Most of us walk onto the tee, pull the driver and hope. A minute spent looking at the hole from above changes how you play it: where the bunkers really sit, how far you have to carry, and where the safe miss is.
Pick a target rather than just a direction. Know the number to the front of the green and to the trouble, then choose the club that leaves you the easiest next shot, not the one that looks best on the scorecard.
Do that for a few holes and you'll find the round feels calmer. Fewer panicked decisions, fewer big numbers.