Shave strokes by mastering three basics: pick the right shot, land the ball on a predictable spot, and commit to a simple, repeatable motion. Practise with purpose using a ladder of landing zones, learn one dependable chip and one dependable pitch, and treat every short game shot like a putt with a plan.
There is a special kind of satisfaction in golf that only arrives when you miss a green and still walk off with par. In Ireland, where the breeze can turn a tidy approach into a gentle drift and where firm links turf asks for imagination, the up and down is not a bonus. It is a skill that keeps your card intact. At Saint Patrick’s Golf Club here in Downpatrick, I see it every week: the players who score well are not always the longest, but they are almost always the calmest around the greens.
What an up and down really is
An up and down is simply getting the ball into the hole in two shots from around the green. Chip or pitch plus one putt. Bunker shot plus one putt. Even a putt from off the green plus one putt. It sounds modest, but it is where scoring lives.
Most golfers practise the fun parts. They strike drivers, chase distance, and fall in love with perfect iron flights on the range. Then they walk onto a course like Royal County Down, Portrush, Lahinch, or Portmarnock and discover the reality: small targets, awkward run offs, and greens that demand touch. That is why I coach the short game like a craft. It is not about flashy flop shots. It is about choosing the highest percentage option and executing it with confidence.
The Irish factor: wind, turf, and imagination
Golfing in Ireland teaches you quickly that the ground game is your friend. Our conditions often reward a ball that lands earlier and releases, especially on links style turf. Even inland parkland courses can firm up in summer, and the wind is rarely a silent partner.
The temptation is to throw the ball high and hope it stops. But in a breeze, height can become guesswork. A controlled, lower flight with predictable roll is often the smarter play. Think of your short game like you would a good caddie: calm, practical, and always asking, what is the simplest way to get this ball close?
Shot selection: one decision that saves two strokes
Before technique, there is judgement. Most wasted shots around the green come from choosing the wrong tool for the job.
Use this quick checklist:
First, assess the lie. Tight fairway cut, light rough, heavy rough, sand, or a bare patch. The lie decides how much spin and strike you can realistically create.
Second, assess the green. Is there plenty of green to work with or are you short sided. If you have room, choose a running shot.
Third, assess the danger. Bunker, water, a steep run off, or a tier that can turn a near miss into a long putt. Your job is to avoid the big number.
A simple rule that works at Saint Patrick’s and on the best courses around the country: when in doubt, keep the ball lower. A bump and run with a predictable roll beats a heroic lob that needs perfect contact.
One dependable chip: the putting style motion
If you only learn one shot, make it a chip that behaves like a putt with loft. Here is the model I coach most often:
Choose a club that will roll. Often a 8 iron, 9 iron, or pitching wedge. On firmer days, even a 7 iron can be perfect.
Set up with weight favouring your lead side, about 60 percent. Keep your stance narrow and your posture athletic.
Place the ball slightly back of centre and keep your hands just ahead of the ball. This helps you strike ball then turf and keeps the leading edge under control.
Make a small, rocking motion using your shoulders and chest, not a flick with the wrists. The club should feel like it stays low through impact.
Your goal is not to hit it close every time. Your goal is to get it on the green, rolling end over end, leaving a putt you would back yourself to make.
One dependable pitch: soft landing, not maximum height
When you need carry, you need a pitch. The key is to produce consistent contact and a predictable trajectory, not a towering shot that only works when everything is perfect.
Try this structure:
Use a sand wedge or gap wedge most of the time. Save the lob wedge for when you truly must.
Set up with the ball near the centre and keep your sternum slightly ahead of it. Weight still leans lead side.
Let the wrists hinge naturally on the way back and unhinge through, but keep the speed moving. Deceleration is the enemy of crisp contact.
Finish with your chest facing the target and the club pointing upwards. A short, committed finish beats a long, hesitant swing.
In Irish wind, this shot is gold when you flight it. Practise hitting three trajectories with the same wedge: low, medium, and slightly higher. The goal is control, not drama.
Bunker play: splash with intent
Greenside bunkers can feel like a penalty, but they are often an opportunity if you have a repeatable method.
Dig your feet in lightly for stability. Open the clubface first, then take your grip. Aim your body slightly left of target if you are right handed, and swing along your body line.
Enter the sand a couple of inches behind the ball and let the sand carry it out. Keep the speed up and allow the club to release. The moment you try to help it, you usually leave it in.
Practise to a landing spot, not to the hole. Pick a patch of sand where you want the ball to come down and repeat that. It is the same idea as pitching, just with sand as your strike point.
The landing spot is your compass
Every good short game player thinks in landing zones. Not just, get it close, but land it there. When you watch top players at places like Adare Manor, Ballybunion, or Mount Juliet, they are not guessing. They are choosing a spot and committing.
Here is a drill I use with members in Downpatrick:
Place three tees on the fringe or just onto the green, each a pace apart. These are landing zones.
Hit five chips or pitches trying to land on the first tee, then five to the second, then five to the third.
Do not change your swing shape. Change club or change length of motion. This teaches you control, not luck.
Putting: the hidden half of up and down
You can chip beautifully and still fail to get up and down if your putting is casual. Around the greens, think like a putter first.
Read the putt from low down and from behind the hole. On coastal courses, the wind can dry one side of the green and change pace. On sheltered parkland, slopes can be subtler but more deceptive.
Pick a start line and commit. Most missed par putts after a good chip are missed because the stroke was tentative. A confident roll on the intended line is the standard.
A simple practice plan that works
If you want a short game that travels across Ireland, from links to parkland, keep practice focused.
Twice a week, 30 minutes each:
Ten minutes of bump and runs with two clubs. Focus on strike and roll.
Ten minutes of pitching to landing zones. Focus on consistent carry.
Ten minutes of up and down games. Drop a ball in five different spots, play it out, and keep score. Par is two shots. Try to beat your best.
This is how you build nerve and decision making. It also makes your practice feel like the course, which is where confidence is forged.
Bring it to the course: one promise per round
Next time you play, whether it is a Saturday medal at Saint Patrick’s Golf Club or a trip to one of the great venues across the island, make one promise: choose the simplest shot you can see and commit fully to it.
Up and downs are not magic. They are a blend of smart choices, clean contact, and a putting stroke that believes. When you start saving pars from missed greens, the whole game feels lighter. And in Irish golf, where the wind always has an opinion, that resilience is the difference between a good walk and a great score.
