Hole Breakdowns  ›  The Long Par 3
Hole breakdown #5

The Long Par 3: Why the Front Bunker Isn't Your Enemy

Everyone fears the front bunker and comes up short anyway. Play the middle and it disappears.

Hole type · Long par 3, forced carry

“The one where the front bunker isn't the enemy.”

⛳ Deep green: plays longer than it looks
⛱ Front bunker guarding the flag
● Smart target: center / back-middle
✕ Common aim: 'just enough' at the flag
The mistake

Taking "just enough" club to carry the front bunker at the flag. A slightly thin shot finds sand, and even a good one comes up short.

The math

Greens run deeper than they look. Play to the center, often the back-middle, and near-misses become putts instead of bunker shots.

The correct target

Center of the green, one club more than you think. Accept a 30-foot putt as a great result on a long par 3.

Strokes saved

≈ 0.3-0.5 strokes per hole by converting short-siders into two-putts.

“Enough club to reach the middle, not the flag.”

Strokes-saved figures are approximate, based on expected-value (strokes-gained) course management for a mid-handicap golfer (roughly 8-18). These are real ranges, not guarantees.

More hole breakdowns

The Tight Par 4 Uphill Approach Downhill, Downwind Par 3 How to Play a Dogleg Left The Short Par 4 Reachable Par 5
The rest of the picture

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