Opening Holes

[Wheyayeman]

What is your preference par wise? 3, 4, 5?

Personally I don't like starting on a par 3, always seem to struggle for some reason, likewise I'd prefer not to have a par 5 as I generally view them as good birdie chances and if they come first when I'm not fully up to game speed it can be a shot or 2 wasted.

We have a SI9 par 4 which with a good drive can result in birdie, alternatively I've seen plenty of double figure scores due to wayward drives, I like it

 

[john0]

Nice short par 4 where I only need an iron off the tee does for me. Using driver off the first is usually a disaster

 

[Aztecs27]

No preference really, but as John says, always good to not have to get the big dog out.

Ours is a 500 yard par 5 (SI 10).

I took a 2 iron off the yellows (slightly shorter 480 yards) last night and still managed to get a decent hit on the ball as it's alot downhill.

Using the driver is a bit of a gamble as it's OOB left and trees and OOB on the right. It's not narrow, but if you have a wild slice like me, it can be tricky. Might take the 3 wood tomorrow!

 

[robbest3offthetee]

2 Iron, 3 Wood, By the time you come to tee off,you will be hitting your wedge !!!,Give me a nice par 4,So Iron off the tee,Lovely....

 

[Aztecs27]

I like your thinking. It's only 3 and a bit 7 irons to reach the green! I think I'll just play it safe and hit 7.

 

[robbest3offthetee]

Whatever gets you past those bloody trees !!!

 

[Aztecs27]

Whatever gets you past those bloody trees !!!

 

[CallawayKid]

We've got a little 110 yard par 3 to start, quite nice to warm you up.

Other courses I rarely get the big dog out for the first couple of drives, it's 3 or 5 wood time!

CK

 

[Losttheplot]

Ours is a Par 5 SI 11. OOB right, trees left. Narrow-ish fairway.

I look from the tee and like this hole. Yet never seem to score as well as I probably should do on it.

I like it as an opening hole as it's reachable in 2 with a great drive or safely in 3 even with a hybrid/4 iron off the tee. This way you can choose how to ease into the round.

Par 3's as opening holes is just wrong. Then again it will space out groups off the tee as long as it isn't a call up hole.

 

[richy]

Ours is a 410 yard par 4. Always take driver as the second shot is up hill. Last 2 time I've been middle of the fairway and needed a 5 iron once and a 9 iron the other

 

[Robobum]

We've got a short 290yd par 4 for starters. It's severely uphill though so only the monsters can knock one close.

OOB and 50feet high trees all down the right, and a bunker in the middle of the fairway 210 from the tee.

The tee shot is easy, anything nobbled up there will do. The second shot takes some thought as it wants one that doesn't have a lot of spin on it as the green slopes hard back to front and your ball will come off the front and 30yds down the fairway.

 

[grumpyjock]

Opener is a Par 4 SI 5 385yds off the whites.
Trees down both sides and bunkers left and right at about 200yds further bunker at 230yds on the right to catch a nice slice.
A straight forward second shot into the green but beware the bunker at the left of the green.
See the course here
http://s894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/grumpyjock/Bradley%20Park%20Course%20Photos/

 

[Oddsocks]

I like par3 openers as it seems to spread the field out nicely. The addington has my favourite first 4 start of any course.

Par3 165 yards (nice to gap the field with a nice easy mid iron)
Par 5 500+ (swing is warming and can let rip but not punishing)
Par 3 200+ (nice to warm the hydrid/5w)
Par 4 400+ ( still open and can still be wide)

Then the 5th starts to tighten up.

 

[richart]

Short par 4 330 yards, but with a ditch across the fairway at 230 yards. Big hitters can get close to the green but last 100 yards are uphill. Iron or hybrid off the tee, avoid the bunker and ob on the right, and pond on the left, and you should have a nice short iron into a big green that slopes from back to front.

Mate of mine hit two nice shots onto the green, and came off with a seven. Did i mention the green slopes from back to front

Think a gentle par 4 is the best way to start, and not keen on a difficult par 3 start, such as Lytham or Southport & Ainsdale.

 

[USER1999]

Straight forward par 4 for me, ideally not using a driver.

Much like my club then.

SI15, 355 yard (ish) par 4. Generous fairway but tricky green if the pin is at the back.

Mind you I can par this hole all day long, until there is a medal card in my hand.

 

[Wheyayeman]

Straight forward par 4 for me, ideally not using a driver.

Much like my club then.

SI15, 355 yard (ish) par 4. Generous fairway but tricky green if the pin is at the back.

Mind you I can par this hole all day long, until there is a medal card in my hand.

Ha Ha I bet you're like me, birdie the first and its all down hill from there in a medal round

 

[NWJocko]

A nice, shortish par 4 is the ideal start for me. Driver or 3w with a 9 iron or less second in to the green.

Worst I've played was one of the courses in Dunbar (Winterfield perhaps?) where you have to play it across a bay of the firth of forth to the green (my mind may be playing tricks but think it's a long par 3).

Not a loosener that's for sure!!

 

[jammydodger]

Ours is a par 3 of about 170 and its very tough. A stream goes right across the front of the green and theres a big pond all the ay down the left of the green too. Theyve bunged a new bunker in on the back righ half of the green to catch the bail outers. All the way to the stream on the right hand side is big trees. Its a small green too that narrows severely towards the back. All in all its a nightmare 1st hole. Oh and its dwon hill quite a bit and usually plays to a cross wind.

I'd prefer a nice gentle par4 opener to ease you into the round

 

[Robobum]

Ours is a par 3 of about 170 and its very tough. A stream goes right across the front of the green and theres a big pond all the ay down the left of the green too. Theyve bunged a new bunker in on the back righ half of the green to catch the bail outers. All the way to the stream on the right hand side is big trees. Its a small green too that narrows severely towards the back. All in all its a nightmare 1st hole. Oh and its dwon hill quite a bit and usually plays to a cross wind.

Bloody hell Jammy, sounds like that doesn't help pace of play away from the 1st!!!

 

[GB72]

I would prefer a shortish par 4. I have a real hate, hate relationship with our first hole. 413 yard par 4 with a fairway that slopes left to right. If you do not hit the left of the fairway or put any fade on the ball then it will run down to the rough on the right and the green will be blocked out by some large trees. There are also trees left if you go too far in the other direction. The green is raised with some wicked slopes on it as well so the second shot is hard and and a badly positioned ball will leave a difficult 2 putt. Most will walk of the green with a 5 and be happy.