“Sometimes the middle of the green is no good.”

The middle of the green should be your default target. In my career, I always preferred a pair of 69s than to card 65- 85. It doesn’t matter how talented you are. If you habitually go directly at flagsticks, hoping every round might be a scorcher, you’re going to shoot way more scores at the high end of your range.

This is a fairly straightforward concept— except when it isn’t. With certain green complexes, the best strategy can be to aim somewhere other than the middle. The par-3 fourth on the Prospector Course at Superstition Mountain ( illustrated), a layout north of Scottsdale that I designed with my son, Gary, is a prime example. A big ridge runs through the center, effectively making it play like two smaller greens.

Depending on the hole location and your short-game skills, you might be better served leaving a chip for birdie.