Great Bear Golf Club features five distinctive par-3 holes, each demanding a different shot shape and strategy. One of the most dramatic is Hole 16, a par-3 that rewards precise club selection and a committed swing.
In this short feature, General Manager Howie VanBuskirk shares how he approaches his favorite hole on our Jack Nicklaus Signature layout and the key decisions he makes before pulling the trigger.
Watch: Howie’s Approach to 16
Smart Checklist Before You Swing
Use this quick routine the next time you step onto the 16th tee:
- Confirm the true yardage. Check the day’s tee marker and the pin sheet; note if the hole is playing into, down, or across the wind.
- Pick a landing zone, not just the pin. Middle of the green is often the highest-percentage target on a demanding par-3.
- Choose the club for the carry. Favor the number that carries your landing zone comfortably; accept a putt from 20–30 feet over a short-sided miss.
- Match ball flight to the day. If wind is up, take an extra club and flight it lower; if calm, commit to your stock trajectory.
- Commit to tempo. Most par-3 misses come from decelerating with “too much club.” Take the club you believe in and swing your normal rhythm.
Howie’s Keys to Scoring on 16
- Play to your comfortable miss. If one side of the green offers a safer up-and-down, aim accordingly.
- Respect front and back tiers. When the hole is tucked, prioritize the correct tier rather than hunting a risky edge.
- Greenside plan. If you do miss, choose the simplest recovery: putt from the fringe when possible, bump when you can, and only loft it when you must.
