by Jessica A. Tucker

Created on: June 06, 2010

In the sometimes relentless game of golf, the thought of playing a par four golf hole can be a daunting experience even though it should be thought of no differently than any other hole on the golf course. By simply changing the way you think about par fours, reaching the green in two to three strokes should be attainable in no time.

A par four golf hole is best thought of in four parts, representing the four stokes, broken down into the tee shot, (hopefully) a fairway shot, the approach shot into the green, and a putt or two.

The tee shot

The tee shot, when playing a par four golf hole should be the most looked forward to, shot on the golf course. The tee shot is one of the only opportunities on the golf course where control does not always have to be of concern. The tee shot is where most will pull the driver out of their bag and let it rip, however, the use of your driver off the tee on a par four, is not always your safest or smartest bet. This is also a part of the golf game where a par can quickly turn into a double bogey if your tee shot goes somehow awry. Always remember, just because you are on the tee box does not mean you need to swing out of your socks.

In the fairway

Provided that all went well off the tee, your ball will be laying happily in the fairway making for an easy second shot into, or towards the green. When playing a par four golf hole, this shot will usually call upon the use of a fairway wood, hybird club, long to short iron, or a wedge to get the ball as close to the green and hole, as possible. Depending upon the many factors that can arise during a game of golf, the second and third shots are also another place strokes can add up quickly if mistakes are made.

The approach

Ultimately, the third shot to any par four golf hole is reserved for the approach shot into the green, whether it be with a mid iron, a short iron, or a wedge of some degree. At this point, factors such as pin placement and green side bunkers, to the layout of the green, all need to be considered before the club for the shot is chosen and the shot is taken. A desirable approach shot will leave the ball only a short putt from the hole and that much closer to a par.

On the green

Depending on where that little white ball decided to land on the green, most greens should be able to be holed out in an average of two strokes. Like every other shot on the golf course, putting is just the same. It takes the same amount of concentration, and same amount of care and effort to drop a nice putt as it does to bomb the ball down the fairway.

After playing a par four golf hole, anyone who finds themselves walking away with two to three over, down to par, or even birdie or eagle deserves a pat on the back. All in all, a par four golf hole can be looked at as unnerving but should be thought of no differently than any other hole. It is all just part of the game.

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