Par 4 or 5?

[bobmac]

What would you rather play, a 465 yrd par 4 or 470 yrd par 5 and why?
Would you approach each hole in a different way?
I have my reasons for asking this question, Bob Rotella fans will find this interesting I hope.

 

[madandra]

I would say Par 5 as it is a good birdie opportunity but I would approach them in the same way, get the drive away and go for the green with a long iron.

The one that gets me is the 230+ par 3 AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH !!!

(rippppp) There goes another score card.

 

[PeterPumpkinEater]

Depends on hole layout really.

If the Par 4 is straight and downhill and the Par 5 is uphill, doglegged and full of hazards then I would say the Par 4.

If they are both level and straight then the Par 5.

 

[Macster]

As far as opportunities go, a 470yd par 5 would be that opportunity for a birdie.

We have 4 long Par 4's, one of which is 469 off the White's, and the others 440yds, 451yds, and 457yds,
None of which you would call 'Birdie' chances.

Depends on the layout tho too.

 

[Smiffy]

What would you rather play, a 465 yrd par 4 or 470 yrd par 5 and why?
Would you approach each hole in a different way?

Would play them both the same.
As I would no doubt be getting a shot at the par 4, but most probably not at the par 5 I would play them both as a par 5 without the shot. Take a little bit of the pressure off as I would not reach the par 4 in regulation (unless it was off of Beachy Head)

 

[medwayjon]

Definately Par5

I would view it as a genuine birdie chance.

 

[Smiffy]

Definately Par5

I would view it as a genuine birdie chance.

Not with that drive you hit off the first at Princes a few weeks ago Jon

 

[HTL]

Just going on that info, I would chose the par 5 every time.

 

[bobmac]

Does it matter what it says on the tee box sign?
You still need to play the hole in the least amount of shots you can.
If you have a par 4 1st hole of 475 yds and you get a 4 thats a par. If it's a par 5, its a birdie, BUT ITS STILL A 4 !
In medal, the person who wins has the lowest number of shots.
If you cant reach a par 3 play it as a par 4
If you cant reach a par 4 in 2 play it as a par 5
If you cant reach a par 5 in 3 play it as a par 6
If you can reach a par 4 its a par 3
If you can reach a par 5 in 2 its a par 4
If you are 50yds short of a par 4 in 2 and dont get up and down, some players get miserable because that's a bogey.
If you are 50yds short of a par 5 in 2 and dont get up and down, thats ok because it's a par 5
I think if you dont think of the hole as a par 3 or 4 or 5 or 6, just play it the best you can. If its a 5 at a tough par 4, so what. You've still tried your best.
If you are 18 handicap or above, treat all par 3s as 4s, 4s as 5s and 5s as 6s and see how many 'birdies' you get

 

[AlchemyGolf]

For me every hole is a birdie chance when standing on the tee!

The par 5 is obviously the easier but must be approached in the same way as a par 4 of the same distance.

We have 2 par 5s which play like par 4s for the longer hitters and are easily reachable with long irons.
We also have a par 4 (8th)of similar distance with trees and stream off the tee and water by the green,it is a really tough hole and the 1 real card wrecker on the course but I treat it the same as the par 5s.

A lot of the higher h/cappers I play with, play the 2 par 5s well because they are relaxed,they dont see them as a threat but when they get to the 8th they tighten up,say they hate the hole before they hit there 1st tee shot and basically talk themselves into a triple bogey or a lot worse straight away.I say to them you have a shot or even 2 in some cases with it being the stroke 1 hole,so just 3 steady shots and 2 putts just like you do on the par 5s where you are relaxed.

When I stand on every tee no matter what the difficulty and I am aiming to make birdie,that plan has to be tweaked or strengthened depending on where the tee shot goes.If it goes awry then my plan changes to making sure of a par if possible,then to making bogey if its al going pear shaped.if the tee shot is perfect then my plan stays with just trying to give myself a birdie putt.If the pin is in a generous position with a short iron then I will try and be agressive,all other times I just try to hit the middle of the green.

Dr David Marsh,ex R&A Captain and Walker Cup player is a member of my old club.When I was in my teens and my handicap was plumeting I played with him,like any young kid i was attacking every pin,sometimes pulling it off,most times getting into trouble.

Afterwards he told me something that is so obvious now but I have never forgotten it and still use it today.

He had noticed my pin seeking tendencies and didnt like it,said it was costing me to many shots and making the round a struggle trying to get up and down a lot of the time.

He said,just try and hit the middle of the green,if you slightly pull or push your shot you still have a channce of catching the edge of the green.if you are in the middle of the green you will never be to far away from the pin no matter where it is and if you miss your birdie you will rack up a lot of stress free pars.

He was right!!!!!!!

 

[bobmac]

Alchemy, as a good player, what winds you up more. Not getting up and down for a birdie or not getting up and down for a par?

 

[SammmeBee]

Alchemy, as a good player, what winds you up more. Not getting up and down for a birdie or not getting up and down for a par?

Just not getting up and down......

 

[bobmac]

Alchemy, as a good player, what winds you up more. Not getting up and down for a birdie or not getting up and down for a par?

Just not getting up and down......

.....is the correct answer.
Alchemy, I did't see your keys move

 

[Marko77]

A par 5 of that length may have me more inclined to lay up short / play it safe off the tee and concentrate on getting the 3rd shot close for a good birdie chance.

Par 4 of that length, I'm not being defeatest but birdie is not immediately in my mind and it would depend on the driving that day what I take off the tee. I might take on the par 5 approach just to give myself a par putt.

 

[bobmac]

Marko, how would you play the hole if you didn't what the par was?

 

[andiritchie]

I would play them the same

We have 3 long par 4s which play a little longer than 2 of the par 5s

If i hit the ball to the right side of the fairway to give a easy shot in ill take it on regardless of par 4 or 5

I play a tree lined course which is tight so no more hero 200 yard cuts round the dog leg for me

 

[AlchemyGolf]

Just not getting up and down but missing the easy birdie chance is the most frustrating.

 

[haplesshacker]

Kinda makes sense really, especially at my level, as a do get a few 'extra shots' being of the higher handicap variety.

I was trying to play every hole as a 5, but the 3 for 4, 4 for 5, etc, makes sense, and keeps the pressure on for the par 3's, but gives me a little room on the holes I get 2 shots on.

Interesting thread. Far to much head power required after a session last night!

 

[medwayjon]

Its even worse when you miss a makeable eagle putt.

 

[Smiffy]

Does it matter what it says on the tee box sign?

In the mind (I couldn't spell sycologically)?
Yes.
How many times does an amateur cock up a hole because he tries too hard?
On most par 5's where I'm not shotting, I will usually walk off with 2 points at worst, 3 if I play the hole sensibly.
On the par 4 awarded SI 1 I can almost guarantee a bogie (if I'm lucky) or a double bogie (more often than not).
It's like a very high handicapper getting two shots on a hole and going for broke. They inevitably mess it up!!
So I think the SI of a hole has a very important role to play in ones thinking.