Gary Player Advised Golfers to Club Up
The nine-time major champion shared a strategy to help amateurs avoid missing approach shots short of the green.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Golf
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Golf legend Gary Player recently advised amateur players to select an extra club to improve their approach accuracy. He suggests that targeting long rather than short helps players reach pin-high positions more consistently.
Why it matters
Amateur golfers frequently leave approach shots short, which keeps them from reaching the target area. Player believes that clubbing up compensates for this common tendency to come up short during a round.
Golfers with handicaps of 20 or higher miss the green short 48% of the time, according to performance data. Meanwhile, approach shots from 150 to 200 yards result in a short miss 40% of the time.
The players
Gary Player
He is a legendary professional golfer who has won nine major championships during his career.
The details
In a video posted on October 13, 2026, the 90-year-old golf icon demonstrated an approach shot that landed just two feet from the hole. The strategy encourages choosing more club to ensure the ball travels the necessary distance, countering the high frequency of short misses observed among recreational players.
Timeline
Gary Player completed the career Grand Slam in 1965.
Player hit a three-wood at the 1968 Open Championship at Carnoustie.
Player performed at a PXG event at Dundonald in July 2024.
Gary Player turned 90 years old on November 1, 2025.
Player shared the golf tip on X on October 13, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This advice mirrors the strategic approach established during the 1968 Open Championship at Carnoustie. It serves as a reminder that proper club selection remains a fundamental differentiator in competitive golf outcomes.
Amateurs can expect to reduce the frequency of short misses by intentionally choosing a higher-lofted club to ensure they cover the full distance. This adjustment directly targets the 48% short miss rate observed among golfers with handicaps of 20 or higher.
The takeaway
Selecting an extra club provides a margin of error that favors reaching the green rather than falling short of the target. This simple mental adjustment can help high-handicap golfers improve their consistency during approach play.
Further reading
For more tips on improving your game, visit the Golf section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
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Is taking an extra club to ensure your approach shot reaches the pin a good strategy?
