Is this Muni the best par 3 in America? + a Ladder Drill to perfect your timing

TIPS & DRILLS
Timing Off? To Fix Your Tempo & Sequencing, Try this Ladder Drill
Once you’ve mastered this, you’ll be unstoppable on approach shots

chrissteelgolf

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To Recap…

We’ve all been there- first you hit the push-fade. Then you over-compensate and out comes the pull-hook. If you feel like your timing is off and you just can’t seem to square the club face with the proper tempo, the ladder drill is the perfect fix. Dubai-based instructor Chris Steele explains:

-STEP 1: Grab 10 balls, and begin by hitting your first shot at what you would consider 10% of your full swing speed.
-STEP 2: With each new ball, increase your swing speed by 10% until you reach a full, 100% swing on the 10th ball. Every shot below 50% speed will feel like you’re swinging in slow motion, but don’t skip over these shots.
-STEP 3: Challenge yourself to move up the ladder, down the ladder, and in between. Most amateurs will never practice anything less than a 100% swing, but if you’re playing into the wind and need to take some spin off with a longer iron, a 70-80% swing may be your secret weapon.

PRO TIP. As you become more comfortable controlling your tempo, take note of your yardages with each club at 70-80%. Having even a single alternative club you can play at each distance will turn your bag into a Swiss army knife.

COURSES
The Best Par 3 Course in the US?
Designed by Hall of Famer and self-proclaimed “par-3-ophile” Raymond Floyd

Palm Beach Golf Course - Par 3
Palm Beach, FL

One of the knocks on golf as a hobby has always been how long a full 18-hole round can take. Between travel to and from the course, warm-up time and the round itself, it’s not uncommon to be away from the house for 6-7 hours. Fortunately for all of us with a golf addiction, the par 3 golf course is making a big-time comeback in the U.S. Course owners are realizing the demographics of golf are changing, and a 35-year-old with a demanding job and a young family at home can no longer slog their way through a 5 hour round on the weekend. But they still want quality. Destination resorts like Gamble Sands and the Streamsong have built par 3 courses that might even be a step above your typical weekend track in terms of quality.

The Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course is a prime example; it’s not your grandpa’s pitch-and-putt. It’s a legitimate 18-hole short course with holes ranging from 81-211 yards. Situated between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, you’re treated to dramatic water views throughout the entire course. Designed in 1961 by legendary architects Dick Wilson and Joe Lee (the men behind Bay Hill, TPC Blue Monster at Doral & Cog Hill “Dubsdread”), the course was originally privately owned but was sold to the town of Palm Beach in 1973. That’s right- it’s a muni! After a few years of hardship, Raymond Floyd (a self-proclaimed “par-3-ophile”) led a pro-bono re-design in 2009. And the end result is a course where virtually every hole feels like it could be one of the best par 3’s at a major championship venue.

And if we haven’t sold you yet, take it from the pros that are frequently spotted at Palm Beach. Jesper Parnevik is often seen on the range and Morgan Pressel recently made a hole-in-one on the 18th hole. And of course, Floyd himself makes regular appearances. With views like what you see above, how could you not become a frequent visitor? As Golf Digest once wrote, “There’s no other course quite like it… It would be impossible to put a price tag on the property — a half billion? Probably far more, but the town’s not selling, not now, not ever. That would be like Honolulu selling Waikiki Beach.”

Fun fact: Sam Snead won a 2-day LPGA event at the course in 1962 against a 14-woman field, the only man that can claim an LPGA title. Put that one in your back pocket for trivia night.

Rates: $36-$47 for local residents, $46-$62 for non-residents

Check out this video from @palmbeachpar3

palmbeachpar3

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STATISTICS
Stat of the Day: Tiger Woods Incredible ‘Strokes Gained’ Stat from 2004-2012
presented by…

The Stat: Between 2004-2012, Tiger Woods gained an incredible 2.79 strokes over the top 40 players in tournament play. Over 50% of this difference can be attributed to his approach shot play (see video here)

The Takeaway: The statistics prove, unequivocally, that approach shots offer the most opportunity for any player to separate themselves from the competition. In 2024 on the PGA Tour, for example, the top players gained the most shots (on average) in the following order:

• Approach: 38-40%

• Putting: 30-32%

• Driving: 20-22%

• Short game: 8-10%

So if you really want to go low, start by focusing on shots from 100-200 yards.

TODAY’S TRIVIA
Answer to Win a Set of 3 Mizuno T24 Denim Copper Wedges
(1 winner chosen on 11/30/24 across all November trivia entries, 1,000 correct respondents minimum)

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