Use these tips to play smarter and get lower scores on the longer par-5s.
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We've all been there before: Standing on the tee box and staring down a long par-5 that leaves us feeling a little intimidated.
There may be plenty of bunkers on both sides of the narrow fairway, or water just waiting to swallow your golf ball, but it's important to avoid letting this type of hole ruin your round.
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How to see more success in 5 holes
Since a par-5 can make or break a scorecard, it's important to develop a plan and trust the process. So instead of letting the extra length or obstacles get in your way, here are 10 things you need to do to be successful in 5 holes.
1. Check the hole
How wide or narrow is the hole, and how many hazards or obstacles do you have? Obviously, you want to avoid accidents and any out of bounds, so if you have to move around a lot, you'll want to be extra careful.
To get a good idea of what's coming down the hole, I suggest using the Golflogix app, which has a cool flyover mode that's perfect when it comes to planning your strategy — especially on unfamiliar courses.
2. Be aware of “no-go” areas
You want to focus on where you would like to hit your golf ball, but keep the areas in mind completely the need to avoid. This is where proper club selection begins and knowing your range.
If you're keeping notes in a book, it can be helpful to put an “X” on those fairways, which can be a great way to organize as you navigate the par-5 holes. Avoid the temptation to always hit driver if it doesn't make sense, as playing it safe by going a little over the tee may be the smartest play.
3. Play in wide landing zones
As mentioned above, you don't always need to increase the distance just because a par-5 is a long hole. If there are “no-go” spots that add stress to your shot, consider drilling down and getting a wider landing area – which adds some insurance if you're shooting slower.
When you're trying to decide whether or not you want to be aggressive, ask yourself this simple question: “Is the payoff worth the gamble?”
If the profit is not visible, I suggest playing for wider targets so that your small misses will not cause any additional penalties.
4. Enter your game shot
Of course, your tee shot is important on every hole you play, but it's especially important on a par-5 hole – as anything out of play or trouble can make each shot more difficult.
Based on your hitting ability, always be smart with your club selection off the tee. If your driver is struggling, it may be wise to take a shorter club with more loft to help keep the ball on the fairway. Playing stressful golf is not playing smart golf.
5. Choose the clubs you are most comfortable with
OK, so you hit a good shot, but you still have a lot of distance between you and the green. While many beginners like to go back and forth between “questing” using 3 woods, that thought can get you into some trouble.
Rather than being aggressive – especially if it's a club you don't normally hit well – choose a club you're comfortable with. That can be a different fairway wood, a hybrid, or a low iron that allows you to hit it straight, gain some distance, build your confidence, and allow for a comfortable third shot to the green.
6. How to shoot – avoid the short side
As you approach the green, make mental notes of where it's OK to miss — as there's a good chance you won't hit the right shot. When I do this, I suggest avoiding the short side, which is where the ball ends up on the side of the green that the pin is closest to.
It can be good to be aggressive, but it's much smarter to find a landing spot that leaves you in a better position for your next shot. By leaving it short-sided, it puts more stress on your short game and may require you to lift instead of chip.
7. Know the green slope
Just knowing the general tilt of the green can be really helpful. This way, when your ball lands on the green from a tee shot or a pitch or chip shot, it rolls toward the green rather than away from it. Use the course to your advantage rather than being surprised by how it controls the direction of the ball.
8. Leave yourself with a comfortable approach distance
If at any time you can't get your shot all the way to the green, just plan to leave yourself with some comfortable distance to get up and down in the short game. So if you really struggle from 30 yards in, but have great success from about 50 yards, it's okay to get something out of your way to feel more confident with your wedges.
Know what distances you prefer on long par-5s, and use this as part of your strategy.
9. Know your short game yards
Similar to the above, it's important to know what your yards are in the short game – as this area can make a world of difference to your scorecard. So you not only need to consider and subtract, but also indeed you need to be able to control your grades.
If you are a new or experienced golfer and don't have a lot of time to practice golf, try balancing your short game. To help, I've developed a tutorial on Uscreen to teach you how to do just that, which can lead to more pars and birdies on these long par-5s.
10. Dial in your distance control setting
Once you can nail your first putt, it will help avoid those bad (and frustrating) scores that can ruin a round. To do this, you must know how to control the distance on the putt, which reduces the pressure and leaves you with a kickable second putt.
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