Dear Pro,

It’s not very often that I hit the ball down the middle of the fairway off the tee. But, when I do, I certainly expect to have a good lie when I get there. Last week, that wasn’t the case. After a gorgeous tee shot, I found my ball smack dab in the middle of a divot. Can you offer any tips on hacking one out of a pothole left behind by another golfer?

– Steve, Lawrence

Steve,

Start with your feet together. Take a step toward your target and choke down on the club. Use a club higher than you usually would for the shot, such as a 7 iron instead of a 6 iron. Once in your stance, take a nice smooth swing, and you should get some nice distance from the fairway.

The best way to avoid this problem, obviously, is to fill in your divots and leave a nice lie for the next guy.

– John Morris, head pro, Eagle Bend golf course