Advice - how would you play this hole...

[AmandaJR]

This is a little like out first hole in that you really ought to go for it but the penalty for getting it wrong is far more severe than laying up. We have a ditch that is between 160 and 200 yards to carry, normally into the breeze. Being the first hole ,many lay up, take 2 x 6 irons then pitch on and hope for a putt or 2 at worst. It's low SI so almost everyone gets a shot and you're not displeased with 2 points. If I go for it and clear the ditch I have a straight forward 7 iron and 2 putts for a par but it's that carry - make it and you're off to a good start, miss it and in a Medal you could be out of it...

If 2 wedges and a putt or 2 works for you then I'd keep doing it.

Try and make the carry if you play a bounce game, maybe take a couple, until you're confident naking the shot.
otherwise - Lay-up Girl!!

Thanks - have decided that's the way forwards at the moment. Comps I'll play the lay up and practice rounds take it on until I make it say 75% of the time and then it's time to play it that way. I'll work on the ideal lay up distance/approach this week but am inclined to go wedge/gap wedge rather than 7 iron/chip. Will try both though and assess the best option. Hope the course is quiet on Tue and Thur!

 

[Imurg]

At the end of the day it's the number on the card that counts...
Do what you need to do to keep that number as low as possible...
Get a 9 wood on it...:clap:

 

[AmandaJR]

At the end of the day it's the number on the card that counts...
Do what you need to do to keep that number as low as possible...
Get a 9 wood on it...:clap:

Or driver

 

[Foxholer]

To me this is the definition of a Mickey Mouse hole, I just would not enjoy playing it.

Any mid length par 3 where you consider laying up because of the danger of the tee shot is IMHO a bad design, it's just too penal.

Looking at the course on GoogleMaps there appear to be several holes where a combination of trees and water make the hole too scary, the second shot on the first looks pretty nasty too.

There must be some slow rounds there.

To my mind one or two holes would benefit greatly from a bit of tree felling!

Mickey Mouse was pretty good at getting messages across in quite an amusing way!

This hole is a challenge, not a threat.

Certainly worth considering the lay-up - especially if feeling under pressure - but I'd suggest you learn to take that challenge on.

I often play at a course with 6 Par 3s of which 5 have water as a threat, 4 with seriously large amounts in front and even around the green. I never consider laying up - it's part of the 'fun' of that course. Distances (men's) are 155 (1st!) 185, 125, 170, 180. The last is a hole similar to the one being discussed, though there is a bail-out left.

 

[bobmac]

7 wood :thup:

 

[Jack_bfc]

I agree its a badly designed hole.

we have one, its the 18th, short par 4 therefore stroke 18..

But the white tee is a full 50 yards further back making the carry to the fairway over a significant dip and a ditch to be over 220 yards.

 

[AmandaJR]

7 wood :thup:

Sure is - just lipped out for a birdie today :thup:

 

[bobmac]

Sure is - just lipped out for a birdie today :thup:

Sorted :cheers:

 

[fundy]

OK, I now feel qualified to answer this having played Brampton Park today

First things first, its a cracking par 3 on what is a very decent golf course.

And whats the stress, tees were foreward-ish today we had 165ish slightly downwind to the flag and I hit a 9 iron to about 4 foot - don't see what the problem is

Oh yeah, that was the reload lol, first one hit the big tree on the right right, sadly it somehow survived the pond and was on the strip of land right of that with half a shot to the green. Have to say that is one of the toughest looking pitches Ive ever stood over and duly knocked it too far over the flag and down into the water the far side (was always a choice as to water short or water long whilst trying to keep it under the branches)

 

[AmandaJR]

OK, I now feel qualified to answer this having played Brampton Park today

First things first, its a cracking par 3 on what is a very decent golf course.

And whats the stress, tees were foreward-ish today we had 165ish slightly downwind to the flag and I hit a 9 iron to about 4 foot - don't see what the problem is

Oh yeah, that was the reload lol, first one hit the big tree on the right right, sadly it somehow survived the pond and was on the strip of land right of that with half a shot to the green. Have to say that is one of the toughest looking pitches Ive ever stood over and duly knocked it too far over the flag and down into the water the far side (was always a choice as to water short or water long whilst trying to keep it under the branches)

Yep that strip on the right has a teeny window of opportunity to miss the branches and if not it's a wet ending short or hoping to keep it low and stay out of the water on the far side! Glad you enjoyed the course and we're really pleased we joined there for sure. A good challenge on many of the holes where it's about accuracy and not distance - in fact forum distances would find trouble of most tees!

 

[fundy]

Yep that strip on the right has a teeny window of opportunity to miss the branches and if not it's a wet ending short or hoping to keep it low and stay out of the water on the far side! Glad you enjoyed the course and we're really pleased we joined there for sure. A good challenge on many of the holes where it's about accuracy and not distance - in fact forum distances would find trouble of most tees!

Very much a thinkers course Amanda, I havent hit a single wood all day (partly through choice of not hitting them well but would only have hit them on a couple of holes at most). Some really strong holes, especially early on, think the first is a cracking hole as is 6 (and the bacon roll after it was very welcome). All the par 3s are really strong holes for me, only hole I wasnt totally convinced by was 16.

Course was in very good condition (only negative being a few of the strategically well placed fairway bunkers were very stony) and we received a warm welcome. Would expect its a very decent club to be a member of and glad you are happy there. We will definitely return (the joys of the smart golfer card) and give it another go, I expect it becomes a little easier having had a sight of a few of the holes before.

Biggest downside was seeing Phillys name on a board as soon as you walk in the clubhouse lol

 

[AmandaJR]

Very much a thinkers course Amanda, I havent hit a single wood all day (partly through choice of not hitting them well but would only have hit them on a couple of holes at most). Some really strong holes, especially early on, think the first is a cracking hole as is 6 (and the bacon roll after it was very welcome). All the par 3s are really strong holes for me, only hole I wasnt totally convinced by was 16.

Course was in very good condition (only negative being a few of the strategically well placed fairway bunkers were very stony) and we received a warm welcome. Would expect its a very decent club to be a member of and glad you are happy there. We will definitely return (the joys of the smart golfer card) and give it another go, I expect it becomes a little easier having had a sight of a few of the holes before.

Biggest downside was seeing Phillys name on a board as soon as you walk in the clubhouse lol

Interestingly we hated the 16th (Badgers Alley) before joining there and always called it a Mickey Mouse hole. We both now see it as a really challenging hole where being in position off the tee is exceptionally difficult with very little room for error. Even then the approach just seems to visually play tricks and generally it's the fastest green on the course so that can catch you out. 17 is also a tough hole so not an easy finish to the round.

I tend to feel that if the 1st doesn't get you the 4th will or vice versa! It can be daunting when giving shots in matchplay as 1, 3 and 4 all likely to be shot holes.

We were only moaning about the fairway bunkers as we sat on the beach at Wells on Wednesday and I suggested next time bringing some balls and a sand wedge and decent practice without fear of dinging the club!

 

[fundy]

Interestingly we hated the 16th (Badgers Alley) before joining there and always called it a Mickey Mouse hole. We both now see it as a really challenging hole where being in position off the tee is exceptionally difficult with very little room for error. Even then the approach just seems to visually play tricks and generally it's the fastest green on the course so that can catch you out. 17 is also a tough hole so not an easy finish to the round.

I tend to feel that if the 1st doesn't get you the 4th will or vice versa! It can be daunting when giving shots in matchplay as 1, 3 and 4 all likely to be shot holes.

We were only moaning about the fairway bunkers as we sat on the beach at Wells on Wednesday and I suggested next time bringing some balls and a sand wedge and decent practice without fear of dinging the club!

Yes the SIs very front loaded on the front 9, probably against the guidelines Id expect. Hit 2 good shots into the first but 3 jabbed it, birdied 2 and 3 then made a mess of 4 (shame i found the initial tee shot lol). Seemed a course id make a lot of birdies and a lot of bogies at, the fight being to not turn the bogies into bigger numbers.

16 I expect we hit it too far down, but at the neck essentially there is nowhere to go, the other thing you cant tell from the tee is anything left even if you get a drop you still have no shot left at all. I expect given another go id hit even less off the tee and try and leave 140ish in from the widest part, ideally up the right (sounds easy now i write it hehe)

17 a good hole but again hard to gauge how far to hit it off the tee, I hit a really good shot in there and left it hanging for birdie