Jack Davis, Head Golf Professional at Essex County Club
Alex Elias
Courtesy of LinksGems (@linksgems)
How many times have you finished a round and said, “I should have shot lower today”? Sometimes it’s because of a repetitive miss—but more often, it’s because of a double bogey or two. But to the surprise of many, that double bogey doesn’t tend to stem from mechanics as often as it does from decision-making.
“As a Head Professional at a private club, most of our members play here regularly,” said Jack Davis, Head Golf Professional at Essex County Club. “The easiest way for them to improve—without changing their swing—is simply by learning the course. It’s about making smarter decisions, selecting the right clubs, and understanding the wind.”
Over time, those small, disciplined choices add up.
“When I’m giving an on-course lesson, I almost feel like I’m pretending to be a Tour-level caddy,” said Davis. “I always tell my students, ‘If I were caddying for you, without worrying about technique for a single minute, I could save you five shots simply through better decisions, smarter leaves, and more accurate reads on putts.’ It may not sound glamorous, but the key to becoming a better player isn’t just time on the range or a new driver—it’s mastering course management.”
