The range drills needed to overcome Oklahoma’s tough conditions

Oklahoma helps to develop some of the best golfers in the world. This is largely due to the excellent programs at both Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma, but no small part is due to the intrinsically challenging nature of the state’s courses. 

The likes of Viktor Hovland, Rickie Fowler and Chris Gotterup have all come up through either the Sooners or Cowboys, while Taylor Moore and Austin Eckroat grew up playing Oklahoma’s courses. 

The local tracks are known for their strong, steady winds and fast, sun-baked greens. Formative years spent battling Oklahoma’s unique conditions no doubt gave these alumni, and many more besides, the skills needed to succeed on tour. However, everyday golfers have to face the same challenges every time they step out onto the course. 

In preparation for tackling their next round, here are some range drills that readers can try out to tame Oklahoma’s tough conditions the next time they head out onto the track. 

Don’t let the short game get away from you

A lack of polish on the short game is many golfers’ undoing. With the fast greens found across Oklahoma, that problem can be amplified. 

The single best thing to do before heading out is to tune up speed control over long distances. Alongside regular putting drills, make sure to get a firm grasp of the power needed to get the distance right at 20, 30 and even 40 feet. It can be a good idea to step off the green and do the same with chipping, too. 

This kind of short game mastery is one of the reasons that Wyndham Clark was able to pick up his second US Open victory earlier in the year. He spent time on Oklahoma’s courses when he was at Oklahoma State and, although he later transferred to Oregon, never forgot the control needed to tame the fast greens. 

He’s regularly ranked among the leaders on tour for proximity to the hole and putting average. His ability to control the distance will come in handy again when the tour moves to the United Kingdom for links play and the Open Championship. There’s even a Kalshi signup bonus that can be used on Clark to do well in those conditions. 

Ultimately, nobody likes putting defensively. On some of Oklahoma’s fast greens, though, it can often be the best outcome for a long approach. Reading the green is one thing, but it will count for nothing if inexperience with the weight neded sees a putt shooting past the hole. 

Practice the weight needed to get the ball in close, and the humility to take the two-putt. It’ll be worth it when one of the group needs to put the flat stick away and get a wedge back out. 

Trajectory key to mastering the wind

The other trademark aspect of Oklahoma golf is the strong and persistent winds. These mean there is no such thing as an easy dink down the middle off the tee or simple approach shot. The wind always has the potential to blow a standard shot off course. 

This is why building a trajectory ladder before heading to the tee box is key. This involves getting fully confident with swing and distance for each club on a high, medium and low arc. 

Hitting the course with even a partially developed trajectory ladder will take multiple shots off a round. For instance, if approaching a headwind with about 160 yards to go to the green, it opens up a lot more shot options. Rather than going full bore with a seven iron, a shot likely to get held up in the wind, there are options to club up and hit a low trajectory approach. 

The risk with doing this, of course, is the carry. Punching a ball in low to avoid the wind is all well and good until it rolls up to, onto, then over the back of the green. When building your ladder, pay special attention to how the ball behaves after it drops, and don’t just log the distance to where it drops. 

Being able to switch from low trajectory shots into the wind, then switch to high trajectory ones on the way back, will be transformational on Oklahoma’s courses.