If you can sit down with scorecards and/or Google Earth Pro to plan things out (and find that to be an enjoyable experience) then that can be great. In general, though, I just try to approach a new course with zero expectations outside of having fun. Take the time to really look around and take in all the differences from your usual tracks.
I tend to read online about the course to get a feel for it. I also play no more than 6000 yrds so it is not overwhelming or beats me up…
I’m paying to play something new, last thing i wanted is to score badly, and start concentrating on scores and not enjoy the new course.
I’m old-fashioned, but I always buy a paper copy of the course yardage book if one is available. This isn’t a substitute for other prep you might do with Google Earth (see @jon 's article references above) but it can certainly remind you of what you’ve researched. The good ones will often have distances based on bunkers and water and other features, but any information on “width” is likely to be less exact. In addition to helping you chart your way around, you can make notes for your next visit, and it makes a nice souvenir.
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Openfacelefty correct again here. While impossible to tell the height of trees that may or may not come in to play, google lets you see everything that is out there. And if you are familiar with the DECADE system at all, you can get really good aim lines off bunkers or other markers.
If there is a severe dog leg, and it looks like “over the trees” is the correct play, have another option in mind just in case the trees are crazy tall, or closer to the tee than they appear.
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I have an irrational fear of not finding the next tee box, LOL. I put the SwingU app on my phone to study the course and layout, and it gives some distances for the possible shot angles.
“again”? you’re too kind!
We have several tee boxes that are right behind a green but are not the next hole. You can usually pick out guests pretty easily when they try to jump in front of you!
Had same issue growing up when I had first loop as a caddie at the course and I’d only seen the first 3 holes before. Had to lay back and let the members go to next hole first, but unfortunately it was a hole I needed to get out ahead of them on.
Read Jon’s article 
posted above Use a yardage app, I prefer golf pad free version, 18 birdies ain’t bad either. Try’n hit fairway, aim center of green, lag to circle of happiness (3’) Enjoy your trip.
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I like to use Google maps to preview the course. I’ll get a yardage book if they have one, or rely on the GPS App on my phone.
Where I struggle the most on new courses is putting. Give yourself some grace for misreads the first several times on a new course.
This. Depending on the course, my plans and lead time I have I may even make myself a yardage book.
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I used to like playing courses blind since you don’t know of all the trouble and just swing. That worked once in a while.
Yep.
Jump on google earth before and jot down a few notes (spend about 15 minutes, zero in on par 5s and dog legs and the harder holes)
I always buy yardage book as well. There’s always holes that look different off the tee and its great to know where bunkers, woods and doglegs actually are when you are standing on tee
Whenever I play a new course now, I try to temper my expectations (I tend to be very competitive). I try to use the course map and yardage book (if they have one in the pro shop) to help with distances and direction.
My laser and GPS get a workout, but for the most part (and this is especially true as I’ve aged), I just try to have a good time with my foursome, take in the new scenery, and appreciate the course for what it is.
In the past I’ve had some both good and bad rounds with new courses. A lot of scoring is how I roll it, so getting there early enough to get a feel of the greens is important. Sometimes I have driven it aggressively and been rewarded by a great shot to tight target that I probably shouldn’t have aimed at, and occasionally screwed by a blind hazard that I couldn’t see on a perfectly decent shot.
Most importantly have fun, try not to grind too hard, and use a GPS app like 18birdies or Grint that can give you an idea of some features on the course that you may not be able to see from the tee.
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I’ve used 18 birdies for awhile now, and as much before the round as during. Still haven’t gotten a laser yet, but probably should since the refresh rate can be slow. Where would you rank 18birdies among the other GPS apps. Are there any paid apps that add noticeably better features than the free apps available?
At this point I think they’ve got one of the best (if not the best) apps. The Grint is really good too along with some others.
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Before I got my Garmin watch, I tried pretty much all of them and found 18birdies to be the best. I actually got the premium plan, but then they had so many outages and issues that I got a refund (but still have the premium features oddly). The AI coach is a neat idea, but not really that great in practice and the social aspect of it got really old really quick (too many 16 year olds claiming 350 yard drives).
I love this level of dedication!
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I much prefer GPS to laser. I’m not good enough to need to know 132 yards to the flag. Knowing that it’s 115 front, 127 middle and 139 back is good enough for me. I almost always play to the middle number, unless it’s a bad ball striking day, then I’ll play the back number.
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I’ve been playing middle back this season, been great for scoring.
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