Don’t be blindsided by par-3s. Some golfers automatically think that par-3s are easier because they’re shorter than par-4s. That’s not always true. In fact, some par-3s are tougher than par-5s. You can make a mistake on par-5s and still recover. You can’t always do that with par-3s. Make a mistake on these holes and you can find yourself carding a double or even a triple bogey.
Conquer tough par-3s with this checklist below:
1. Assess the hole
2. Tee it up
3. Think positively
4. Choose your club carefully
5. Find your own solution
Par-3s can deceive you, so assess the hole carefully before hitting. Play to your strengths when you can, but don’t force it.
Jack Nicklaus says to tee up the ball whenever you can. That’s sound advice. Since you know the exact distance to the middle of the green, your chances of hitting a flyer 30 yards over the green are small. So tee it up.
Difficult par-3s can play tricks on you. All you think about are its dangers—water, deep rough, greenside bunkers. Block negatives out of your mind. Instead, think positively. Then commit yourself fully to the shot.
Choose your club carefully, especially on downhillers. Weekend golfers choose their club based strictly on distance, but it’s not that easy. The wind may be more severe because you start the ball up higher than the hole, causing it to curve.
Watch other players, but don’t rely too heavily on what they do. Their strengths aren’t your strengths. Their weaknesses aren’t your weaknesses. Find a solution that fits your game.
Par-3s can be birdie holes. But they can also be triple bogey holes. If you use our checklist to conquer tough par-3s, you will save yourself a ton of strokes.
