Can you reach?

[Bunkermagnet]

Probably, no is the simple answer.

 

[Billysboots]

Comfortably, and I can often reach three of our four par 5’s in two, especially this time of year. The course is average length, but at 58 I can still get the ball out there.

 

[Crow]

We only have two par fours that exceed 400 yards (but they're still under 430 yards) so yes I can still reach them, but more often I don't reach them than do.

I'm using wooden woods and blades which makes it harder, but still using a modern ball.
If I had to use a 1.68" balata it would be even harder.

 

[ManinBlack]

In my prime there were three par 4s which I occasionally managed to reach in one & I could reach the three par 5s in two. Now, at the age of 78, there are four par 4s I can never reach & a few which are out of reach if the wind is in the wrong direction. Having hung onto single figures until past 70 I'm on my way to the mid teens. There's no doubt that the lack of length reduces the amount of enjoyment I get, although I'm more accurate with a 3 wood now than I've ever been. If I went to the gym 4 times a week I'd probably hit if further but, just like practice, I just can't be bothered.

 

[IanM]

Yes... if i get a good drive away

 

[splashtryagain]

Yes... if i get a good drive away

What he said
Including all par 5's in 2.
This is not accounting for wind though.....

 

[SteveJay]

Playing a links course it's hard to define normal conditions, as we rarely get wind free days. I can just about reach our longest par 4, the SI 3 16th hole which is 428 yards (off the competition tees). If it's downwind, then its a bit easier, but against even a modest wind then i'm not getting there.

Wind assisted then some of the par 5's are reachable in 2, especially with firm running fairways. Wind in a different direction can make it hard to reach certain Par 5's in three!!

 

[clubchamp98]

Yes but our 11/12th holes require my Sunday best to reach.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Our 2nd is a par 4 hole of 462yds with tee shot played to a rising fairway and against the prevailing wind. The hole levels from about 150yds from the green then immediately dog-legs and drops gently to the green.

It is very rare that I reach the green in two - only occasionally doing so more often in dry conditions. But with my (everyone’s) 2nd shot always being blind through the dog-leg; with green-side bunkers left and right, and out of bounds only some 5yds over the back of the green - I usually don’t try. I don’t like the hole - guesswork and a slog are not characteristics of any other hole on the course.

Note. We have plans to completely reroute the 2nd from just short of the top of the rise, and start of dogleg, so that our 2nd shot becomes a gently rising shot of to a raised green which, after a decent tee shot, will be visible for our 2nd. The rerouted hole will be just as long but will be more interesting and will not have the guesswork of our current 2nd shot that makes most of us lay up…I will be much more inclined to ‘go for it’ with my 2nd…which will still be at the limit of my length and I will not have any downhill bouncing to help me get there.

Many members oppose the change…they are myopic (IMO of course).

 

[wjemather]

We have three very difficult par 4s over 400 yards, and an uphill par 3 that measures over 200 yards. They are no problem for me, but the majority of players won't reach any of them in regulation.

 

[sunshine]

Can I reach? Yes
Do I reach? No

 

[fenwayrich]

Until about 5 years ago, I would have said yes, albeit on 3 of the par 4's it required two well struck shots. Following two knee replacements and 4 operations for spinal issues (myelopathy) I can't reach anything except 3 of the Par 3's (and one of them requires a driver). It does dampen down the enjoyment of the actual golf, but the fresh air and the friendship haven't changed, so I potter on (on a buggy!)

 

[rksquire]

I can reach all the par 4s but there's a few that are tough. Very rare I'm on any of the par 5s in 2.

 

[Slab]

For those of us that say we can't get to more than the odd couple of holes in reg... what do you do about it?

Obviously I'm snookered in comps, the tee is what it is, roll-ups might give me an option depending on the group

For social golf I usually use the weather/wind to decide if I'll tee it forward. Even if its not howling if I just want to feel good about my game I'll go forward a box dropping from 6500 to 6000 and the enjoyment level normal goes way up. There's still holes I cant get to in reg but its down to 2 & even the ones i can reach off medal tees are more fun using a shorter club

 

[Lord Tyrion]

For those of us that say we can't get to more than the odd couple of holes in reg... what do you do about it?

Obviously I'm snookered in comps, the tee is what it is, roll-ups might give me an option depending on the group

For social golf I usually use the weather/wind to decide if I'll tee it forward. Even if its not howling if I just want to feel good about my game I'll go forward a box dropping from 6500 to 6000 and the enjoyment level normal goes way up. There's still holes I cant get to in reg but its down to 2 & even the ones i can reach off medal tees are more fun using a shorter club

I try to avoid longer courses. If I'm playing a longer course, I played The Roxburghe the other week and that comes into that category, I will only play it off the yellow tees now. If you offered me a game there off the whites, I'd turn it down, lovely course though it is.

At my home course, 6400 off yellows, 6800 off whites, I don't play off the whites. Luckily the club run comps off the yellows as well so my h/c is covered.

Ultimately, I may move to a shorter course, I have one in mind, as it can be hard work hitting long clubs all of the time. It's why I am loving the hard fairways this year, it's giving me a chance on some courses to play shorter irons than I would normally have.

 

[nickjdavis]

More people would enjoy their golf a lot more if they tee'd it up regularly on the shorter tees. For the vast majority of club golfers, 6400 is more than enough to give a decent challenge.

 

[louise_a]

Most but not all, our 10th is 360yds with an uphill approach to the green, I rarely reach this in 2, also another couple of 350+ par 4s I can reach but need 2 good straight shots.

There is a 475 par 5 I can reach providing I am in exactly the right place in 2 as there is a ditch 150 that I cannot get over in 2 so my lay up must be precise.

Our longest par 3 is 192 and again I have to rely on a straight drive and a friendly bounce.

 

[wjemather]

More people would enjoy their golf a lot more if they tee'd it up regularly on the shorter tees. For the vast majority of club golfers, 6400 is more than enough to give a decent challenge.

6400 yards is way to long for most. It depends on the layout, but 5800 yards is generally more than sufficient and can still be too long for many.

 

[Neilds]

For those who can’t reach, have you considered playing off more forward tees (if rated for your gender)?
I think I already know the answer to this question

 

[HampshireHog]

We have 7 par 4’s over 420, longest 450 off the whites, all just about reachable with the right conditions but never on the same day.