Hard Pan

Extremely firm, compacted ground conditions typically found in desert courses, dry climates, or areas with minimal grass coverage, creating challenging playing conditions that require adjusted technique and club selection. Hard pan lies offer little cushioning beneath the ball, making clean contact crucial and chunked shots particularly costly. Playing from hard pan requires confidence, precise ball-striking, and often more lofted clubs to ensure clean contact. These conditions are common in links golf and desert courses, where firm ground creates unique strategic considerations. Understanding hard pan play helps golfers adapt to various course conditions and develop versatile shot-making skills.