Golf Digest Middle East’s Play & Stay is coming to Abu Dhabi Yas Island

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

Overnight stay for two at Crowne Plaza

Abu Dhabi - Yas Island

One spot in nine-hole tournament (individual stableford format) at Yas Acres

Golf & Country Club with 5pm shotgun

Welcome drink

Evening brunch for two with house beverages at Stills

Terms & conditions apply

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

Breakfast for two at Jing Asia - Crowne Plaza

Abu Dhabi - Yas Island

One spot in 18-hole tournament (individual stableford format) at Yas Links Abu Dhabi with 1pm shotgun

Welcome drink and prize presentation

Late-check-out and facilities use at Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi - Yas Island for non-playing guests

For full itinerary and to book: GolfDigestME.com/PlayAndStay

Match The Face And Path

Before a round, I’ll do this drill to groove my stroke: We’ll find a straight uphill putt and place a special mat down (called a Wellstroke) that helps me see the arcing path my club should travel on to roll the ball in. My path is not dead straight along my putting line. Trying to keep the putter on a straight line forces you to get your hands more involved in the stroke, and that makes it harder to square the face at impact.

If you haven’t already, try switching to an arcing stroke. Work on it by setting up a gate of tees (right) that forces your putterhead to move on a slight curve. The gate should be slightly wider than the width of your putterhead, and the goal is to make a straight putt (below) without crashing into the tees. The amount of arc varies slightly depending on your putter and body type, but standard is about 12 degrees of curve on either side of the ball. The goal is to keep your putterhead square to the path at all times. This drill really improves the muscle memory for a good stroke.

Get Used To Making The Ones You Need To Make

My mainstay drill on tournament days is the “five-foot-circle drill” (above). Place 12 balls down evenly apart in a five-foot-diameter circle around the hole. Use a hole with some slope so that you get 12 putts of the same length. Most of the time I’ll hole all 12, but should I miss one, I’ll go back and sink that putt at the end of the drill — or I have to start over again. I’m often confronted with five-footers on the first two or three holes out on the course, and this exercise gives me the confidence to sink those putts (the ones that can make or break a good round). Because I’ve made a ton already with this drill, I’m relaxed hitting them when I play. This drill also forces you to focus on starting the ball on a good line, which is far more important than speed on these “should make” putts.