How to Hit a Tee Shot on a Par 3
To hit a good tee shot on a par 3, choose the club that carries the ball to the middle of the green, tee it up low, aim away from the worst trouble and make your normal, smooth swing. A ball anywhere on the green gives you a chance of par, and a putt for birdie.
Par 3s are the only holes where you get a perfect lie for your approach shot, because you're allowed to tee the ball up. Here's how to make the most of it.
Step 1: Get the right number
Par 3 yardages on the card are usually measured to the middle of the green, but the flag can be well in front of or behind that. Check:
- Where the pin is: front, middle or back.
- The carry to the front edge, especially if there's water or a bunker short.
- Elevation: a tee well above the green plays shorter; an uphill shot plays longer.
- Wind: into the wind, take more club. With it behind, less.
If you're new to these holes, par 3 vs par 4 vs par 5 explains how they differ.
Step 2: Choose the club
Pick the club that reaches the middle of the green with your normal swing, not your best one. If you're between clubs, the longer club and a smooth swing is usually the better choice, because most amateur misses on par 3s finish short.
The exception: when there's serious trouble behind the green, such as out of bounds or a steep drop, the shorter club is safer.
Step 3: Use the teeing area
The rules let you place your ball anywhere in the teeing area, a rectangle between the two tee markers and up to two club-lengths behind them. You can stand outside it, but the ball must be inside.
| Situation | Where to tee up |
|---|---|
| Trouble on the left | Left side, aiming away from it towards the right |
| Trouble on the right | Right side, aiming away from it towards the left |
| Bad patch of ground | Move back up to two club-lengths for a better stance |
Step 4: Tee it low
With an iron, tee the ball just above the grass, so only a little of the tee is showing. The aim is the same strike you'd make from a perfect fairway lie: ball first, then a small divot after it. Teeing an iron too high encourages a sweeping swing and shots that pop up.
With a hybrid or fairway wood on a long par 3, tee it a little higher, but still low compared with a driver.
Step 5: Aim at the safe target
Pick a target, not just a direction. On most par 3s that's the centre of the green. If the pin is tucked next to a bunker or water, aim at the side of the green away from it. A long two-putt for par is a good result; a ball in a penalty area means a likely double bogey.
Then make your normal swing. Par 3s tempt people to swing hard for a few extra yards, but a smooth swing with one more club gives a better strike and a straighter ball.
Common par 3 mistakes
- Picking the club for the yardage on the card, without checking the pin or wind.
- Coming up short time after time. Check your carry distances with the golf club distance chart.
Play par 3s in Mashy
Mashy courses are built from par 3s and par 4s, played with irons and wedges: the 7 iron carries 150 yards, the pitching wedge 112 and the lob wedge 66. Pick the club, set your aim spot and use the dotted notch on the meter to judge power. Only a putt can drop in Mashy, so the best score on a par 3 is a birdie 2. Closest to the pin mode is pure par 3 tee-shot practice: one shot on each of a course's par 3s, with the feet from the hole added up and the lowest total winning. Closest to the pin explained covers how the format works on a real course.
Frequently asked questions
Should you tee up on a par 3?
Yes, most golfers tee the ball up on a par 3 because the rules allow it and it gives a perfect lie. With an iron, keep the tee low so the ball sits just above the grass. Some players prefer to hit off the turf, which is also allowed inside the teeing area.
How high should I tee an iron on a par 3?
Low, with the ball just above the top of the grass so only a little of the tee shows. You want to strike it the same way as a ball on the fairway, hitting the ball first. A high tee with an iron tends to cause skied shots that come up short.
What club should I use on a 150-yard par 3?
Use whichever club carries about 150 yards for you with a smooth swing, after allowing for wind, elevation and pin position. For many amateurs that's somewhere around a mid iron, but carry distances vary a lot between players, so it's worth knowing your own numbers.
How far behind the tee markers can you tee up?
Up to two club-lengths behind the front line of the tee markers, and anywhere between the markers side to side. The ball must be inside this teeing area, though your feet can be outside it. Teeing up in front of the markers is not allowed.
What is the best score on a par 3 in Mashy?
A birdie 2. In Mashy only a putt can drop, so a tee shot that reaches the cup lips out and a hole in one isn't possible. The best realistic result is hitting the green from the tee and holing the first putt, which also earns a coin in stroke play and daily rounds.