I'm still new to golf and have a strategy question. Today, on a par 3, I hit the green with my drive but 4 putted. It happened like this. Large green, steeply sloped back to front. I hit the green, but just a foot from the back, with the pin being very near the front, perhaps 60 feet away. Not wanting to loose control of a downhill putt, I was too tentative, hence the four putt. I wonder if I should've hit the putt harder, risked the roll off the green on the downhill side, leaving an up hill pitch/putt, which may have been an easier shot. Or, since I was so far away on the green, try pitching closer to the hole before I putted? jaaanson

Uphill putts are easier so it is better to go for the hole and have a 6 or 7 footer back than have 4 feet left downhill. In your case just hit a strong putt and if it goes off it should be ok still

jaaanson wrote:

Or, since I was so far away on the green, try pitching closer to the hole before I putted? jaaanson

I really wouldn't try that. Tho it's allowable, speaking as a golf course maint. employee, I'd have a fit if I saw someone pull out a wedge on the green and take a huge divot out of our carefully maintained greens.

Personally, like m.nugent replied, I'd give it a run at the hole, hope to lag it close, and worst case scenario you have an uphill putt back at it that you can be aggressive with.

Another option would have been to use an 8-iron or 6-iron like a putter. You can generally hit it farther while maintaining the control you have with your putter. If it rolls too far, like M.Nugent said. uphill is better. Go for it.