HOW TO EXCEL IN CHALLENGING CONDITIONS

Golf doesn't get any easier out of season, but these tips could help keep your scores down

- By Top 50 Coach Ben Emerson with Baz Plummer

At this time of year, facing testing conditions on the golf course is the reality for many club golfers, but that doesn't mean you can't excel and shoot low scores. The key to navigating winter golf like a pro is being able to adapt, so I have seven tips here that can help you to play your best whatever the weather.

Through a mix of setup changes, strategy considerations and the addition of some crucial shots to your winter arsenal, I'm going to help you fight back defiantly against the elements in your next round...

1 LOW STINGER OFF THE TEE

The low stinger should be part of every club golfer's shot repertoire, especially when conditions get tough. There are a couple of things you need to do at setup to ensure you don't expose too much loft. First, you need to get your chest on top of the ball, as you want to compress it to help it fizz through the air.

To achieve this, you need to put the ball ever so slightly back in your stance and grip down the club to get your hands a little closer to the shaft, which provides more control over the clubhead. You also need to get your hands quite far forward. A desirable feeling is that your hands are going to stay ahead of the clubhead throughout the entire swing. It is your chest that is really driving this swing - not your hands or arms - to help create a low, stinging compressed shot.

2 DEEP ROUGH

When you find deep rough on the course, particularly when it's wet, your priority is safety and getting back out onto the short stuff.