Par 3 strategy?

[Fat Slice]

I am a high handicapper (25). Par 3s have been killing me as I get into a lot of traps, pull into water, etc. Looking over my scorecards I average around a 5 for those holes. So I was thinking...until I am more accurate with my irons...why not plan to shoot well short of the green, chip up and try for a two-putt bogey? For most par-3 holes that would be a pretty safe play. When I get more accurate with the irons, then, sure, start going for the green again...but from a strict scoring perspective, does it make sense for me?

[Smallville]

Seems like that strategy should work for any hole, not just Par 3's. Problem with it is the chips you're gonna chunk from time to time. (I know this from experience!). If you could do it every hole though, that's bogey golf.

[firstcut]

I think that will help, but I would key in on one point. DO NOT club down to shoot short.

I would either use the correct club for the distance OR even club up one. Then shoot for about 10 yards short of the green with a nice easy swing. If you make good contact you'll end up on the green and if you make poor contact you'll leave your shot short anyway.

IMHO, most guys miss par3's because they are trying to overhit the correct club. Your strategy would probably help eliminate that. AND you'll get good at chipping.

[TheLauncher]

How would planning to shoot well short of the green require any less accuracy than going for the green itself? I would go with the 'blind squirrel theory,' that 'even a blind squirrel finds a nut in the forrest sometimes' and continue to aim right for the pin. You never know when you'll find yourself with a tap-in birdie. Try not to get yourself into a par three mental state that leads to overswinging and you'll be fine. Really, what is the sense of laying up on a 130 yd hole? Might as well yank one into the water going for the green than drown one laying up in hopes of a two-putt.

[justinbaker]

AND you'll get good at chipping.

i think your plan is great. and now just work really really hard on your short game. its the one area of golf that amatuers can become as nearly as good as pros (we all cant carry it 330 yards in the air like JB ) So get good at the short game and ill bet youll even par some of the par 3's you layup on

[Never3putt]

Of course, the obvious answer is to figure out why you're not hitting the greens with your irons and work on that. Have you ever taken lessons from a professional or are you considering doing so?

[cstorms]

I would recommend going to a par 3 course once in a while and get used to par 3s. I have one right down the road from my house and feel very comfortable on par 3s now. Before you know it, you will be trying to shoot par on the little course...hopefully there is one where you live, good luck.

[meenman]

I am a high handicapper (25). Par 3s have been killing me as I get into a lot of traps, pull into water, etc. Looking over my scorecards I average around a 5 for those holes. So I was thinking...until I am more accurate with my irons...why not plan to shoot well short of the green, chip up and try for a two-putt bogey? For most par-3 holes that would be a pretty safe play. When I get more accurate with the irons, then, sure, start going for the green again...but from a strict scoring perspective, does it make sense for me?

My question would be - are you playing from the right tees?

I am not going to say I always hit 3 out of 4 greens on my par 3s but I do know if I move back a set of tees I have a great shot at making 0 of 4. But I would agree with the idea of clubbing up and taking an easy swing vs. trying to come up short.

[Stacey_E]

On par 3s I used to go with an idea like this....

If the green is narrow but deep, the line is more important than the distance. Add a club or 2 and hit a 3/4 shot just to stay in control and keep the ball on line. If the green is shallow but wide try going with the shortest club you can reach with and knock the hell out of it. This way the ball will set down quick. A wider green gives you more room to deal with on left/right errors.

Retief Goosen claimed in an article a while back that he never chased a pin with anything longer than a 6 iron. If he needed more club than a 6, he just went for the middle or front. Going for the middle of the green is a sound theory if you are scoring high on these holes. And maybe try pulling the club that when hit dead solid perfect will end up on the back of the green. This way you should be on the middle or front with a slight mishit.

Good Luck!

[Fat Slice]

Thanks for the advice, all. BTW, yes I take lessons - though infrequently. I think some holes will be better with this strategy than others. Anyway, I'll put in a round or two like this and see how it goes.

[Henry]

I would recommend going to a par 3 course once in a while and get used to par 3s. I have one right down the road from my house and feel very comfortable on par 3s now. Before you know it, you will be trying to shoot par on the little course...hopefully there is one where you live, good luck.

never thought of that, i have one just down the road but its only 80 yards for each hole. Is it worth it?

[Stacey_E]

never thought of that, i have one just down the road but its only 80 yards for each hole. Is it worth it?

I'd think if you are the type of guy that likes to play all his short game shots with one club, that a par 3 course like this would be awesome practice. That's assuming that each hole isn't exactly 80 yards. I'd guess some are 65,80,53,75 etc. But if I went for that purpose I'd play it down on the tee box without a tee.

[T.J.K.]

I don't know about the planning to go short on the greens. That doesn't seem like it work out all that well since I don't know why that would keep you from going right or left.

I will say not to focus on the pin. Think of the green as a body of water and you are just trying to land in it. If you do that you will focus on the center of the green the majority of the time.

[goblue107501]

I would agree with what some have mentioned here. Take an extra club and use a more controlled swing rather than swinging for the fences with a club that is maxed out. That is usually what leads to the pulls and pushes and eventually into the trouble.

Also, instead of just trying to come up short every time, just go for the bailout area. Most par-3's I can think of have some sort of 'safe' area to hit to if you are not on the green. If there is water behind the green and traps on the right, then more than likely there will be a bailout area short left. Just try and hit your shot between the bailout area and the middle of the green. More times than not, you will stay out of trouble and have a chance at par.

[ks8829]

Hit the green.

take enought club and if you have trouble in front aim for the back of the green, 95% of the golfer come up short on par 3's.

I actually have been hitting my driver choked to near the shaft with a slight fade and have had great results.

control your misses, and shoot away from trouble and take enought club

[golf_junkie27]

There is a good article in Golf Digest regarding this very subject. It was referring to David Toms and what approach he used. He'll look at the pin placement, any hazards, slope of green and get yardage. He'll then hit a ball in a radius where he'll be in little trouble and give him an easy par. It's practical, easy advice.

[bogeyhitter25]

I'm a fairly straight hitter. So all I really need to know is the yardage. Once I get the yardage I'll just try to make good contact and put the ball on the green. I have to make up my mind 100% though. I can't be backing out of shots when I'm about to hit. If it's 155 to the hole I've got to completely be 100% sure whether or not I want to hit a strong 7 or an easy 6.

[Tomboys]

I am a high handicapper (25). Par 3s have been killing me as I get into a lot of traps, pull into water, etc. Looking over my scorecards I average around a 5 for those holes. So I was thinking...until I am more accurate with my irons...why not plan to shoot well short of the green, chip up and try for a two-putt bogey? For most par-3 holes that would be a pretty safe play. When I get more accurate with the irons, then, sure, start going for the green again...but from a strict scoring perspective, does it make sense for me?

There's been a lot of great advice posted so far, so I'll just add my 2-cents worth. IMO, get the yardage to the center or the fattest part of the green. Go up one more club than you think you need. Aim for the center or the fattest part and hit it there regardless of where the flag is. By playing to the center or to the fattest part you end up giving yourself the greatest margin for error because you have the entire green to work with.

The reason I suggest the above is because if you can land a ball short of a green to an area that doesn't require you to pitch over water or sand for your next shot, then you are certainly capable of hitting the green. After all, the entire green is going to be much larger than these smaller "safe" landing areas. From there, once you get better and more accurate with you irons, then you can go "pin hunting".