distance differences amongst courses?

good question, it could be both reasons. but once you get use to one courses distances ,, that doesnt mean the other course used the same measuring tape, odds are you didnt gain 10 yards over night, and its the courses fault. judging by your normal score , you could have learned to hit your 9i 150, so no one can really say. my suggestion would be to go to another course you havent played and see what happens, also the distances used are from the center of the green to the tee box, but they move the tees 5-10 yards back or forth , so they might have had them moved up for the week you played , and its not you, you trusted the score card yardage. ,,,, thats my guess, you can always find a FLAT driving range and hit off GRASS and see if your distances changed, i hope i helped . and if you did gain 10 yards ,and can hit a 9i 150, learn to put and no reason you shouldnt be hitting par. keep playing.

I think the answer is a combo of what everyone else is saying. However some people have put some answers that just make no sense. The grass type and soil type have nothing to do with how far you are hitting your 8 iron. I work at a private golf club in San Diego, we have yardage markers and when the guys are mowing they move them and sometimes put them back in a different place. I have found some of them to be 10 or more yards from where they are supposed to be. Now if the markers at the course you played at are stationary that is not what happened. If they are stationary they may have or the other course may have measured wrong. I am guessing that there is probably a few to 5 yards difference in their measurements, so that is part of your problem. The other reason is probably how you were hitting the ball that day. I played golf a week ago and I used my 8 iron from 120 into a little wind, and hit a low knock down, was a great shot. Later on in the round I hit my 8 iron from 180 because it was a little down wind and about 5 yards down hill. That just goes to show you can hit one club very different distances depending on the situation. You probably had a day when you were hitting the ball very pure.

Five yards difference in the measurement of their markers, and you having a great ball striking day would result in you air-mailing the green. Next time you air-mail a green from 150 try one less club.

This is an interesting question and alas this same thing has happened to me. There are so many variable possibilities in regard erratic distances that your clubs are yielding.

No 1 may be that you are de-lofting the club. Hands get ahead of the ball at contact.

No.2 The course may have indeed moved the tees up, but I doubt that because a municipal course does not often do that.

No.3 Elevation and ball compression, try a softer 90 compression ball like a balatta(sp) has a softer cover. Some Top flite balls are wound WAY beyond 100 compression,, and if it was a hot day........it goes 10 yards farther,and if you are at high elevation,the ball carries even farther.

No.4 A varying club head Speed through contact. Wrong flex in the shafts of your clubs. Inconsistently generating varying club head speed.

No.5 Adrenalin

No.6 Municipal course posted the wrong yardage, which is possible but unprobable.

It's weird because, most pros say that the most common mistake that amateurs make is 'under-clubing'i.e. using and 9 iron instead of an 8 iron. Try aiming for the 'front' of the green.

I tried all the pro shots to the green on the fly and was having a horrible time. Then I started to try shots that just 'bounce' the ball just up to the front of the green and WOW, I was knockin it on the green a hell of alot more often! I know that sounds like an old duffer but at least I'm getting it on the green! lol

Golf is a game of touch and feel in my mind. I have to keep it that way or I end up booming it all over the PLANET! Some times these Titanium clubs and balls can launch that ball into the stratosphere too so that may be what happened to you, I don't know what kind of equipment you are using so..

Hell, a good pro can deloft a 9 iron and launch that puppy 200 yards! Or more!

So I suggest keep trying to find a steady groove. If you are hitting real well on a given day, use a 9 iron instead of an 8 iron and so on. If you are scorching in low, you're delofting the club.

Good luck!

Could be from a few reasons

1. Were there any elevation changes

2. Different grasses and soil

3. Method course used to measure 150 yd distance

4. Method you used to measure your distance

Different courses play different and usually reason 2 and 3 apply. I hate to say this, but buy a laser or golf GPS, distance control will get better for approaches. Alot of course use to measure from the ground, others laser, and some GPS.

There is a chance that you had an awesome day of ball-striking- it happens. Even the best of the best have days that are better than their average (though I wouldn't mind having their C-game!).

As the above said, it could also be a yardage problem. Or you're actually higher in relation to sea level there than at your home course- that will inflate your yardages, as well.

It's hard to say unless you map it out with a GPS.