By Ken Martin, Director of Golf Instruction

My experience caddying for Sandy Lyle at this years Masters was another wonderful learning experience.  The course played very difficult this year because of the firm fast greens and the "sticky" rye grass fairways and collars. 

The shot that proved most useful around the greens was one we called the "bumble and run" played with a hybrid or utility club. The club of choice for Sandy had 17 degrees of loft but I have found it works well with utility clubs with loft up to 23 degrees, including our soon to be released Natural Hybrid and our current 3 Plus Utility club.

Setup for this shot is similar to a normal chip or "running" shot you would play with a 7 iron; ball in the center to slightly back in your stance with your hands forward of the clubface, narrow stance and weight balanced on your lead foot. I like to play it with my normal putting hold on the club.

Typical situations for selecting this shot are pictured below.

↑ Fairway height grass leading uphill to a green that slopes away from you...

← Down hill slope from fairway height grass to a
hole position with very
little green to work with...

 A sandy or otherwise poor
lie near the green →

 Remember, for distance control, stroke the shot with the same power you would use for a putt of the same length...because the ball will bounce and roll, there is less friction from the fairway grass before it gets on the green.

Give the Bumble and Run a try the next time you you're in a "sticky" situation and enjoy saving par!

Ken

Ken Martin was certified in February 1995 and is a PGA member.  Ken teaches in West Palm Beach, Florida. Ken's personal motto on the golf course is: "Experience and Enjoy".    Send comments to kmartin@naturalgolf.com