Most golfers eyes light up when they see there is a short par-3 on the card. Already you are looking forward to that hole as it looks fairly straight forward and being short, it means you can leave the driver in the bag.
However, complacency is one of the many things to guard against when playing a short par-3. If you have just be played a run of par-4 and par-5 holes, a short par-3 can seem like a break, providing the chance to have a rest and take it easy.
When approaching a short par-3, the first thing you should be doing is locating the hazards. If the hole is fairly flat throughout, without a downward or upward tee shot to contend with, you can almost guarantee there are some hazards protecting the green.
Most short par-3’s will be well-protected. There could be water or deep bunkers around the green and the flag could be tucked in an awkward area of the green.
Always analyse the green and think about where the best place is to leave your ball. If the hole is in the centre of the green you can attack the pin without much to worry about. However, if it is off to one corner of the green, close to the edge with water nearby, you may want to give yourself some margin for error.
If the green is severely undulating, consider which side of the hole you need to land. If you finish above the hole, you could be left with a very difficult downhill putt.
The next thing you must consider is the weather conditions. If you are going to be playing the shot with a lofted club, the wind could play a big role in where your ball lands. If the conditions are very windy and into your face, you may want to choose a different club, with less loft and spin to maintain more control.
Finally, many short par-3’s feature and uphill or downhill tee shot to the green. If this is the case, you will need to factor in the hill to determine the distance and club you want to use. Think about the distance of the drop or rise in terms of yards and then add or subtract it to the total yardage of the hole.
This is only an estimation, so if you are playing second or third in your group, watch the other shots first and make an additional judgement based on what happened.
Playing a short par-3 is not always easy and should never be taken for granted.
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