COURSE CADDIES :: Turtle Island :: Hole 12 :: 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.

 

Turtle Island Hole No. 12

There are many holes on Turtle Island that are worth taking chances on. Hole 12 is not one of them.

That’s not to say that this par-3 cannot be conquered. It can be—perhaps you’ve mastered it a handful of times. But many looks on this design can be challenging, and leaving yourself a manageable birdie putt should be your goal each.

How you decide to play this hole will depend greatly on two different variables: the location of the pin and your club set.

Club set, more than anything, will dictate what type of spin you use on various setups. Obviously the type up ball you use will impact this as well. The more loft you use, the more spin you’ll generate. This will be something to consider for various clubs and distances.

Pin placement will also be something to consider, and this will dictate how you attack. If the pin is near the front of the green, Backspin or Bite will likely be your desired option. Be careful, though. Anything short or right will likely mean a trip to the bottom of the ocean.

If you can manage the distance just right, however, it could mean a trip to the bottom of the cup.

If the pin is in the middle or back portion of the green, you have a few more options. You can still risk spinning off the green if you happen to miss right. (Note: Don’t miss right.)

More than likely, however, you’ll want to attack this shot with some caution. Bite is a great spin selection in this instance, and getting your ball to settle will be priority No. 1. With the right distance, you might be able to do much more than that.

 

Whatever you do, make sure you hit the green here. It sounds simple, although you’ll be handed a few sticky situations here—between clubs, awkward pins, difficult winds and more.

This is not the time to play aggressive. This is the time to play smart.

What works for you here?