Is Shooting 38 on a Par 3 - 9 Hole Any Good?

[Smocca]

Hi, everyone.

I’m quite new to playing golf and have played it for around 4 months. I’m not too sure of what’s a good score is to shoot. The last 3 round on my local par 3 - 9 hole, I’ve shot 41, 41 and 43, and was aiming for shooting under 40, and that finally happened today with a total of 38.

I’m I still able to go down further in handicap on the 9 holes, or should I start playing the 18-hole course? Current handicap 35,8 (not yet submitted 8 scores, only 4).

Looking forward for some good discussion on your forum 😊

[pganapathy]

38 means 11 over for 9 holes and a handicap of 22.  Given you have only been playing for 4 months that is pretty decent.  Of course, this is on a par 3 course so not a complete test of your golf game since you won't be hitting many long tee shots and definitely no long second shots or say long shots from fairway bunkers etc.  Still, a pretty decent result all considered

[Shindig]

38 for a relative beginner is very good at a par-3 course.  

Par-3s are hard holes in general, and scoring under 41 generally means you're averaging under bogey-and-a-half.  If you get to the course and are generally getting down in 4.5 strokes from when you're within approach shot range, you can put together a decent round.

[imsys0042]

Yes, I think that’s good.   Your new target is 37….

[KoHo]

Are you using a tee? If so, see what your scores are without teeing up. The shots will more closely resemble your approaches on a full length 18 hole course.

[Shindig]

Similar question:  what's the variations on par-3s?  The first par-3 course I played regularly had pretty much everything in the [95, 130] yard range.  On the other side, there's an eighteen hole executive course near me with par-3s ranging from 85 yards to 215, plus some par-4s mixed in.  

[StuM]

First, Welcome to TST and to Golf, the Greatest Game.

38 is fine, assuming you do not shoot par or triple-Bogey on any of the 9 holes, then you would have had 7 Bogey & 2 Double Bogey holes.  That is good for a beginner. 

 

[Shindig]

Wait, I forgot the most important question and statement.

It's good because you got to play golf.

Most important question:  did you enjoy?

[boogielicious]

22 hours ago, Smocca said:

Hi, everyone.

I’m quite new to playing golf and have played it for around 4 months. I’m not too sure of what’s a good score is to shoot. The last 3 round on my local par 3 - 9 hole, I’ve shot 41, 41 and 43, and was aiming for shooting under 40, and that finally happened today with a total of 38.

I’m I still able to go down further in handicap on the 9 holes, or should I start playing the 18-hole course? Current handicap 35,8 (not yet submitted 8 scores, only 4).

Looking forward for some good discussion on your forum 😊

Welcome to The Sand Trap. Play both. Par 3 holes are challenging on either a par 3 course or full course. Get comfortable playing them. When you first go to the full course, go with the mindset that you are learning. If you have a bad shot, which we all do, just focus on the next shot.

What you will find different from the par three course is odd lies from rough, patchy ground, side, up and down hill lies after your tee shots, which are on flat ground. This is a different challenge that you don’t get to practice on par 3 holes. But it is fun to learn.

Lastly, try to play fast between shots so as not to hold up anyone. You are most likely going to make more stroke because you are learning. If you can play with friends who are experienced, that will help.

[Smocca]

On 8/6/2021 at 7:39 PM, Shindig said:

Wait, I forgot the most important question and statement.

It's good because you got to play golf.

Most important question:  did you enjoy?

Love playing 
 

[Shindig]

2 hours ago, Smocca said:

Love playing 
 

Then it sounds like that was a good round   

[Smocca]

On 8/7/2021 at 10:29 PM, Shindig said:

Then it sounds like that was a good round   

It sure was 🙂

 

[GolfingEngineer84]

Sounds awesome to me! Congrats on the great round! 

I just shot my best Par 3 ever this weekend as well, shot a 41 on the front 9, with 3 Par's! Never played such a complete game of golf in my life. The back 9... well had a couple hole's that really went off the rails but it's a learning process and being that consistent for 3+ hours isn't easy.