Carmel Magazine

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT B Y D A N PA S Q U A R I E L L O A N D L A I R D S M A L L he four par-3 holes at Pebble Beach Golf Links will inspire, deceive, and test every aspect of your game. Small, narrow greens, changing wind conditions, elevation, swings, and stun- ning ocean vistas combine to make these holes a challenging par for any golfer. Whether you are playing at Pebble Beach or your home course, having some history can help you determine how to play. Each of the par-3s on Pebble Beach Golf Links are rich in history, starting with the 5th hole, which sits on a bluff some 50 feet above Stillwater Cove. Created by Jack Nicklaus in 1998, this hole plays slightly downhill to a heavi- ly bunkered green, radically different from its predecessor. The original hole, designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, went inland between the 4th green and 6th tee. It played as an uphill inland, and was billed as the only dog- leg par-3 in golf. The new hole, artfully designed to look like it had always been a part of the whole, is 10 yards longer from the back tees, but plays about the same length because of its downhill nature. What makes this hole so tricky is that the green is disguised by several bunkers, every one of them built up to give the illusion that the green is smaller and closer than it is. Trust the yardage; don't be fooled by your eyes. It is actually the sec- ond largest green on the course. The 7th hole is one of the most photographed and dramatic par-3s in the world, not to mention one of the shortest. At 98 yards from the mid- dle teeing ground, players will hit anything from a sand wedge to a mid- iron to the green below. Adapting to the wind conditions is key. Tom Kite, winner of the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, hit a 6-iron here in the final windy round. Decades back, during the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, Sam Snead opted to hit a putter down the path to take the wind out of play. From there he chipped on and sank his putt for par, one of few pars made that day. The longest of the par-3s is the 12th, 201 yards from the tips. It can be a round breaker because it takes a very precise long-iron shot to a wide but very narrow green. The left greenside bunker is almost as big as the green itself. The presence of trees behind the green makes it difficult to gauge the wind. Finally, there's the 17th hole, which at 208 yards from the far back tees used for the U.S. Open is the longest of the par-3s at Pebble Beach, and often plays directly into the wind. In four of the five U.S. Opens played at Pebble Beach, it scored as the toughest hole in relation to par. Jack Nicklaus' miracle 1-iron in 1972 is legendary, as is Tom Watson's chip from the deep rough in 1982 after missing the small, hourglass-shaped green. The course you play may have different par-3 holes that vary in length and design, yet they will be interesting and a key to your round. Play them smart by striving to understand how you can lay them the way they were designed to be played. Here are a few guidelines that will help you play them well: Create a perfect lie: Yes, you should tee up the ball; if the rules of golf give you an advan- tage, take it. Exactly how high you should tee up your ball will vary depending on the size of the club-head and your individual swing. Grip down when between clubs: When your bag doesn't have the perfect club for the conditions and distance to the pin, adjust by selecting a slightly longer club, choke down an inch or two, and take your normal swing. Avoid sucker pins: Don't go hunting for birdie or a hole- in-one when the pin is placed in a chal- lenging spot. A miss to such a pin can easily lead to bogey or worse. Instead, select a more conservative target (e.g. middle of the green), avoid trouble, and earn your par. Adjust your vision: Par-3s can be very deceptive, especially where there is a significant ele- vation change. Trust what you know, not what you perceive, and learn to compensate for the tendency for your eyes to drift left (on downhill holes) or right (on uphill holes). Keep having fun playing and enjoying the game. Pebble Beach Golf Academy, located at the world-renowned Pebble Beach Resorts, features Director Laird Small and Master Instructor Dan Pasquariello. Golf Digest has ranked the two among "America's 50 Best Teachers." Choose between individual or group instruction, including cutting- edge technology and club fitting ser vices. Call 831/622-8650 for more infor- mation or to reser ve a lesson. Par-3s can be very deceptive, especially where there is a significant elevation change. 104 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 4 Planning Ahead to Master Par-3s T

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