for golfers of all degrees of skill

When most golfers play seaside courses, they usually encounter difficulty when attempting to play from a sandy lie. They can overcome both the mental and shot-making hazards if they will play the ball as they would a downhill lie on turf.

As a basic principle, to compensate for the sandy lie you should select the club that has a shade more loft than the club you would ordinarily use to reach the green from that distance away. For example, if the distance indicates a three-iron, play the shot with a four; if it indicates a four-iron, play the shot with a five. Take your stance with the ball well back toward the right foot. Swing as you usually would but as though you were driving the sole of the club directly into the spot where the ball is resting. Above all, concentrate on first contacting the ball as cleanly as possible. The smallest intrusion of sand between the face of the club and the ball will snuff the shot out.

With practice, a golfer can use even a three-or four-wood for this type of shot, but the average golfer would be wise to stick to his more lofted irons until he has developed both skill and confidence in playing from sandy lies.

from JIMMY DANGELO, Dunes Golf and Beach Club, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

TWO PHOTOS

TWO ILLUSTRATIONS

Visualize that you are playing a shot from a downhill lie

ILLUSTRATION

The club must contact the ball cleanly and crisply

NEXT WEEK: BETSY RAWLS ON HITTING HARD ENOUGH