From: brash@reg.triumf.ca (BRASH, ED)
Subject: Re: 3 Club Tournament--Which Three?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: TRIUMF: Tri-University Meson Facility
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 22:09:00 GMT

In article <1992Sep1.195326.12407@csc.ti.com>, jimv@dadd.ti.com writes...
>In article <1992Sep1.123004.3293@b11.b11.ingr.com> cottle@b11.b11.ingr.com (Tim Cottle) writes:
>>Our company league is sponsoring a 3 club tournament in a couple of weeks.
>>Having never played in such a thing, I'm wondering--"Which three clubs
>>should I take?".  I don't know anything about the course, having never played
>>it before, and your putter does count as one of the clubs. 
> 
>Ouch, they count the putter.  Boo, hiss.  Poor sportsmanship.  One should not
>be forced to putt with a wood, not "true" golf, blah, blah, blah.
> 
>Well, I've played in a few 3-clubs, but all allowed putter, so I'll try to 
>figure this one out...
> 
>1st of all, no one can tell you what the optimum clubs are without atleast:
> 
>1)  Course    - So you haven't played it?  OK.  Go play it.  No?  Get a 
>                scorecard and see how it's layed out.  6K/7K yds, hazards...
> 
>2)  YOUR game - What is the best part of your game, on ANY course. 
> 
>3)  Putting   -  Obviously the MOST crucial factor here.  You will need to 
>                 determine if you can putt with a wood. 
> 
>IMHO - from the info you provided, you probably are more comfortable with
>       hitting the 3-wood off the Tee.  Fine.  This is where you need to see
>       how long the par 4's are to determine what mid-iron you'll need.  If 
>       you CAN putt acceptably with the 3-wood, you will be OK, so you can 
>       use a 5/6-iron and a wedge/9.  You'll use the 3-wood ALL day, so get 
>       used to Teeing it up, fairway (par 5's), and Putting.
>       Recommend: 3-wood, 5-iron, 9-iron.  Need to be able to putt with 3wd
>                  and short chips with 9-iron.
> 
>For me -  I live by, die by, the DRIVER.  Unless the course is under 6K yds, 
>          I bring it along.  As I don't particularly wish to have to learn
>          new skills for a silly tournament, I'll bring my Putter.  The 
>          thought of putting with the Killer Whale would keep me awake at
>          night....  8)   Me: DRIVER, 7-iron, putter.  This leaves me 
>          vulnerable for a par-3 >180yds and a par 4 >450yds.  Pretty good
>          odds.  I'd rather figure out how to pitch/chip with a 7, than 
>          putt with a sledge-hammer...
> 
>---
>===========================================================================
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>|  \   \  /   /   /  _  \   |  |   |  | |___   /       Jim Vahsen         |
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> 

You could also try putting with a three or four iron.  This works pretty
well and I saw I think Corey Pavin do it in a tournament once and be quite
effective.  Of course, I use a blade style putter anyway so it isn't that 
big of a change.  Just move the ball back in your stance, grip down on the
four iron and keep your hands forward.  This closes the clubface a little 
and decreases the loft.  It also helps you make better contact.

For me, I would take 4-iron, seven-iron, and sand-wedge.  I use my sandwedge
around the greens almost exclusively anyway, and I would get the added benefit
of having a sand club.  This could be crucial if there are a lot of traps on
this course.  I play Tour Edition irons.  They are a bit strong and I am a
big hitter anyway, so I can get about 220 yds out of my four-iron without
killing myself.  I hit seven iron about 175 yds full swing, but can also
hit is about 150 with a cut swing.  This puts me in the range to hit 370-395
yds par 4's (about right ) and means I can be in the range to hit almost
any length par three.

I think the two big advantages of the four-iron over the three wood is accuracy 
off the tee and ability to hit something other than a full swing.  I hit my
three wood maybe 240 on average, but I think I would be hard pressed to hit
it 225 with a knockdown swing.  On the other hand, I think a knockdown shot
with an iron is much much easier.  On say a 360 yard par four, I could hit
the four iron say 190 with a three-quarter swing, and then leave myself a 
full seven iron in.  Also, if I am going to be hitting shots which use
a different swing than normal, I want to be doing it from the fairway where
I have a decent lie.

Of course, if you are shorter hitter than you can take what I just said and
throw it out the window.  The MOST important thing I think is to be able to
get to the green in two on most par fours.  If you leave yourself a par PUTT
on every hole than I think you will clean up.  To do this you have to be
within 10-20 yards of the green on par fours and if you need the three wood/
driver to do it then that is the way it has to be.

Cheers,
Ed.

P.S.  I played in one of these things with just a seven iron and putter and
shot 84 on a medium type course (I was about a 5 h'capper at the time).
The sand really killed me !!!


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