When and how to lay up on the golf course

Deciding when to lay-up on a golf course is a tactical and strategic decision that will allow you to play to the best of your abilities. It is often ignored at the peril of the amateur golfer, resulting in more strokes on the score-card and a round of golf damaged beyond repair.

To “lay-up” is to play the ball shorter than normal to create the chance of the next shot being more favorable to the golfer. A golfer may hit a 7 iron with greater consistency than a Sand Wedge – so they are looking to get the ball as far away from the green yet within the distance the 7 iron will hit the ball.