Ever had a round that started promising but ended with a few too many big numbers on your scorecard? You're not alone—and the fix might be simpler than you think.

Golf Digest senior writer Alex Myers is on a year-long mission to transform his game through daily practice, and he's already learned a game-changing lesson: keeping big numbers off your scorecard starts with smarter course management, especially after a bad shot. When he hit the course with Quaker Ridge head pro Mario Guerra for the first time, he picked up a simple hack that could save you strokes too.

Here's the reality: the biggest difference between scratch golfers and 5-handicaps isn't flashy birdies—it's avoiding doubles. According to Arccos Golf stats guru Lou Stagner, a scratch golfer averages just 0.7 double bogeys per round, while a 5-handicap makes twice as many (1.6). A 10-handicap? Nearly four times as many (2.9). The secret to lower scores is damage control, not heroics.

So where do those blowup holes come from? Columbia University professor Mark Broadie, the mind behind strokes gained and author of Every Shot Counts, identifies two main culprits: penalty strokes and recovery shots that go wrong. On his first hole playing with Guerra, Myers managed to combine both on the way to a double bogey—a frustrating start that could have been avoided.

The worst part? It was entirely preventable. After his opening drive sailed into the trees, Guerra asked about his thought process. Myers admitted he was just going to punch out blindly—a classic mistake that often leads to more trouble. Instead, Guerra showed him a better way: use your phone's GPS to map your escape route before you swing. By checking distances to hazards, the green, and safe landing zones, you can choose a recovery shot that minimizes risk and keeps a big number off the card.

Whether you're a weekend warrior or chasing single digits, this little hack is a game-changer. Next time you're in trouble, pull out your phone, take a breath, and plan your smartest escape. Your scorecard will thank you.