Lay up or not?

[bobmac]

You're playing in a normal monthly medal and you're on the 14 playing to about your handicap.
It's your second shot to the par 5.
The approach is flat with no streams, lakes or bunkers in front of the green and you've got 260yds left.
Forgetting the big hitters for sec, do you

 

[StrangelyBrown]

What if giving it everything you've got is still a lay up?

 

[sweatysock41]

For me its a no brainer - that sort of distance is a miracle shot to hit the green, if i was to come up short not an issue but there is every likelihood I would also be off line - different kettle of fish then. So a 7 iron lay up followed by a wedge would be my choice.

 

[bobmac]

That didn't work very well. Never mind, you get the idea I hope.
Can a mod reverse the 2 posts above please?

 

[Bratty]

Never mind what's around or in front of the green, how wide's the fairway, is it tree-lined, can I get to the green for my third easily if I don't hit it straight? Those would be the extra questions I'd ask myself before attempting a 260 yard hit!

Can't guarantee 260 off my driver, so would lay up to leave a max of 120 yards, if the above are going to come into play.

Also, what does it feel like to reach the 14th around handicap???? :rofl:

 

[TheMetalMan0]

Grip + rip. No way I'd make it but would feel great smashing it anywhere near

 

[Lump]

Somewhere inbetween for myself. I could make the front edge if I murdered my 3 wood but whats the point.
I know making the green from 260yrds is a one in 100 shot from the fairway. (and thats in the height of summer with a good first bounce and roll).
I'd be looking to pick my 3-4 iron up and leaving myself about 60-70yrds from the pin.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I'd just smash it with a hybrid or 3w and see what happens. If there's no danger (trees, burns, heavy rough etc) then there's no reason not to have a go.

I still couldn't reach with my Sunday best.

 

[lofty1019]

Go for it! I don't play to play to my handicap, i want to be under it. Shots like this make a difference!

 

[MizunoGreyhound]

Gotta go for it. After all, we can still fir cup from our preferred yardage.

(I wouldn`t reach anyway, unless it was that one miracle shot a year downwind and land on a stray sprinkler head or something equally hard)

 

[Oddsocks]

everything i have is about 220/230 on a good day with no wind, so i wouldnt reach anything to get in trouble.

Unload the 3w, even if i duff it i will still only be left 8/7i in as a 3rd shot for GIR

 

[DaveyG]

I would go for it, but then again i tend to aim for the flag when being inbetween a maze of trees... definitely need to start playing more like my ability then trying to pull off shot of the year.

 

[One Planer]

Driver off the deck FTW :thup:


Seriosly, Lay up. I couldn't hit that off the tee with a driver so why try off the deck.

 

[CMAC]

John Jacobs book (the one I got and read religiously as a kid) said "always go for the Par 5's"

I'm in that camp, if I'm offline in the rough its still only a Sand iron in, and as my mortgage doesnt rely on me winning competitions nor reducing my handicap then having a bash is the most fun course of action ........in my very humble opinion

 

[HotDogAssassin]

The same as most of my 2nd shots, Grip it, Rip it, Top it, F@#& it!.

 

[Essex_Stu]

Would have to lay up. I cant hit a 3 wood off the deck that far so no point in going for it and slicing 50 yards to the right. Nice steady 7 iron for me then a PW/9 Iron onto the green(or thinned through the back!)

 

[Oddsocks]

it would depend on the lie, but this time of year with winter rules why not. Unless of course the lie was very questionable.

 

[HickoryShaft]

If there were truly such a hole - no hazards to speak of I would give it my all knowing that I would not make it all the way with my Sunday best but would be well placed and even if I did duff it the most likely outcome would be a 100 yard knock leaving me with a shot in.

In reality everyone has a had a shot like this but with hazards. On one of our par 5's leaving myself this sort of distance from the tee I have, with a back wind and catching the ball perfect with my 3 wood, been on the green in 2 a couple of times and made birdie / eagle.

I have more frequently put it in the sand and made par or worse. I have put it behind trees and made a treble. No water on this one thankfully or I would have been in there for sure.

If I am on a good round I will now - always - lay up to approx 110 yards. This is my preferred gap wedge distance and avoids the fairway bunkers at 90 - 100 yards from the green, and delivers a more repeatable opportunity to make par or nett par (1 shot on this hole) nearly every round.

Of course if its been a bit messy up to then or if I am playing matchplay and getting tonked I still go for it occasionally hoping for that miracle shot again

 

[DaveM]

Layup every time. Play the odds. Who knows good chip one put = birdie anyway. Why risk a boggie or worse.

 

[AmandaJR]

Until a eureka moment on the course earlier this year I'd have taken a 3 wood to get as close as possible. I love a full 100yd shot though so my new strategy would be to aim for the middle of the fairway with my 5 iron and then wedge or 9 iron to the pin. Walk off with a certain par and possible birdie :thup: