Is hitting the fairway the main goal?
No. The goal is to minimize expected speedgolf score:
SGS = 60(strokes) + run time + golf time
A ball in ordinary rough with a clear shot may cost only a few seconds compared with a fairway ball.
Are offline drives expensive because of extra running?
Usually not. On an open 350-yard hole, a 50-yard offline drive costs only about four extra running seconds. Even 75 yards offline costs only about nine seconds.
So what misses are expensive?
Misses that create:
- penalty strokes
- searches
- blocked shots or punch-outs
- bunker setup and raking
- long detours around major hazards
Is 3-wood automatically safer than driver?
No. Driver often has a larger face and higher MOI, and many golfers have similar or better dispersion with driver. Compare your actual shot patterns, not conventional wisdom.
How valuable is driver distance?
An extra 20 yards off the tee may be worth roughly 1.4 to 1.5 strokes over a full round, or about 84 to 90 SGS seconds.
What is the main speedgolf cost of driver?
Teeing time. If driver adds four seconds on 14 holes, that costs 56 seconds. A fast, reliable teeing process can preserve much of the distance benefit.
Why might 3-wood still be better?
Because it can also be hit from the ground. In a limited-club bag, 3-wood may improve second shots on par 5s and long par 4s.
What is the practical rule?
Choose the club-and-bag combination that:
- advances the ball far
- keeps penalty, search, and punch-out risk low
- works well on second shots
- minimizes teeing and handling time
Bottom line
Do not choose 3-wood merely because it feels conservative. Hit driver when it gives meaningful distance with similar costly-miss risk. Choose 3-wood when its versatility or materially better outcome distribution produces a lower expected SGS.