[Kim Haneul's FunFun Golf] 'Strategies for Par 3 Holes'

Short iron tee low, long iron tee high
Insert on flat ground, use teeing ground according to shot shape
Do not look directly at pin, aim for center of green 'YES'

The most challenging holes for tour players are par-3 holes. Par-4 and par-5 holes offer opportunities to minimize damage even if mistakes are made. However, on par-3 holes, sending the tee shot to the wrong place can be a critical blow. Here is the correct strategy to achieve a good score on par-3 holes.

First, the tee height. When you watch pro-am tournaments, weekend golfers tend to use the same tee height regardless of the iron on par-3 holes. However, adjusting the tee height makes it easier to hit the ball. Even professional players make subtle adjustments to the tee height depending on the loft of the iron and the length of the shaft.

You need to adjust the tee height according to whether you are using a short iron or a long iron. When using short irons (7, 8, 9 irons), place the tee close to the ground. If you are using long irons (4, 5, 6 irons), the tee should be placed slightly higher than for short irons. Long irons are not clubs that even tour players handle easily. Amateur golfers often hit fat shots when teeing off with long irons. To prevent this, the tee should be raised. For irons, hitting above the sweet spot results in longer distance. By placing the tee higher, you can reduce distance loss even if you make a mishit.

When placing the tee, choose as flat a spot as possible. Tee shots from sloped lies can cause hooks or slices. You should use the teeing ground according to your shot shape. Golfers whose shots tend to go left should tee off from the left side of the teeing ground, while those whose shots tend to curve right should use the right side. This is a wise strategy.

Aiming for the green also requires a proper approach. Most amateur golfers aim directly at the pin, which is a very risky choice. Professional players, except when using short irons, mostly aim for the center of the green when teeing off. Even if the ball lands near the pin, it allows putting within 10 yards.

Former 14-time winner on the Korea-Japan Tour and Sportainer

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.