Par 3 Vs. Par 4

**Golf_Gal** · December 1, 2009

Are there specifications to what determines whether a hole is a Par 3 or a Par 4? There's a course that I've been to just once around here, and hole #10 is a Par 3, but yet its 207 yards. Umm...the last time that I checked, my driver can't possibly even get onto the green in this Par 3 hole. And its the same 207 yards for both the front and back tees and you're hitting of the mats, pleh. And I tried to put a tee in the grass and almost got yelled at

Which will lead me to my next post. But, shouldn't the 207 yard hole be considered a Par 4?

TIA

**Zeph** · December 1, 2009

There are some general ranges, but as far as I know, there are no definitive rules.

A typical length for a par-three hole ranges between 91-224 meters/100-250 yards; for a par-four hole, between 225-434 meters/251-475 yards; and for a par-five hole, between 435 and 630 meters/476-690 yards. The slope of the course (uphill or downhill) can also affect the par rating. If the tee-to-green distance on a hole is predominantly downhill, it will play shorter than its physical length and may be given a lower par rating and the opposite is true for uphill holes. Par ratings are also affected by factors such as the placement of hazards or the shape of the green which can sometimes affect the play of a hole such that it requires an extra stroke to avoid playing into hazards.

The thing here is that you have a handicap of 30, which means you probably have at least one extra shot on this hole. Don't try reaching it with your driver. Hit two irons and try to get it close and putt for a par.

Can't you put the tee in the mats?

**Golf_Gal** · December 1, 2009

Not the wooden tees, they wouldn't stay upright in the slot!

**tjy355** · December 1, 2009

General comment: A course that has mats for tees and a 207 yard par 3 that is the same length for men and ladies is a course I would recommend you not revisit.

About PAR: Par is only a concept. It is just a number. It means nothing. Paying too much attention to the number and whether or not it is a "fair" number is not going to be conductive to your growth as a golfer.

*edit* There is a concept of the "half-par" hole, that is one that sort of falls between. A long par 3 or short par 4 might be considered par 3.5 for example. Also the long par 4 or short par 5 might be thought of as a par 4.5

**James_Black** · December 1, 2009

Golf Gal your off a handicap of 30.
This is probably one of the toughest so you'll get 2 extra shots.
All you have to do is get a 5 to get a "net par" or 2 points.

Don't worry about length.
Hit a club your comfortable with and get on in 2.

**Golf_Gal** · December 1, 2009

Lately, I've just been playing for fun. If it takes me more shots, it takes me more shots

But that just seems like a very long Par 3 hole though!

**James_Black** · December 1, 2009

Lately, I've just been playing for fun. If it takes me more shots, it takes me more shots But that just seems like a very long Par 3 hole though!

Yeah it's pretty long.

The par 3's for the ladies at my club are only around 110 yards long

**SQ Bimmer** · December 1, 2009

A trick a golf instructor told me was to stick a tee between the rubber tee and the mat. Will take a bit of finesse to get it all balanced, but it will balance. There is a 300 yard hole that I go to that is right next to the starter office that I have to do this for if I want to hit a driver or wood off the tee. I hate hitting off rubber tees.

I do like those rubber tees that have a "screw" to raise and lower the height. The tee part itself is just like a regular wooden tee but soft rubber with a wire going down the middle. I wore out my last one (got it at Scholl Canyon actually) and plan to get another one. I just carry the tee in my bag and on a hole like that I will take it out, replace the tee that's in the mat with my adjustable one, set my height and take my shot, then replace my tee. My playing partners generally like to use it for their shots before I can put it back in my bag though.

**Golf_Gal** · December 1, 2009

^ hmm...Will have to try it!! Thanks!

**doof_dizzler** · December 1, 2009

207 yards is WAY too far for a par 3 for ladies. At the course here, the ladies play from 90-130, roughly 40 yards in front of the whites. There is a 200 yard par 3 here, that everyone plays from 200plus, but it's the 3rd hardest hole so way over 95% of players are getting a stroke.

If you're off 30, you're getting a stroke on every hole, and 2 on many holes. Don't worry about what the par is. I don't care who it is, a 4 on a 200plus yard hole is acceptable almost all the time. Certainly anyone with a handicap of 10 or more (like me), is going to make 4s and 5s on a 200 yard par 3 most of the times they play that hole.

If you can't hit 200 yard accurately, I'd suggest aiming at a safe area short of the green that you will feel comfortable playing your 2nd shot from. Maybe that's 50 yards away, so aim for the fairway 150 away and set yourself up to knock it on and hopefully close. I've hit horrible tee shots on our long par 3 and turned them into pars with great 2nd shots or long putts :)

**Greg** · December 1, 2009

A course with rubber mats for tee boxes, Ive never seen that, only at some driving ranges and I hate those rubber mats, should only have to use those indoors where you cant grow grass. 207 yards is pretty far for a par 3 for anyone, id have to use my 3 hybrid to reach that, maybe my 4 hybrid with help from the wind but I doubt i would ever hit the green, from the shortest tees that would mean the longest tees would have to be 225 yards or more and thats pga tour par 3 distance. I think the longest par 3 ive ever played at any course is right at 200 yards and Ive played at a lot of different course in the 1 1/2 years ive been playing, 2 of the courses I play at most often, the longest is 195 yards, most every other par 3 around here is 175 yards or less, with many in the 150 range and thats from the longer tees.

**jamo** · December 1, 2009

Yah i hate the long par 3's. Ive played two different par 3's that are 250 yards and i'm hitting a sort of controlled fade with my driver to hit it a little shorter. I've also played a 240 yard par 4 and the funny thing is, it seems so much shorter when it is a par 4.

I think if i played one of those 250 yard par 3's as a par 4 and the other as a 3, my average would be lower on the par 4.

i guess my point is, mentally what you expect is a lot of it.

**Zeph** · December 2, 2009

Long par 3's are supposed to be difficult. They're the hardest holes on the entire golf course. The usual approach on a par 4 can be around 130-150 yards. Third shot on a par 5 may be even shorter. The approach on a par 3 is always the distance of the hole. A 130 yard hole is no worse than a par 4, but when you get into 170-220 yards, then it gets difficult.

204 from ladies tee is too long, no doubt about that, but there's little to do about it.

**RemyM** · December 2, 2009

Up to 210 yards is a par 3 for women.
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Handi...anual/Rule-16/

But don't get hung up on par, it's just a number. Just because a hole is a par 3 doesn't mean you have to try to hit the green in one. Billy Casper laid up to a par 3 in the 1959 US Open every round, and made par each time.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...55C0A9609C8B63

**Golf_Gal** · December 2, 2009

Thanks for the kind words everyone, and since I'm new to this whole golf thing, well, 5 months of playing every single week with weekly lessons as well, its just for fun and I shouldn't worry about how long it takes me. Golf is all about competing with yourself to improve and see how you do in a few weeks, a few months etc. Not about competing with other people, although, that'd be nice too. I've beaten my BF twice

Sorry, off topic :)

**Smiffy** · December 2, 2009

You'd love the 16th at Carnoustie.
245 yards Par 3, stroke index 13.
It's great playing it as a 12 handicapper

**NormH3** · December 2, 2009

Just for fun, apparently the longest PAR 3 in the world is in Africa...900yards. The tee box is some 1400 feet above the green and it requires a helicopter to get there. Apparently it is a 19th hole and only used as a tie breaker.

**right handed phil mickelson** · December 3, 2009

Par 3 15th at my home course is 247 yards. Over water the whole way. The only way I might be able to get on the green is a fade driver haha.

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Par 3 Vs. Par 4

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