Par 4’s

A par 4 is a hole generally 250-500 yards in length depending on the tees you play. These holes allow for 2 shots to get to the hole in regulation and 2 putts. Some shorter par 4s can be reached with a single shot by some of the longer players. Remember par is good score / goal and not average, especially for the ordinary, everyday player.

Par 4 tee box

Check your yardages. Just like the par 5 tee box you want to have a plan. Par 4s may allow players to hit fewer drivers off the tee than par 5s. You may only need to hit a mid-iron to hit the ball in the optimal position off the tee. We often suggest to people to learn to have a strategy but it’s hard not to choose a driver or 3 wood and swing away.

Best angle of attack

It’s important to look for optimal position off the tee to have the best angle for an approach shot. Remember to tee off from the correct side of the tee box that favors your shot shape. A few feet of change from the tee box right or left can mean as much as a 20 or 30 yard difference in playable angle of the hole.

Choosing best club off the par 4

After checking the yardages and looking at the hole for best position you should choose the club that gives you the best chance to succeed. This may be blasting driver and swinging away. It may also mean hitting as little as a mid iron off the tee? Some holes have forced carries that you just can’t get over from the tee, therefore laying up short may be the best choice. Remembering our theme of 70% rule is a great general rule.

Green approach shot

When choosing the proper shot for approaching the greens, you must first identify the lie. This will help determine what shots are available from this distance and situation. Distance is often a major criteria for choosing a shot or club. However, the lie of the ball doesn’t always allow you to hit some shots.

Locate the hole

It is not always necessary to aim directly at the hole. Golf course set up tries tempting players to aim their shots close to bunkers or other extreme areas to get players to chase difficult flag locations. This all too often causes player’s scores to balloon. A helpful hint about putting green depth is that most putting greens are approximately 30 yards deep. Knowing where the hole is located relative to slopes and ridges on the green is important in choosing the correct club.

Yardage

Try to leave the ball below the hole which can help make putting less stressful. For example, if you are standing at the 150 yard marker and the hole is in the front of the green, you may have as little as 135 yards the the hole. That is almost a 2 club difference of distance. As a general rule most courses measure their markers to the middle of the greens. Choosing the proper club relative to correct yardage and hole location is very helpful for a player to succeed and enjoy the game.

Remember our 70% rule

Taking in all this information we’ve provided can feel overwhelming. What we would like to stress is knowing your OWN capabilities. Learning to play the game within your own personal abilities is the key to your own success and enjoyment. Choose the club from every situation that gives you the best chance of 70% success.