Jack Woods

Don’t automatically reach for your driver on short par 4s

Don’t always dive for the driver on short par 4s.

Short par 4s offer a great opportunity to sneak a birdie - but only if they are attacked correctly.

Too often amateur golfers pull the driver from the bag in an effort to get as close to the green as possible. This regularly leads to awkward 50 yard pitch shots over bunkers as illustrated in the main picture on the opposite page, a shot most players spend very little time practicing. Almost all golfers spend the majority of their range time hitting full shots so it makes sense to leave a full shot into greens where possible.

A great example of this is here on the 3rd hole at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. It measures 333 yards from the back tees, the green is raised from the fairway and there are pesky bunkers guarding the front - places to avoid.

Hitting an iron from the tee leaves me a full sand wedge into the green (pictured left), offering the best chance of stopping the ball quickly near the hole.

You might even want to

leave your tee shot further back if you are more comfortable with your mid irons - it’s certainly better than sweating over which club to use for that fiddly little half shot.

So, the next time you’re on a short par 4, don’t automatically reach for the big stick. Plan for your favoured yardage into the green and watch your scores drop.

Jack Woods is a PGA Teaching Professional at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. For more information, visit dubaigolf.com

“It makes sense to leave a full shot into short holes where possible.”