Teaching Games for Understanding in Golf

I.

Game Form

As a game, golf is classified as a target game. The fundamental goal of golf is

to stroke (skill) a ball with a club (equipment) into a cup (target) in the fewest
strokes possible. While the rules of golf provide for a unique game (e.g.,
playing field, equipment, specialised skills, etiquette), as a target game it
shares similar strategic concepts found in other target games such as croquet,
bowling, and pool. That is, the game is played by individuals (not teams) who
make decisions regarding strategic ball placement, equipment selection, skills
to be executed, playing conditions, psychological characteristics to be
embraced and the like.
II.

Game Appreciation

A game is defined by its' rules. Rules constrain the time and space in which a
game is played, dictate scoring and penalty procedures, specify equipment and
determine requisite skills. Before successful participation in a game, a player
must understand the rules. The greater the understanding of the rules, the
more options a player has available in playing the game and the less chance
the player will inadvertently violate the rules and incur penalties.
III.

Tactical Awareness

With an understanding of the rules, the player then begins to determine the
tactics to be used in playing the game. In golf, this normally involves making
decisions that will place the ball into the hole in the fewest possible strokes
while avoiding penalties. Such decisions lead to further decisions that will put
the ball closest to the hole with the best lie and angle for subsequent
shots. Risk and reward become significant factors in making these decisions as
does a player's knowledge, skill and confidence.
IV.

Decision Making

In making decisions to execute the desired strategy as determined by the

previous step, a player must answer two questions:
a.
What do I do? While there are common strategies in any game (e.g., hit
the ball into the fairway as long and straight as possible), conditions
continually change (e.g., there is a strong wind blowing left to right across a
short, narrow fairway with water on the right). In deciding what to do, each
situation needs to be assessed. The ability to recognise important situational
cues and predict possible outcomes is, therefore, of great importance for a
player.
b.
How do I do it? Once the decision is made as to what is to be done, the
decision remains as to the best way to do it. The selection of an appropriate
response is critical. In the situation above a possible response would be to play

the shot low with a draw, moving the ball from right to left that would keep it
more or less straight in the wind and away from the water, letting the ball roll
down the short fairway.
V.

Skill Execution

Skill execution is the actual production of the required movement to meet the
decisions made above. Skill execution includes both the mechanical efficiency
of the movement, its' relevance to the particular game situation, and the
abilities of the player. The skill should always be viewed for its appropriateness
to both the situation and player. In any given situation, one shot might be
appropriate for Tiger Woods and an entirely different shot would be
appropriate for somebody else, as we are all different players. The more skills
a player can develop under more situations, the better they are able to meet
the final phase of this model.
VI.

Performance

This is the observed outcome of the previous processes measured against

criteria that are independent of the learner. This is the actual game or
tournament round. It is within this phase of a model that a player can be
determined as strong or weak as it is a measure of both the appropriateness of
their responses (tactical decisions) and efficiency of their technique (skill
level).