Head Coach Prithviraj Ram recently brought the team together for a players’ meeting at TSG Academy to lay out the ground rules for the upcoming competitive season. The academy was then entering a high-intensity phase, with the IGU circuit kicking off in just 10 days and the South Zone tournaments fast approaching at the end of the month.
The briefing’s bottom line was simple: winning a tournament didn’t begin on the first official tee box. It starts weeks out on the driving range, and then ends on how much players actually studied the course during their allotted practice round. For young golfers trying to push themselves further, the fastest way to lock in a quick slip-off the leaderboard was to treat a practice round like a casual weekend match with friends.
Moving to Practice – Random and Course Specific
The real preparation began two weeks before the tournament even started, prior to travel. Coach Prithvi stressed that players needed to get away from ‘block practice’ – hitting 30 identical 7 irons in a row to one target – and shift to ‘random practice’.
On a real golf course, players never hit the same club twice in a row. They hit a driver, a mid-iron, and then a wedge or a putt. This was the exact sequence the coaches wanted the players to adopt in their practice structure on the driving range.
The 80% Rule
Once players got to a tournament, 70% to 80% of their range time had to be completely randomised. They were instructed to switch clubs, change targets, and alter their alignment on every single ball.
In addition, elite juniors needed to simulate the exact pressure environments that they were going to face. The driving range felt safe, but hole number 8 on a tournament course with OB stakes on the left and water on the right felt entirely different. For venues such as Rambagh, Chandigarh, or Panchkula, the players were told to map them out and recreate the exact tee shots and approach yardages in their home practice sessions. If the venue had thick rough or steep slopes, the advice was to find similar grass and sloping surfaces at their home facility to practice on and build muscle memory.
Breaking Down the Course Mapping Strategy
A player’s scorecard was not the point when they stepped on the course for their official practice round. The round was meant mostly for data collection and tactical mapping.
The greatest minds in golf history, from Jack Nicklaus to modern major winners, changed the game by viewing golf course strategy as chess, always thinking several moves ahead. On the whole, players had to think backwards, not from the tee box forward, but from the green to the tee.
1. Green To Tee Work
The strategy began with the green layout. Players had to find the most plentiful and safest putting surfaces. Sometimes it is better to leave an uphill 20-footer than to be closer and face a lightning-fast 10-footer downhill that broke hard left to right. Once the players know where they want to land the ball on the green, they take it back to the approach yardage they needed to reach that target, which then dictate the club they needed off the tee box.
2. Play to Your Good Yardages
Closer to the green is not always better. If a player is tackling a par-5 and trying to lay up, they must look at their numbers. If they are weak from 30 yards but very consistent with their spin control from 70 yards, taking a smart layup that leave them exactly 70 yards away was the correct play. This puts them in a position to attack the pin with total confidence.
3. Steering Clear of the Short Side
If players short-side themselves, meaning they miss the green on the same side as the pin; the green is cut down to almost nothing to work with, leaving them stuck with a very tough chip. In stroke play, it is all about dodging the big numbers. So if the pin is tucked left, the instruction is to go for it with a controlled draw, or just play it steady, take the middle, and settle for that line. If the pin is right, then using a fade or hitting the heart of the green was recommended for a dependable par.
Tactical Drill Practice Round Checklist
To get the absolute most utility out of their single practice round, players were told not to just play a single ball down the fairway. They used these specific drills to check the course conditions:
| Play Phase | Drill Practice Round | Tactical End State |
| Around the Greens | Drop 3 to 4 balls in various locations | Tested the bounce on the wedge with the local turf and stiffness of the grain. |
| On the Putting Surfaces | Use phantom holes or put down a tee marker | Looked for common pin placements and watched the speed, firmness, and natural breaks. |
| On the Fairways | Drop balls in 1st and 2nd cuts | Figured out exactly how many yards of distance were lost in the local rough thickness |
Prepping Your Kit, Managing Logistics
When the morning is chaotic, the mind becomes chaotic. Coach Prithvi strongly recommended the players that all equipment prep should have been done the night before the round so they could remain in a totally relaxed, focused state of mind the next morning.
- Club and Groove Maintenance: Clean all club faces thoroughly, as dirt in the grooves killed spin and messed with distance control.
- Inventory Count: Count the clubs to make sure the players are carrying 14 clubs exactly, since an extra club left in the bag from practice results in an immediate and costly tournament penalty.
- Kit Essentials: Pack 12 fresh balls for a four-round tournament, along with plenty of tees, towels, and protective rain gear if it is a wet weather forcast.
- Nutrition: Pack dry, non-perishable snacks the night before, such as high-protein bars and nuts, to keep energy up without the food going bad.
Action Plan: Keep Your Pre-Tournament Routine
Coach Prithvi also provided a structured timeline to be ready for the competitive weeks ahead:
- Step 1: Prepared the night-before checklist – Players must pack their bags properly, clean their grooves, lay out their apparel, and pre-pack their snacks before settling in for the night. This cuts down the morning guesswork significantly.
- Step 2: Considered regional logistics – Players must get to the course at least 20 minutes before their projected breakfast and warm-up time to cut short potential local traffic delays or slower kitchen service at new venues.
- Step 3: Tracked RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) – For those on the road for a three-week tournament run, managing physical output was key. Controlling gym sessions and practice times ensured they didn’t get physically burnt out by week two.
During the season, the TSG Academy coaching team travelled with the squad to provide on-the-spot support at key events in Vizag, Coimbatore, and Ooty. Players used the coaches on the ground to fine-tune their course maps, double-check their lines, and keep their energy levels steady.
For players who want to level up their tournament prep and gain a better handle on course management, we hope this prepping-up routine by TSG Academy helps you turn your efforts into real podium moments.
Happy Golfing!
