according to the green speed, determine the amount of power. But NEVER PUTT from there. If your ball is 5-10yd away from the green, u should almost never chip, because if the ball hit the fairway or rough a few times, it will stop before it even reaches the green. Depending on the condition, you should either flop or pitch. If the green is a long way above u, flop it. If it is not, consider pitching. But, when the rough is between u and the green, and there is quite a distance of rough, you should flop for the case of safety. Flop shots will also go about 8ft right of the target, so take the aim properly. And short sand play is also an very important part of the game. People usually find themselves getting bogeys when finding the bunkers. I think that many people don't dare to use other shots than full shots in sand, which is wrong. I found the flop shot very helpful if there is not a lot of distance of rough between the bunker and the green. If the lie penalty percentage is 30%-40%, or 40%- 50%, then take double the distance. For example, i have a 11 yd bunker shot to hit, i will hit a full backspin 21yd flop shot, which will have a chance to save me par. But watch out, some of the bunkers in Bethpage Black are only 15%-20%, which u can actually go full distance, such as hitting a 21 yd bunker with a 21yd shot full backspin.
Now I will introduce you how to play the "tough course" Bethpage Black:
After some rounds in BPG, i found out the best ay to play it is to putt well, and if u have a straight and long long game, u will find some amazing scores there. The greens at BPG are really easy, they sometimes barely have slope. My long game is not long, but good enough to reach 65%of the greens, so when i get there, i want to putt well enough to shoot low. So train your short game and look carefully at the line in putting at bpg to shoot a low score.
And now the Congressional Course:
For me, Congressional is one of the hardest course at WGT. I soon found out the bunkers are the real killers. These bunkers are well placed for missed greens. To get a good score there, u really have to practice a lot of short game and bunker play, because u cant promise a 100%green in reg.
The Royal St. Georges:
This course is all about accuracy and experience. If u play this course long enough, u will know the slopes of the fairways and greens. The fairways are really narrow there with a lot of thick rough on the sides. A good hybrid will definitely help at this course. And if u can hit most of the fairways, the holes aren't long, so u have a chance to get close to the hole.
Oakmont CC:
This course have hard greens and with a combinations of long and short holes. The point of playing is to stay steady on the long ones, not really going for the pin, and attack the short ones with everything u got avoiding the hazard. U will have to take a time to learn the greens to know them well, that way u will have an advantage in putting and short game. Also, Oakmont is a very "elevation-changing" course, always check the elevation of the target before executing the shot. The first green goes down about 38 ft from the 200 marker, u wil have to take off about 20yd on ur approach to get to the green, or else the shot is over.
I know these tips are just from my experiences, and i am sure there are much better players and much better tips than mine, but please take them and try them out.
Hope this helps, Qzheng