COURSE CADDIES :: Shady Acres :: Hole 3 :: PAR 3


Welcome to the Course Caddy, a look at each and every hole in Golden Tee 2014. Over the next few months, we will spend each day looking at a different design, starting with Hole 1 on the first course and ending with the final hole on the final design.

We want—no, NEED—your help in this process!

How do you play a particular design? Share your thoughts on strategy and YouTube uploads in the comment section. Your feedback is integral in the complete understanding of the design.

All holes will then be available for reference on the Course Caddy page—a bookmark must for the entire encyclopedia! Enjoy.

 

Shady Acres No. 3


If you’re looking for the most difficult par-3s in Golden Tee 2014, you found them. Not necessarily with Hole No. 3—although don’t sleep on it, either—but with Shady Acres. The designs will become more difficult as you progress, and walking away with birdie should not be assumed on the shortest of holes.

The first par-3 is without question the easiest to birdie. Hole 3 offers up a uniquely designed green, slight slope and a bunker just beyond the back portion of the green.

Where the pin is located should dictate how you attack this hole. If it’s in the middle or back of the green, approaching the hole without spin is a solid strategy. Because there is minimal break and the wind will likely be small early on, it gives you a great opportunity to be comfortably aggressive while going for the hole-in-one.

If the pin is tucked in the front, this will require a bit more thought.

While typically the immediate reaction would be to hammer the backspin button and go for the ace, Bite might be the safer overall option. Backspin will still work, of course, but the last you want to do is spin off the front of the green and be left with a chip.

Instead, using bite will still offer up enough spin to send your ball backwards without the risk of losing the birdie.

 

If you have enough room and you feel comfortable, backspin is a reasonable way to attack this design. But don’t par this hole by being overly aggressive. They’ll be plenty of time for that.

What works for you here?