At a disadvantage?

[chrisd]

I'd want to start on the 1st

We have a 2 tee start in comps, I don't like starting on the 10th for a different reason. It's a par 5 and, for me, when played in the correct order it's a birdie chance, decent drive and a rescue club on possibly, played as the 1st it's iffy whether you can stonk a decent drive to the narrow fairway and it's not a shot hole like the 1st has just become for me

 

[Foxholer]

Big competition at your club.
Vast majority of players going off the 1st tee, but a few, including yourself, are starting on a tricky par 3, 180 yards with a lot of trouble around, and a high stroke index. You're not shotting.
Would you consider yourself at a disadvantage having to make your first shot of the day an almost perfect strike with an iron compared to those facing a lower stroke index par 4 with a wide fairway where you usually pick up a couple of points??

Yes! But that's not an iron for me!

Fairly used to playing an evil Par 3 as the 1st (with a shot) though!

 

[Smiffy]

Just reminds me of playing in a charity day at Bearwood Lakes.
Shotgun start and we were off the 3rd, which is a tricky par 3.
Nearest the pin prize on that hole and I didn't feel very confident of peppering the flag with my first shot of the day.

 

[Hobbit]

Might feel like a harder start but you'll be warmed up by the time you play the 1st & 2nd as your last two holes. I reckon you'll actually end up with a better score overall even if you don't score well on the par 3.

 

[SaintHacker]

I'd much prefer to start on the par 3. My reasoning is that I'm likely to bugger it up at any time, so take a point and run, knowing I will be fully warmed up by the time I get to the easier par 4 and have a decent chance of a birdie.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have a tough opener (SI 10) so it's nothing new starting with one. I wouldn't be too phased and if you do drop a point, there are plenty of other holes to make that up on.

 

[richart]

I don't mind so much starting with a par three if it is a fairly long one, and I can hit a hybrid or longer into it. Hate short ones though where you are hitting something like a nine iron. Our shortest par three is the 12th which is normally a wedge or nine iron. Started a shotgun comp there and I was so worried about a shank that I knifed it thirty yards through the back. Don't think I have ever done that before or since.

My favourite opening hole has to be at the Old Course. Even I can hit that fairway, well so far.

 

[gazr99]

My game is so inconsistent it wouldn't matter.

 

[Imurg]

I don't mind so much starting with a par three if it is a fairly long one, and I can hit a hybrid or longer into it. Hate short ones though where you are hitting something like a nine iron. Our shortest par three is the 12th which is normally a wedge or nine iron. Started a shotgun comp there and I was so worried about a shank that I knifed it thirty yards through the back. Don't think I have ever done that before or since.

My favourite opening hole has to be at the Old Course. Even I can hit that fairway, well so far.

I would say there's a definite disadvantage at somewhere like Blackamoor - here's a choice, tee off the first or tee off the 15th( I think).....give me the par 4 any day of the week!

 

[ADB]

I had the same where I was playing in a large society and we had to tee off on about the 3rd from memory which had a 150 yard carry over water a small green (forget the course) - and closest to the pin prize was a new Motocaddy. Perhaps inevitably I was reloading rather than measuring the closest to the pin.....

 

[richart]

I would say there's a definite disadvantage at somewhere like Blackamoor - here's a choice, tee off the first or tee off the 15th( I think).....give me the par 4 any day of the week!

Harry Colt liked to ease you into a round, so the first hole was not supposed to be too difficult. He did make up for it later with our 15th though. Think he might have had a moody on when he thought of that hole. I understand Hawkeye is a big fan of it.

 

[GreiginFife]

The par 3 sounds like it could be a mid round card wrecker. Best to get it out of the way early in my book.

 

[Smiffy]

Might feel like a harder start but you'll be warmed up by the time you play the 1st & 2nd as your last two holes.

Errr Brian. If we're starting at the 14th, the 12th and 13th will be our last two holes

 

[Smiffy]

Harry Colt liked to ease you into a round, so the first hole was not supposed to be too difficult. He did make up for it later with our 15th though. Think he might have had a moody on when he thought of that hole. I understand Hawkeye is a big fan of it.

I hate the bloody thing. And your 6th.
Two definite "card wreckers" for me.
I hate to say it, but my head always drops as I'm approaching those two tees

 

[Hobbit]

Errr Brian. If we're starting at the 14th, the 12th and 13th will be our last two holes

Oops!

Is that the par 3 near the level crossing? Not the easiest par 3 to start. At least you've got an easy par 5 12th(I birdied it) and an easy par 4 stroke index 1(?) 13th(I birdied it).

 

[Smiffy]

Oops!

Is that the par 3 near the level crossing? Not the easiest par 3 to start. At least you've got an easy par 5 12th(I birdied it) and an easy par 4 stroke index 1(?) 13th(I birdied it).

Your memory is spot on mate!!
The "easy" par 5 is the 10th and the "easy" SI 1 par 4 is the 11th. I "usually" par the 10th and I am playing the 11th quite well at the moment, with 2 pars and 2 birdies the last four times out.
The par 3 I am starting on is not the one you are thinking of, it's the one 2 holes later.
Elevated tee, green sits down to the left of a big bunker and is a tricky one to putt on.
It's followed by the lovely par 5 15th which is the one that's giving me so much trouble recently.

 

[Bratty]

Ah, yes. The 14th is a tricky hole alright. I can never seem to work out the best club.
However, if I was playing it every week, I reckon I'd learn soon enough, and then I wouldn't see it as particularly tricky.
Man up, Smiffy! :rofl:

 

[Keeno]

I must admit I really don't like a Par 3 start, I would rather hit a driver especially if not properly warmed up. I'm confused as to why the SI matters though, unless its a Match Play scenario

 

[Smiffy]

I must admit I really don't like a Par 3 start, I would rather hit a driver especially if not properly warmed up. I'm confused as to why the SI matters though, unless its a Match Play scenario

Because I'd much rather start the round with a couple of points than 1

 

[Keeno]

Because I'd much rather start the round with a couple of points than 1

Fair do's. I presumed it was a medal and strokeplay format!