One of my favorite pieces of golf content comes from the GOAT of professional Tours, the European Tour, and it’s their 500 Ball Challenge. The challenge is to setup one of their players on a par 3 with 500 balls and see if they can hit a hole in one. You may remember we posted about Andy Sullivan’s successful effort here. Anyway, I was watching the latest 500 Ball episode featuring Thomas Pieters and his shot was 165 yards. This made me think, “if I were to do this challenge, what would be my magic par-3 distance?”
I think the first thing to consider is fairly intuitive – what club and can you most comfortably hit to a target? For instance, 105 yards is nice and close, but that can be a dicey range for me to get close (I’m working on it!). So sand wedge is out. Ok, well, for about another 20 yards, I’m using a pitching wedge but not a full swing. I don’t hate it, but I’d rather not have to be cute with my touch. ~120 yards…not preferred. Ideally, I’m taking easy full swings to a comfortable distance. Additionally, I want it to be a club I know I hit easily, consistently, and accurately. That’s immediately a 9 iron or pitching wedge for me. Therefore, my ideal par-3 distance would be somewhere from 130 to 145 yards. Just easy and repeatable full swings, let the club do the work, and get it close.
I also considered an 8 iron, but I tend to over-swing it and pull it. That said, I bet with 500 balls, I could groove a swing with it and get comfortable at that distance. But I’m not doing the 500 ball contest, I’m just thinking of teeing it up on a par 3 in general. So I’m sticking with a 9 iron or pitching wedge, and 130-145 yards to get that hole in one. Final answer.
So what’s your magic par-3 distance? Let us know. Also, if you want to watch the 500 Ball challenge with Thomas Pieters, check it out below. It’s one of my favorites. Very relatable.
8-iron, so 145-150ish.
I tend to find a pull with a 9 or PW on a par three tee boxes (though I love those clubs from the same distance on an approach shot.)
I’d love to give this challenge a try. Logically, I know it’s still a very remote chance, but my ego thinks I could do anything with 500 tries.
I’d have to pick 120 yards and hit my 52 degree gap wedge for the shot. Main reason I’d pick this yardage is that at the range that I practice hitting balls at, the first target in front of me, and therefore the one I warm up on to start every range session is between 120 and 125 yards depending on the day I’m there. So since I hit my Gap wedge to that target every day I practice, it’ only makes sense to pick that yardage for this kind of challenge. But I’d be happy with 150 yards, 9 iron, or 165 yards,8 iron or 180 yards, 7 iron, it I had to go with other than 120 yards. But IF the greens were firm and the ball would NOT hold well, I’d want more yardage to allow for roll out.