Retief Goosen: How to Dominate Par 3s

How to Dominate Par 3s

1. Check the Wind
Wind is always the
biggest factor on a golf
course. It affects your
club selection and the
type of shot you want to
hit, and since you only
have one chance to hit
the green on a par 3,
adjusting for wind is a
critical step.

As soon as
I reach the tee I pluck
some long grass from
the side of the teeing
area and toss it into
the air. The direction
the grass blows indicates
the direction of the wind.

Once I know the wind,
I pair its direction to the
pin position. On this hole
the pin is on the right. If
the wind is off the right,
I'll aim at the left side of
the green and play a cut.

If the wind is off the left
I'll aim at the center of the
green and try to hold the
ball against the wind
with a hook.

Obviously, if the wind
is behind me I'll take one
less club than what the
yardage tells me. Do the
opposite if the wind is in
your face.