How To Stop Forgetting Your Wedges on the Green
My stomach turns, and my heart drops when I realize I left a wedge behind on another hole. I separate from my group, drive back with my tail between my legs, and desperately search for the club.
Losing wedges by the green is one of the worst yet easiest mistakes we golfers make.
If you have a habit of losing your wedge, this article is for you. I’ll cover all the tactics to prevent lost wedges. Using my experience, I’ll provide you with practical habits you can take to make sure your golf clubs stay in the right hands.
Forgetting Your Wedges
Key Points
- Accidently leaving wedges around the green is very common. Most golfers have left wedges around the green.
- Being mindful of where you place your golf clubs around the green is crucial. Unfortunately, it typically requires a lost club to get golfers to be more aware in the future.
- Where you decide to lay your wedge while on the putting green is important. You want to leave it on the walking path between the hole and your golf cart.
- Your chances of remembering to grab your wedge will increase if you lay a headcover, towel, or golf glove next to it.
Set the Wedge on the Putting Green Instead of the Rough
If you bring your wedge to the green, you’re likely hitting out of the thick stuff. It’s common to hit your chip shot, immediately toss down the wedge, and pick up your putter.
This exact issue causes many players to forget about their wedges. It’s hard to see clubs that are lying in the rough.
Instead of leaving your wedge out of sight in the rough, make it a habit to set it on the putting green surface. Golf clubs that are lying on the green are much easier to see.
Lay the Wedge on the Flagstick
A useful tactic for wedge management around the green is setting it on the flagstick.
When you remove the flagstick from the hole to begin putting, set the flag on the green or fringe and place your wedge on top of the flag. After you and your playing partners complete the hole and grab the flagstick to place back, your wedges will be conveniently next to the flag.
Place the Wedge Between the Hole and the Golf Cart
If you’re going to leave your wedge anywhere on the green, it should be between the hole and your golf cart (if you’re riding) or golf bag (if you’re walking).
As the group completes the final putt and returns the flag to the hole, you’ll probably head straight to your golf bag or cart. Placing your wedge directly in that path ensures it remains in your immediate line of sight.
Write a Reminder on Your Scorecard
Another great reminder is writing a note on your scorecard. Usually, the first thing golfers do after they putt and finish a hole is write down their score.
Because you typically look at your scorecard right after you leave the green, having a visual reminder on the scorecard can help you remember your wedge.
Before you tee off on the first hole, try writing “WEDGE” big and boldly somewhere on your scorecard.
Assign a Specific Pocket
Golf bags either have a small number of large pockets or a large number of small pockets. However your bag is designed, dedicate a specific pocket for your wedges.
Consistently putting your wedges in the same pocket can help produce muscle memory, reducing the likelihood of leaving them on the green.
You can also check your “wedge pocket” when you put your putter back to ensure each wedge is safely in your bag.
Count Clubs After Each Hole
One of the best habits to practice if you tend to forget your golf clubs around the green is to count your clubs after each hole.
Yes, this might seem like a tedious task. However, the short time it takes to count to 14 is better than leaving your trusty wedge behind.
Bring a Towel to the Green
Many golfers like to bring a towel with them to the green. On the green, golfers use towels to clean muddy balls or dirty clubs.
If you bring a towel to the green, you can wipe off your wedge after using it and lay the wedge down next to the towel.
Placing a towel and a wedge on the green increases their visibility significantly, serving as an additional reminder to ensure you grab both items as you move on to the next hole.
Lay a Putter Cover and Glove by Your Wedge
Another similar option to placing a towel by your wedge is to lay your putter headcover or golf glove by your wedge.
Extra items on the putting green, such as a headcover or glove, will improve your chances of seeing and remembering to retrieve the items after you finish the hole.
The worst-case scenario is you leave everything behind altogether. However, I’d like to think that won’t happen!
Put Your Wedge Back In Your Bag
After using your wedge around the green, walk back to your bag or golf cart and put the club back before putting your ball.
Taking the extra 30 seconds to put your wedge back immediately after use can save you the headache of potentially losing the club if you had set it on the ground instead.
Ask Playing Partners for Help
It doesn’t hurt to ask your playing partners for some assistance. Let your friends know before the round that you are notorious for leaving your wedges around the green. Ask them to keep an extra eye out for it during the round.
Most players have been in the same situation and know how frustrating it is to lose a wedge, so they shouldn’t have a problem helping you.
What to Do If You Forget a Wedge?
If the worst happens and you forget your wedge at the course, you have a few options to get it back.
- Go back to the hole: If you discover that you left your wedge on a different hole while still on the golf course, drive back to the hole you believe you left the wedge. Be sure to ask each group you pass if they found your wedge.
- Wait at the clubhouse: If you’re still golfing when you realize you left your wedge, you can finish your round, wait at the clubhouse, and ask groups finishing behind you if they found a wedge.
- Call the golf course: Call the clubhouse immediately if you realize your wedge is missing after the round. If the golf course is closed, leave a voice message. Make sure to say the type of wedge and the phone number the course can reach you at.
It’s also a good idea to make a sticker label with your name and phone number, which you can put on the wedge’s shaft. An identification label on the golf club will increase your odds of someone contacting you if you lose it.
Final Thoughts
Remembering to grab your wedge after using it around the green takes mindfulness. It’s so easy for golfers to hit their chip and immediately focus on their next shot, disregarding their wedge in the process.
I hope this article offered you great ideas to stop losing your wedges.
Next, check out our post on how to stop losing your rangefinder.
