Long Par 3 – Play it like a fairway wood

Again, with the modern golf courses, par 3’s seem to be getting longer and longer with more hazards around the front of the green.  I do not think anyone likes the long iron par 3 over bunkers or water!  Even when you hit a good shot, the ball tends to land on the green and run over the back, as it is very difficult to hit a long iron high enough to get the ball to stop.  The rescue club has more weight at the bottom of the club with a bigger head than a long iron; this makes achieving solid contact and creating a higher ball flight much easier.

How to play

Play the shot as if it were a fairway wood.

• The tee height can be a little lower than when you play from a par 4.

• The ball position should be the same as a fairway wood –  just inside your left heel.
• The weight should be 50:50 with very little spine angle away from target.
• Your stance width should be slightly narrower than that of the driver set up.
• This address position will create an impact very similar to a fairway wood, sweeping the ball off the tee peg.  You will not hit down on the ball or up on the ball.
• If a rescue is too much club, and you think it will go over the green, try gripping shorter on the club to reduce the distance.  You can do this by up to 2 inches.