RSS NEWS
Course Caddies: Pearl Lagoon No. 4
The First Par-5 of the Round is Nothing You Can't Handle

This year’s breakdowns now include video of each hole being played, although your feedback is most appreciated on these designs. How do you play? Share your strategy or Golden Tee Great Shots in the comments below.

All holes will then be available for reference on the Course Caddies page—a bookmark must for the entire encyclopedia! Enjoy, and stay tuned for plenty more.

 

Pearl Lagoon No. 4


Don’t let that small slab of nestled fairway on the right fool you; it’s a lovely ploy from our magnificent course creator to send you to a please you don’t need to be. There are no tricks or gimmicks here. Playing Hole 4 on Pearl Lagoon is about hitting one long shot and following it up with a solid approach. That will be your money shot.

Now, distance off the tee can help. A high tee will work, as will a big A-1 if the setup calls for it. That extra cut will only enhance distance, although don’t get too fancy here and risk going in the sand. While the added yardage is nice—and it could make life easier shortly after—you can reach the green from many places. Well, places in the fairway.

The second shot is where it can get dicey. Now, the good news is that there really aren’t any catastrophic items in sight. Even if you overcut your shot and hit the small-ish mountain you have to hit around, you should still be in good shape. And if you hit up near the green and into the sand, you should be able to pitch your ball onto the green with a chance at birdie.

That’s all fine and dandy. The better news is that eagle is absolutely possible here and you should approach this hole with that “three” mentality.

In some cases when the tee box is forward and you have an out wind, you may not have to cut it around the mountain. In most cases, however, some sort of cut will be necessary.

Pin placement and wind will ultimately dictate this next shot. If the pin is on the left side of the green, you may want to be careful when using backspin or bite. Applying this spin to a cut shot will send your ball moving right as soon as it lands. Although it will slow you down, it can also be detrimental to your cause.

Roll, surprisingly, can get you closer to the hole in many situations when you need a little extra kick.

 

The issue on this shot is that the ball really hangs out to the left, and anything left of the green will undoubtedly find the sand. If you’re going to miss, miss for the green. A long putt is preferred over a mid-range chip from deep in the bunker. But you knew this already.

If the pin is on the right portion of the green, take advantage of the movement bite or backspin will bring you. By applying slight cut toward A and then 1—plus putting on spin—your ball will land and immediately kick toward the hole. The amount of cut necessary will vary toward shot to shot, although it should absolutely work.

You’ve got this, and again, even when you don’t the results shouldn’t be all that bad. Don’t come into it thinking about settling for a four; aim for a three and adjust expectations if needed.

How do you play?

Golden Tee PGA TOUR 2024
ACTIVITY
  • Related
  • Recent
  • Most Viewed
Golden Tee Golf mobile