How to Play a Long Par-4

By July 10, 2019Tips & Tutorials

Different players enjoy different holes but not many beginner and amateur golfers like to play a long par-4.

If you can hit the driver a long way and feel confident with your accuracy and distance off the tee with the longest club in the bag, by all means attempt to leave a short shot to the green.  However, for those who struggle to hit the driver a long way or cannot rely on the accuracy of the driver, playing a long par-4 can be a problem.

Today, we have some tips on how to play a long par-4 successfully.

If you know you cannot hit the ball a long way, with accuracy using the driver, you are best leaving it in the bag.  It is not good hitting the ball long only to find yourself behind a tree or in deep rough for your second shot.

Choose the longest club in the bag you can hit with confidence.  It could be a 3 wood, a 5 wood or a hybrid club.  You may feel reluctant to use one of these clubs on a long par-4 but to have the ball on the fairway is key.

You might be left with an approach shot which is 200 yards long but that’s better than being stuck in a hazard and facing a guaranteed bogey at best.

The key to playing a long par-4 for those who cannot reach the green in two is the second shot.  Look at the position of the pin and consider your strengths.  Where do you need to leave the ball to give yourself the best chance of getting it close to the pin for a par putt?

The accuracy and length of the second shot is very important.  If you play good approach shots from 100 yards, why try and get the ball any closer?  Look at the yardage and play the second shot so you are left with a 100 yard approach shot to the green.

You know you are at your most accurate when playing from 100 yards so that gives you the best opportunity of getting the ball close enough to have a good chance of holing it with one putt.  What is the point of landing it 50 yards away from the green if you do not feel as comfortable playing from that distance?

Likewise, if you are at your best when 60 yards from green, try and leave yourself this distance.  Look at the position of the flag, judge the distance and work to your strengths.

Playing a long par-4 this way will give you a good chance of making a par and at worst a bogey.