Short par 3 or a long one?

[Husband]

If you had to chose which one you felt more comfortable on, which would you chose?

... and since everyone has a different range of shots, let's do it by club instead of yardage:

Would you rather be standing on the tee box holding a wedge or a 5 iron?

Personally I think I'd rather the 5 iron shot... as Shushu mentioned in another thread, those 90-100 yard par threes scare the bajesus out of me!

[DenisO]

I'm not a big fan of the 5-iron and I feel like I'd definitely be able to get it closer to the pin and able to birdie/par with a wedge rather than long iron.

[Slicer&Dicer]

I would say short for sure. Typically the short par 3's would kill me but lately using a rangefinder, I simply try to get it anywhere on the green and go for par. If it lands close on the tee shot and I get a birdie chance all the better. Also, take enough club so that even a slight miss-hit will hopefully get you over front bunkers unless it is worst being over the back like water, steep hill, etc..

I have no idea why you would want to use a 5-iron? Unless you can hit it high and stop it quick?

I guess it depends on what "short" and "long" means? This is individual of course but for me I am thinking short 90 - 130yds and long 150-180+

[Husband]

For me...

Short: 90-110 (56 wedge)
Long: 200-210 (5 iron)

Not that I don't have confidence in my wedge play, but there are things that go along with short and long par 3s to consider... Usually the longer ones have bigger, more receptive greens with less features whereas a 90 yarder will usually have several breaks to them and are smaller.

Ideally I'd prefer to have a P wedge to 8 iron in my hands... but we're talking extremes here, if you had to chose!

[adam]

If I can get a wedge shot off of a tee I will take it every time. I feel confident hitting the ball within 20-25 feet from 130 yards off a clean lie. Can't get a better lie than the tee.

[Husband]

Wow, I guess I am alone on this one... haha 10-1 so far

[Marcos]

PW for sure.There is more drama involved in hitting a short par 3.

[habsfan]

no preference, when im on with my irons a 3iron or a PW makes no difference, my favorite club in the bag is my 3iron so i would love all par 3's to be 215yds+.

[mpare]

I would always prefer a shorter club over a longer one. After all, the margin for error increases in direct proportion to your distance from the pin. The shorter the club, the greater the accuracy. Why would I turn that down?

[sharkshooter]

What would you rather have in your hand on the tee box of a par 3?

An extra spicy Caesar, of course.

[quinner]

Give me a short iron over a long one any time. I am surprised at any answer that would be different.

[fundonny]

What would you rather have in your hand on the tee box of a par 3?

An extra spicy Caesar, of course.

And a Cohiba.

[khali127]

Best set up of par 3's I have ever played were on Harbour Town. Not one is over 200 from the back tees(PGA tee box) but every one is awesome and intimidating. I played from the white's with my father and played #14 with a PW and was crapping myself looking at that shot. I think it plays 178 from the back tees and played over par this year at the Heritage tournament.

Personally I feel that a par 3 that is over 200 has lost the true intention of what a par 3 is supposed to be.

[par72]

I Love the question....just not how you put it. I think short par 3's are 135-165 and long ones are 185 and up...and in that case I love a good short par 3. Anything under 130 from the backs is goofy and doesnt belong on a good golf course.(7 at Pebble excluded)

[mpare]

Acknowledging that the 7th at Pebble is a good golf hole undermines your contention that a short hole doesn't belong on a good golf course. It seems to me that a badly designed golf hole, whatever its length, doesn't belong on a good course. Length alone does not make a hole a good one regardless of its par.

I Love the question....just not how you put it. I think short par 3's are 135-165 and long ones are 185 and up...and in that case I love a good short par 3. Anything under 130 from the backs is goofy and doesnt belong on a good golf course.(7 at Pebble excluded)

[quinner]

Acknowledging that the 7th at Pebble is a good golf hole undermines your contention that a short hole doesn't belong on a good golf course. It seems to me that a badly designed golf hole, whatever its length, doesn't belong on a good course. Length alone does not make a hole a good one regardless of its par.

I agree with Mpare, I think well designed Par 3's can be just as tough as longer ones. We have also started to see a trend on the PGA tour with drivable par 4's, which can add some excitement coming down the stretch on Sunday.

[Husband]

I love drivable par 4's. #11 at Cartier is a perfect example. I've yet to eagle it though

[Shushu]

Ohhh yaaaaa.....I hate short par 3's. They look so easy. For some reason I find them different than the same yardage from the fairway. I'll take the 5 iron shot anyday. I also think par 3's over 200 are ridiculous. 230 yards @ The Meadows. I guess it's pretty straight away, with minimal trouble around it.....but that's pretty long for a par 3.

If you had to chose which one you felt more comfortable on, which would you chose?

... and since everyone has a different range of shots, let's do it by club instead of yardage:

Would you rather be standing on the tee box holding a wedge or a 5 iron?

Personally I think I'd rather the 5 iron shot... as Shushu mentioned in another thread, those 90-100 yard par threes scare the bajesus out of me!

[dwalker]

I enjoy par 3's anywhere from 150 yds to 180, where the 9 iron to 6 iron are used. Although, I don't mind a 200 yard par 3 like number 8 black at Hammond where its a bit of challenge with a long iron along with a nice view of the golf course.

[Eldred]

Short par 3s are welcome relieve, if my round is not going well. (and most time, they are not). Course like Stonebridge, all its Par 3s have similar yardages (140-155 yrds), I enjoy hitting my 7-8 irons for those distance. Knowing you can almost count on those holes for good score is a great feeling..

[Boostguy]

short, i would rather hit my pw 150 than a 5 iron 220!
less chance of an error with the wedge in hand!

[Husband]

150 isn't a short 3 ... I'd take a PW shot at a green any day.

I'm talking short like 90-100 yards... 70% of a 56* territory.

We should play sometime soon dude.

[Shushu]

220 yard 5 iron? That's a BIG 5 iron. I'm lucky to get 195 out of mine.

short, i would rather hit my pw 150 than a 5 iron 220!
less chance of an error with the wedge in hand!

[stevek]

I find I have more left/right (Aim - not hook/slice) problems with a wedge than a 5 iron.

I'd rather a lower loft.

[big mac]

5 iron for 100 yds must be talking about a friend of mine PW every time

[Boostguy]

Eric, yes we do need to get a game soon!

and yes 220 with a 5 iron is big! i am pretty long with my irons!

[Golfy Kid]

... Although, I don't mind a 200 yard par 3 like number 8 black at Hammond where its a bit of challenge with a long iron along with a nice view of the golf course.

I couldn't agree more

[Husband]

I get similar distance with my 5i; It's good for 210-220y.

[cleek]

depends if the short iron par 3 brings trouble into play vs. a longer , say 200 yrd , par 3 that you can get up and down if you miss the green. I'd rather hit into a longer hole that has little trouble than a short one that has trouble all around it.