,
I've enjoyed the closing 3 holes at almost all courses while playing for fun, and very few while playing in competitions...
This lead me to the conceptualization that the closers should demand strategy and execution and not be unreasonably difficult by a forced or abnormal architectural feature.
In competitions the mental side is usually so stressed at the end of a round that strategy goes quickly to either the golfer's heart or mind and then the shot execution takes center stage. I've had the thought, "I don't deserve to be flight winner if I can't make this shot..." I think it goes beyond the risk/reward equation... if the hole doesn't force itself upon you.
In playful mode, one is more likely to risk all and go on a path less travelled... for braggin or story telling rights, or my favorite saying, "I didn't come all the way to Southern Pines to lay up!" At TOC, on 17 after confidently playing the blind tee shot over the buildings and almost birdying the infamous Road hole, mind was absent on 18, perhaps the widest closing fairway in the world, I took it straight at the green and sliced it 6 inches OB under the fence... for 3 off the tee I aimed left at the R&A... then 8 iron from 135yds to 4 feet, one putt for a 5 and rousing ovation from the crowd... priceless... to close at 77.
At The Woodlands CC I type the closers as follows:
TPC: 3, 4, 4 - reasonable, challenging, better execute
Oaks: 5, 4, 4 - easy, difficult, better execute
Old Pines: 4, 3, 4 - execute, challenging, execute
Revised Pines: 5, 3, 4 - challenging, execute, better execute
Palmer Old Course 4, 5, 4- reasonable, execute, execute
Player - easy, execute, difficult
What are you playing for ?