Most golfers play the vast majority of their rounds on the same course. Others will have just a few courses they rotate over the playing season. These golfers develop a home field advantage on the courses they play.
But sometimes, a golfer may venture out to a totally new place, one they have never seen. Greens they have never putted on. The advantage of local knowledge is lost. Often times the experience is totally ruined by poor putting.
When you are faced with a strange new set of greens, you should expect a struggle reading them. Think about your home course and some of the breaks you know you have to play but can't see.
If you are playing a new course for the first time, the object of putting is to not let it ruin your score and your enjoyment of the new golf course.
On the practice green while you are warming up, focus on controlling the distance of 20 footers. Try to get a feel for the uphill and downhill effects on the speed.
Once on the course, you should overplay any break you see on longer putts. The speed should see the ball dying at the hole. Be very conservative and do your best to leave a tap in second putt.
Don't forget to watch your playing partners and their putts. You can learn a lot from seeing a putt on the other side of the hole.
And lastly, if you are not in a tournament and one of the players in your group plays the course a lot, ask for a little help. Your out there to have fun, not torture yourself by missing short putts because of breaks you can't see.
Enjoy the day at your new playground. Don't ruin it by getting overly aggressive with your putting.
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