Par 71

rosecott

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As probably already said the club can set it own par for a hole based not just on length but also upon difficulty and looking at the sort of scores on a particular hole when played under competition conditions.

A county assessor will set the SSS for the course based upon factors as laid out in the course assessment guide they use.

All players should not necessarily be able to reach all holes in the par. It is why a player has a handicap.

We have 3 par 4 holes at our course where only the best players ( length and accuracy) can regularly reach the green in 2, it is why they are stroke indexes 1,2 and 4.

And continuing the misinformation that SI is necessarily related to the difficulty or otherwise of playing the hole to par
 

Orikoru

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Our longest par 4 is the 2nd, 470 off the whites. I have absolutely zero chance of ever reaching it in two, but it's stroke index 3, so currently I get two shots on it, but the next time I get cut I'll lose one of them.

Ironically though, over the winter it hasn't been in play at that length - they've had to put a temporary 1st hole in, and made the 2nd hole nearly 200 yards shorter as a result. So all winter I've had a two shot hole that's only 280 yards! Happy days. :rofl:
 

jim8flog

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And continuing the misinformation that SI is necessarily related to the difficulty or otherwise of playing the hole to par

The SIs at our course are all set upon the basis of difficulty based upon competition scores and not match play. We tried a two card system but it did not work out.
 

SwingsitlikeHogan

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I play holes like that in a different way. I aim for about 100yds or so short of the green in 2, then aim for a pitch and hopefully single putt. Whatever I walk off the hole with wont get to me, as playing the hole the way I do is easier on the mind and my general game.
I accept I am no DJ when it comes to length, so why beat yourself up about it.


On our 474yd dogleg par 4 with blind approach, many players who might be able to reach the green in two (on their best day) will just pop something like a 5i over the top to ensure they stay short of the greenside bunkers that flank the front left and right of the green as it is difficult to get the line right. Depending on their drive that gives them between a 40yd pitch or bump and run; or a 100yd approach.
 

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rosecott

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The SIs at our course are all set upon the basis of difficulty based upon competition scores and not match play. We tried a two card system but it did not work out.

What happens in your matchplay events?

In the example scorecard shown in the link you gave, SI 1 was on the 18th hole.

Perhaps there is a case for a standard matchplay scorecard which satisfies all the criteria listed in the CONGU manual to be taken into account.
 
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mikejohnchapman

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Apologies if this is a stupid question, my club course is a par 71 course but has a couple of huge par 4's which I couldn't dream of reaching in 2 shots.
What reason do clubs have for making a course a par 71 rather than a par 72?

Cheers

The simple answer is because your club management want it to be.

The allocation of par is more an art rather than a science - all par rating are recommended to be in a range of yardages. So for example the old adage that a par 3 must be less than 250 yards doesnt really apply. You could have a 260 yard par 3 or a 240 yard par 4 depending on what your management want.

Allocation of SSS is different and is designed to be more of a science (though judgement still applies). On my course we have 3 mens tees - all par 72. However, standard scratch is 70, 72 and 74 and there is almost 800 yards different between the yellow tees and the blue. As far as scoring goes a radically different proposition.

The new course rating system will build on this as your handicap will flex depending so will make your score reflects the course during play rather than only for handicap.

A lot of course seem to like their medal tee SSS to match par - not sure why in all honesty but several seem to adjust ar to achieve this.
 

jim8flog

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What happens in your matchplay events?

In the example scorecard shown in the link you gave, SI 1 was on the 18th hole.

Perhaps there is a case for a standard matchplay scorecard which satisfies all the criteria listed in the CONGU manual to be taken into account.

Please remember the England golf guide is a recommendation only.

I was not involved when the decision was taken to switch back to SIs based upon difficulty but I am pretty sure it was because of the large number of complaints about having SIs based upon match play when by far the vast majority of competitions at our club are Stableford competitions (2-3 a week every week). Plus one knockout comp which is Stableford match (this one comp attracts more entries than any other comp we hold).

We have had no complaints from our own members in our own match play knockouts about the SIs and results show that it has very little impact on the results.

As said we had two cards one for stroke play and one for match play when the system was first introduced. However we had the usual problem of members not reading the notices and using the wrong cards for their matches so we abandoned the 2 card system
 

pieface

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Well gents I've been today and it's safe to say I was talking rubbish with the original past.
I hit the longest drive I've ever hit on the aforementioned par 4 which just trickled into the light rough and left me about 200 yards to the pin. Hit my 4 iron to within 20 yards, pretty sure I can reach it in 2 from the fairway!
 

HomerJSimpson

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If a hole is 480yds long, what difference does it make what the par is?

In my mind no but what prompted the question? For me it's a three shot hole all day long. If it's a par 4 (not sure it should be but for arguments sake) then I'll hit the green in three, two putt and take a net par with an inevitable shot there. As a short par 5, I may not get a shot but again hit a green in regulation, two putt and get out of town
 

bobmac

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In my mind no but what prompted the question? For me it's a three shot hole all day long. If it's a par 4 (not sure it should be but for arguments sake) then I'll hit the green in three, two putt and take a net par with an inevitable shot there. As a short par 5, I may not get a shot but again hit a green in regulation, two putt and get out of town

So the par of the hole has nothing to do with your score
 

Lord Tyrion

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If a hole is 480yds long, what difference does it make what the par is?

It's the game isn't it? We are all aiming to par each hole. If you get shots then that helps but we are aiming to reduce our handicaps. I fully get what you are suggesting but the challenge is to better ourselves each time and we need to think that is achievable as much as possible.
 

HomerJSimpson

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So the par of the hole has nothing to do with your score

Yes and no. Of course I'm aware of par, but sometimes I am realistic enough to realise that I'm unlikely to par a tough, long par four regularly and will struggle to hit it in regulation, so no, par has nothing to do with the score. It'll be a three shot hole, hope to get it close and make a putt. If not, net par, no damage and keep moving on
 

bobmac

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Every course has one, every hole has one. The horse has bolted. It is fundamental to the game as it exists now. But you know this of course.

I do
But you can change your approach to playing each hole.

If you get a new captain at your club and he changes all the par 5s into par 4s, what difference would it make to the course?
 

HomerJSimpson

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Why do you need a par for the course?

Edit
I'm talking about medal play

In medal play, I am more aware of my score to my handicap than I am against gross par. On my own course, I know what holes I can perhaps press at if I need a par (net birdie) if I'm adrift and which holes are a case of keeping it in play off the tee, take net par and move on. Of course in the real world, the technique doesn't always align to the sensible thinking but that's why I'm off what I am
 
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