How to Play Par 3s

These are sneaky holes. You can think you have adeliberately play short of the green and chip on for
good chance at a par, and walk off the green with ayour bogey or possible par, rather than challenge the
double bogey, easy as pie. The key to a good scorehazards and end up with a double bogey or worse.
is choosing the right club to hit off the tee. Base yourIf the green you're hitting into has no safe place to
club selection on the listed yardage plus seven yards.bail out to, hit a knockdown. Take one more club,
That's the yardage to play the hole at regardless ofand swing it back three-quarters. Think of the club
where the pin is, unless it's a deep green. Say it's ahead continuing straight toward the target after
148-yard hole. Your 150-yard club will be short. Takecontact. Finish with your hands in front of you.
one more club to get hole high.When you miss the green, think carefully about the
Tee up the ball. Never hit it off the ground. Thechip. If it looks like it will be difficult to get the ball
height of the tee should be no more than a half inch.close, find a portion of the green you can get the ball
Less than that is better. All you're trying to do is giveto and hit it there. You might well be giving up on
yourself a good lie.your par, but you're avoiding a down-in-four for a
The green on some par-3 holes is surrounded bydouble bogey. But still, if you get the ball on the
hazards - mounds, bunkers, high grass. Consider thatgreen, no one says you can't sink the putt!
on holes like this it might be best for you to