Water · par 3 · twice a round
Island Green — How to Play the Water Par 3 in Daily Holes
A short hole with a green ringed by water. There is no bailout: carry the water and stop the ball, or drop and try again.
What it is
Two holes in every round are island par 3s, between 110 and 175 yards long. The green is larger than on other holes, but a wide moat of water surrounds it on every side. Between the tee and the water there is only fairway, rough and a bunker or two.
What it costs
A ball that finishes in the water costs one penalty stroke. You do not replay from the tee: the ball is moved to a marked drop zone in front of the water, leaving a short pitch over the moat. A tee shot that hits the green and rolls off the back into the water is treated exactly the same as one that never carried.
Why rollout matters most
The green is one of the fastest surfaces on the course; only bridges and cart paths roll further. A ball that pitches near the back edge often keeps running into the water, and green slope bends the roll as it slows. The safest landing spot is the front half of the green, so the ball uses the putting surface to stop.
How to play it
Choose the club whose carry reaches the front of the green, not the flag, and allow for the wind before you lock the line. A pure strike adds distance and tightens the spread, so a well-timed short iron is better than an eased long one. If you do find the water, take the pitch from the drop zone calmly: a one-putt ring finish still saves bogey.