This article was machine-translated from the Korean original. Read the Korean original
A par 3 is a hole where you only need to hit it well once. However, strangely enough, it is also the hole where double bogeys happen the most.
There is only one reason. It is because they are aiming for the pin since it is short.
01What happens on a Par 3?
Par 3s usually have rough terrain around the green. There are bunkers in front and behind, and the sides are sloped.
The designer makes it that way on purpose so that it cannot be attached in one go.
| If you aim for the pin | result |
|---|---|
| The pin is at the front | If short, the front bunker |
| The pin is at the back | If it's long, it goes downhill over the green. |
| The pin is on the left | Side tilt when pulled |
| The pin is on the right | If pushed back, it's rough |
The pins are usually placed in dangerous spots. That is the design of a par 3.
02Look at the center of the green.
- Aim for the exact center of the green.It's in the center of the green, not the pin.
- I choose a club based on the distance to there.Not to the pin, but to the middle
- I hit with my usual swing.Don't hit gently just because it's a short hole.
03What changes if you aim for the center?
Even if it misses, it lands somewhere on the green. Then you take two putts for a par or a bogey.
If you aim for the pin and miss, you end up in a bunker or the rough. If you get close to the hole from there and take two putts, it's a double bogey.
- Center → Green → Two Putts → Par or Bogey
- Pin → Bunker → Escape → Two-putt → Double
There is a difference of one and a half strokes per hole. If there are four par 3s, that is six strokes.
04The club is generous
There are so many people who hit short on par 3s. There is a reason for that.
- I put it on the tee and hit it, so I get the illusion that it will hit well.
- The distance markers go all the way to the pin, so I don't look at the distance to the front of the green.
- The green is usually a little high.
- Ask about the distance to the center of the green.Not to the pin, but to the center of the green.
- If the green is high, add one clubEven better if it's green ([[LINK:L14]] side)
- I see the wind as double.The shorter the hole, the more wind it takes.
- If it's ambiguous, choose the longer sideIt's short, so it's better to be behind the green than in the bunker because it's long.
05Where do I put the T-shirt?
You can use a tee even on par 3s. If you place it low, you'll reduce fat shots.
For irons, it is appropriate for the ball to come up about halfway above the tee.
And you can choose a seat inside the tee box.
- If there is danger on the left, stand on the left, look to the right, and hit.
- If the right side is dangerous, do the opposite.
- The ends of the tee box are usually not flat. Find the flat spot in the middle.
06A person who plays par on a par 3
When I see good players, they do this on Par 3s.
- I hardly care about the pin position.
- Place the ball in the center of the green and make 10-meter putts comfortable.
- I think birdies come by luck, not something you aim for.
You ultimately win by racking up pars rather than trying for a birdie and ending up with a double.
If you find 10-meter putts daunting, please refer to the distance sense in [[LINK:L12]].
If you just place it within 1 meter of the hole, it’s not difficult to hit.
In the next part, I will cover the calculation of losing three strokes while aiming for a two-shot approach on a par 5.
