Sharpen Your Short Game: Mastering the Art of Chipping at Treetops
Whether you're a single-digit or a double-digit handicap, there’s one part of the game that truly levels the field around the green: the chip. At Treetops Resort, our PGA Golf Academy calls it “the art of the short game,” an umbrella covering chipping, pitching, bunker play—and, of course, that delicate roll toward the cup.
Why Chipping Matters (For All Levels)
On any of our five championship layouts—Masterpiece, Premier, Signature, Tradition, and the punchy, par‑3 Threetops—you’ll face chip shots. And if you're eyeing a par or scrambling for a bogey, the chip becomes the hero. The stroke itself? Picture a “putting stroke” with shoulders only, a forward‑leaning stance, and just enough loft to get your ball rolling.
Chipping vs. Pitching vs. Lob‑Shots
Golf terminology matters:
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Chip: a low‑flight shot where most distance is rolled out.
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Pitch: mid‑flight, high‑loft recovery for moderate carry.
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Lob: full‑air, soft‑landing strokes (also called flop shots
At Treetops, we tailor your approach: “Chipping & Short Game” lessons in our PGA academy teach you club‑selection, release patterns—and when to flip to a sand wedge.
Chip it at Treetops!
Book your next tee time today
Trending Tip: Women’s Golf Day
On June 1st, we hosted a Women’s Golf Day clinic right here in Gaylord—where putting and chipping were front and center—led by Rob Schrader and Mark Hogan. Beginner or scratch, the fundamentals remain: weight forward, ball back in stance, minimal wrist hinge.
Insight from the Par‑3 Course
When Lee Trevino aced Threetops Hole #6 for $1 million back in 2001, he wasn’t using a driver—he was all about his wedge control on a downhill chip/pitch hybrid. That moment shows how precise short‑game strokes can make history. And on our Signature and Tradition layouts, with open sightlines shaped by recent tree canopy work, your chip becomes a strategic calculation—not just luck.
Drill It Like a Pro
Our Treetops PGA staff recommends drills you can practice on our pitching/chipping area:
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Feet together + shoulders only = puttery chip with roll.
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Add loft/backspin for pitch.
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Open face + hinge = flop.
Repeat until muscle memory kicks in—right where Furyk and Logan de Carolis focused on the short game.
Course Strategy + Conditions
Post-winter, Treetops has removed thousands of trees to restore turf and open lines of play. That means your chip shots now enjoy better roll and more predictable lies. On bent‑grass greens under the sun—especially on The Tradition or Signature—speed control turns your chip into a true scoring tool.
Take‑Away Words
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Commit to your landing spot, not just the hole.
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Land it on the fringe, roll it in—your chip is often the setup for your putt.
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Trust the roll, not aerial tricks—unless you need loft, then flip to pitch or flop.
Chipping isn’t just a shot—it’s the bridge between a good hole and a great score. At Treetops, we give you the feel, the drills, and the courses to make it count.
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