LincolnShep
Head Pro
Some do, I don't. Unless you count walking from the car park.
What do you want from an opening hole?
- Thread starter MarkT
- Start date
LincolnShep
Head Pro
OK, the exact opposite of what you want on an opening hole is at the course I've just left. Par 4, dogleg right, out of bounds down both sides and a 160/170 carry over water off the white tee. The white tee is about ten yards from the conservatory/patio where all the players following you congregate so you almost always have an audience as you slice one into the driving range or top one into the pond. Joyous! 
timd77
Assistant Pro
I’d love a nice wide par 4 where a poor tee shot isn’t punished.
What I’ve got at my course is a par 4 needing a 160 shot over water, sounds ok but the OOB and trees are tight left and so no good for anyone who fades a driver. So most of us hit an iron to the right to make sure we’re not in the drink, which leaves a 7 or 8i to the green. Nasty start in a medal.
What I’ve got at my course is a par 4 needing a 160 shot over water, sounds ok but the OOB and trees are tight left and so no good for anyone who fades a driver. So most of us hit an iron to the right to make sure we’re not in the drink, which leaves a 7 or 8i to the green. Nasty start in a medal.
My problem with a short 4 is that I’d always prefer it to come later in the round. My ideal would be SI 9, a drive and a 7-iron so a par’s lovely and a 5 perfectly fine. I don’t want 90 yards in from the kill zone as, more than likely, I’ll disappoint myself (and my family). Bunt something up there, never threaten a par and you’re up and running and ready to then go deep
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
As for others…quite simply all I want is a par…
Our par 5 1st presents longer hitters with a good birdie opportunity, but it can easily bite yer bum, and too many times I have walked off with 7s and 8s. Maybe that’s the sign of a good opening hole.
Plenty of room off the tee, but fairway narrowing around the 150yd to go mark between two huge stands of pines. Quite easy run onto the front of green between left and right bunkers (care required if bump and run on) but drop-offs sides and back. ?
Our par 5 1st presents longer hitters with a good birdie opportunity, but it can easily bite yer bum, and too many times I have walked off with 7s and 8s. Maybe that’s the sign of a good opening hole.
Plenty of room off the tee, but fairway narrowing around the 150yd to go mark between two huge stands of pines. Quite easy run onto the front of green between left and right bunkers (care required if bump and run on) but drop-offs sides and back. ?
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KenL
Tour Rookie
OK, the exact opposite of what you want on an opening hole is at the course I've just left. Par 4, dogleg right, out of bounds down both sides and a 160/170 carry over water off the white tee. The white tee is about ten yards from the conservatory/patio where all the players following you congregate so you almost always have an audience as you slice one into the driving range or top one into the pond. Joyous!
No wonder you left. ?
My club has a short par 5 to start. Easy hole but so easy to mess up.
4 bunkers to choose to go in off the tee. A couple of others if you decide to lay up. Plus a burn snaking along the front of the green. Two greenside bunkers too, plus the green has some tricky slopes.
Still a great opening hole that will become the closing hole when the new clubhouse comes along.
Rlburnside
Challenge Tour Pro
Thinking about all the clubs that I’ve played Edzell has the opening hole I like best, par 4 big wide fairway any half decent drive will leave a short iron in and a par is very achievable.
Nice easy hole to get the round started give me that rather than the 1st at my club where a par for me is rare.
Nice easy hole to get the round started give me that rather than the 1st at my club where a par for me is rare.
Voyager EMH
Slipper Wearing Plucker of Pheasants
Our first hole par 4 often comes out as SI 1 on the playing stats but has been SI 7 on the card for a long time.
Long par 4 into a prevailing SW wind. Play sensibly and make no worse than bogey and you are off to a sound start.
Third hole is even longer par 4 in the same direction. The second and fourth are par 3s.
All your golfing skills put to a good test early on.
If you want an easy start don't play our course.
To answer the OP, owt will do me.
Long par 4 into a prevailing SW wind. Play sensibly and make no worse than bogey and you are off to a sound start.
Third hole is even longer par 4 in the same direction. The second and fourth are par 3s.
All your golfing skills put to a good test early on.
If you want an easy start don't play our course.
To answer the OP, owt will do me.
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
I started birdie, par, birdie, par, bogie the other week. Scored one more point on the next four holes...?????
Crow
Crow Person
Our first if 355 yards with a fairly central bunker at 235, 260 carry, so it's a big hit for your first tee shot if taking it on.
OB all down the left and deep rough down the right after a quite a bit of first cut so on paper it's the ideal opener.
I usually hit fairway wood or long iron, and many is the time I hook it OB.
OB all down the left and deep rough down the right after a quite a bit of first cut so on paper it's the ideal opener.
I usually hit fairway wood or long iron, and many is the time I hook it OB.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Mid range par4 that’s not to penal.
There is nothing worse than your round being over before it starts.
Ours is 365yds bit of room to hit a wide but not to much.
No stupid hidden bunkers / ditches you can’t see from the tee
First two holes should be a gentle start to your round, after that anything goes.
There is nothing worse than your round being over before it starts.
Ours is 365yds bit of room to hit a wide but not to much.
No stupid hidden bunkers / ditches you can’t see from the tee
First two holes should be a gentle start to your round, after that anything goes.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
S&A comes to mind.
Voyager EMH
Slipper Wearing Plucker of Pheasants
That first is a doddle. Its just spoon then mashie, every time.Our first if 355 yards with a fairly central bunker at 235, 260 carry, so it's a big hit for your first tee shot if taking it on.
OB all down the left and deep rough down the right after a quite a bit of first cut so on paper it's the ideal opener.
I usually hit fairway wood or long iron, and many is the time I hook it OB.
eddie_1878
Active member
Usually happy with bogey. Having said that my last three hole 1 bogeys on my course have come as a result of three putting.
What baffles me more is my warm-up putting is usually very good to excellent. It seems the more time and care I take, the worse my putting is!
What baffles me more is my warm-up putting is usually very good to excellent. It seems the more time and care I take, the worse my putting is!
evemccc
Well-known member
The opening hole at Ashridge is ideal, in that it's a gentle par 4 with the fairway generously sloping inwards to help errant drives. But perhaps, Bedale's first hole is even more benign.....a short par 4 with little trouble apart from a green-side bunker, and most importantly, the tee-shot hidden from view from the clubhouse behind a huge hedge
KenL
Tour Rookie
I find that staying off the practice green before a round is the best policy.
Often not the same speed as the 1st green.
Often not the same speed as the 1st green.
Swingalot
Challenge Tour Pro
One of the best 1st holes is found at Royal Cinque Ports. Clubhouse in view as you tee off up the right, but really is a pretty easy par 4 to start with. You walk off and breath...only to get chewed up by the next 17
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Ours has a conservatory spike bar 10 foot behind the tee.
The lads are all watching you tee off it gets quite noisy if you hit a bad one.
Certainly tests your nerve.
The lads are all watching you tee off it gets quite noisy if you hit a bad one.
Certainly tests your nerve.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Bob said it
Medium length Par 4 with (very) wide fairway
Gotta be a hole that will give trouble free golf to the majority of the field with par and bogey golf the norm. Checkerboard cut on the fairway, immaculate tee box etc
There's 17 other holes to test players but I'd want everyone to get away to protect the spacing, start pace off properly and give a confidence boost that its not going to be one of those days
Can you imagine the nightmare if some of the suggestions are in place like a short par 4 or 5, or OOBs, tough this or that
Long day ahead....
Medium length Par 4 with (very) wide fairway
Gotta be a hole that will give trouble free golf to the majority of the field with par and bogey golf the norm. Checkerboard cut on the fairway, immaculate tee box etc
There's 17 other holes to test players but I'd want everyone to get away to protect the spacing, start pace off properly and give a confidence boost that its not going to be one of those days
Can you imagine the nightmare if some of the suggestions are in place like a short par 4 or 5, or OOBs, tough this or that
Long day ahead....
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
The 1st at Cooden can be a right 'mare if the wind is in your boat.
It's a tough hole anyway, about as tough a hole as you'd want in normal circumstances, but with a strong wind in your face, you've got to play it as a par 5, not the 4 it is on the card. SI used to be 10, which was a bit of a joke to an 11 handicapper playing a Stableford. They have now altered it to SI 4 which is just about spot on I reckon. One of the toughest starts to a round you'll face anywhere.
It's a tough hole anyway, about as tough a hole as you'd want in normal circumstances, but with a strong wind in your face, you've got to play it as a par 5, not the 4 it is on the card. SI used to be 10, which was a bit of a joke to an 11 handicapper playing a Stableford. They have now altered it to SI 4 which is just about spot on I reckon. One of the toughest starts to a round you'll face anywhere.
