Brute of a par 4

[Smiffy]

Coodens 1st hole is a tough one. Even on a benign day playing from the yellow tees, a par feels like a birdie.
But off the back tees, into the prevailing wind, par becomes almost impossible.
It's 455 yards, par 4, and SI 10. Clever bunkering sees the hole being "foreshortened" and a row of fairway bunkers await a badly hit second shot.
A quick glance at the course statistics in any of the competition results shows that it regularly features as the toughest hole on the course.
If it were anywhere else on the course it would be stroke index 1 and whilst I appreciate that you cannot have a stroke index 1 hole as your 1st, it should be a lot lower than 10.
I played in the mens invitation a couple of years ago, and because it was 3/4's handicap, none of my fourball were getting a shot up there.
It was a horrible day, windy and wet, and as I predicted, we all walked off of it without a point being scored.
My worst score up there is a 10 during a medal, my best a four. But that was a jammy par and I reckon I've only parred it 2 or 3 times in all the times I've played Cooden.
I will take a 5 for 2 up there any day of the week.

 

[chrisd]

View attachment 22970Coodens 1st hole is a tough one. Even on a benign day playing from the yellow tees, a par feels like a birdie.
But off the back tees, into the prevailing wind, par becomes almost impossible.
It's 455 yards, par 4, and SI 10. Clever bunkering sees the hole being "foreshortened" and a row of fairway bunkers await a badly hit second shot.
A quick glance at the course statistics in any of the competition results shows that it regularly features as the toughest hole on the course.
If it were anywhere else on the course it would be stroke index 1 and whilst I appreciate that you cannot have a stroke index 1 hole as your 1st, it should be a lot lower than 10.
I played in the mens invitation a couple of years ago, and because it was 3/4's handicap, none of my fourball were getting a shot up there.
It was a horrible day, windy and wet, and as I predicted, we all walked off of it without a point being scored.
My worst score up there is a 10 during a medal, my best a four. But that was a jammy par and I reckon I've only parred it 2 or 3 times in all the times I've played Cooden.
I will take a 5 for 2 up there any day of the week.

I reckon Jamie Spence would agree with you. 🤣

 

[bobmac]

Everything is relative...

Exactly.
As your score isn't measured against par, it doesn't matter what it says on the card.
If all these tough par 4's were changed to par 5's, they would suddenly become easy holes

 

[Twire]

We have a famous (infamous?) hole at Broadstone, the 7th. 430y par 4 where you play over a valley for your 2nd shot with a carry of about 180y depending how far you hit it off the tee. The fairway also slopes severely right to left and also uphill at the landing area so you have to aim well right over a mound in front of the tee making it a blind shot. On a calm day it is usually hybrid off the tee followed by about a 5 iron but it plays into the prevailing wind so can be driver and 3 wood

Most people really struggle with it first time they play the course but members don't really find it the hardest hole even though it is SI1 if they can make the 2nd shot carry.

Sounds a bit like our 17th

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Sounds a bit like our 17th

No yours is even harder! Similar distance to carry but off a downhill lie which is much tougher. I generally expect to make par at my place but not unhappy with a bogey at yours.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Sounds like most SI 1 par 4s.

South Winch has one very much like yours (14th).

I played it as a par 5 and suddenly it became far less of a horror hole.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Our 9th is 400 yards but always plays into a breeze and so plays longer. There's a bunker right and we have a ditch at about 260 with deep rough left and right. It's two big hits for the majority of players including many of the single figure guys. With a tough green sloping back to front it's not an easy two put and definitely plays far harder than the SI12

That is a very deceptive hole. I'm not sure I have ever come across a hole that plays as long as that one does most of the time.

At Blackmoor the 18th is arguably the toughest hole mainly because of the green and what's around it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

That is a very deceptive hole. I'm not sure I have ever come across a hole that plays as long as that one does most of the time.

At Blackmoor the 18th is arguably the toughest hole mainly because of the green and what's around it.

The mention of the 18th at Blackmoor gives me shivers. Scary hole at the best of times and I can imagine one that gets the butterflies going with a good card to finish off

 

[jim8flog]

The 6th at Yeovil is a dogleg. Played off the whites many members complain that they cannot get past the copse of trees on the dogleg to be able to have a shot in to the green.

I have to remind them that it is stroke Index 4 and that is the reason. There are very few players that do not get a shot on the hole and the shot should be used to get you round the corner of the dogleg leaving a very short pitch to the green.

You never hear them complain they cannot get on to stroke index 1 and 2 simply because they can see the green but cannot reach do to the length of the holes.

 

[Twire]

No yours is even harder! Similar distance to carry but off a downhill lie which is much tougher. I generally expect to make par at my place but not unhappy with a bogey at yours.

Had a game with Andy and Dave from Broadstone last week, great lads and good company on the course. Don't think Andy's looked for so many balls in a round of golf before (all mine). Toe'd it off the first and I didn't get a great deal better

I'll be playing Broadstone in August, so will look forward to the infamous 7th.