The Par-3s Can Be Levelers

If I were to tell you that I would play you even on a few holes of a course, I think you would accuse me of unsportsmanlike conduct or perhaps even highway robbery.  But, before you do, let me elaborate.  I am trying to make a point, particularly for the average golfers.

            I know that we pros have a big edge on a middle handicapper on the longer holes in golf.  But, step on the tee of a reasonable par-three hole and things even up quite a bit.

            My point is that, if a golfer simply has the ability to hit a reasonably good shot on a fairly straight line, he can put his tee shot on the green of a par-three hole.  So, when the putter comes out, he is still even with the expert player and may well come off that green with at least a half.

            It may be that the less talented player may need a three-wood on a hole that a pro reaches easily with a five-iron.  How many times have your read about a golfer making a hole-in-one with an unlikely club?  The important thing is getting the ball on the green, not how you accomplish this.

            The par-three hole can give the occasional player of moderate ability a psychological lift.  He may have had a string of high scores, but usually has the feeling on moderate par-threes that he can manage at least a four, possibly a par or even a birdie there.  And he should—if he uses his head and doesn’t waste the opportunity.

            Good judgment is of the utmost importance in golf.  You must keep thinking about what you are doing.  If you “go to sleep,” you might mis-hit the ball, misjudge the shot, pick the wrong club or fail to take weather or course conditions into account.  This is particularly important on the par-three, on which you have just one full shot.

            Look for the trouble when you step on the tee of a par-three hole.  It’s a rare par-three that doesn’t have some sort of hazard at the green—sand traps, heavy-grass collars, severe slopes or, occasionally, ponds or streams.  So you should consider where is the worst trouble and how bad it is.  For instance, if there is water to the right and sand to the left, you are better off in the trap, so you should favor the left a bit.  This involves stance alignment more than anything else.  Even the better player will be guarding against the most severe trouble by staying to the safe side.

            Now, let’s consider the front and back of the par-three green, which gets us into the matter of club selection.  I can’t think of a better example for an illustration that the famous 12^th at Augusta National Golf Club.  It has trouble front—Rae’s Creek and a centered trap right at the edge—and back—a facing bank with two traps cut into the slope—with a fast, shallow green in between.  Many shots have been lost here by all of us in the Masters, most often by pulling the wrong club from the bag on the tee.  Unpredictable, gusty winds often make the choice difficult.  What the thinking golfer must consider at the 12^th—and on any par-three with a similar combination of troubles—is what hazard is more dangerous.  At the 12^th, the player has to be a little better off over the green.  Even in the heavy grass or one of those back traps, he can play the delicate shot.  If he puts it in the creek, he’ll be playing a tricky third shot across the water.  So, in such circumstances, you will be better off with “too much club.”

            The average player usually can’t be precise enough to club himself right to the pin.  But he should have a general idea of how far he can hit each club when he connects properly.  He can usually rely on the yardage on the card, which is measured from the middle of the tee to the center of the green, and calculate from those points to the flagstick and tee blocks.

            Other factors in club selection: (1) wind—more club against wind, less when downwind.  Check the flag and trees at the green to see what it’s doing there; (2) relative elevation of tee and green—only important when extreme; (3) condition of putting surface—slightly more club when it’s soft, slightly less when it’s hard.

            In execution, tee up the ball.  And don’t press the shot, swinging hard because of that hazard in front.  If you have the right club, a normal swing and the face of the iron will get the ball to the green.