shots into the green

[Tommy Williamsen]

I generally drive the ball pretty straight, although not as long as some of the young bucks.  The shots into the green are the ones that get me excited.  I love diversity but my favorite shot is a 190 yarder that needs to be shaped.  I usually can't wait to hit it.  I fail as often as I succeed but the very thought of it gets me excited.

Got a favorite?

[RichMacafee]

The approach to 6 West at Royal Melbourne always gets me going in that way. It really sets the imagination going, and you need to control not only shape, but spin also.

To me it is the ultimate par.4. approach - especially with the front left pin location.

[Dan Herrmann]

Does anythng beat the approach to 16 at Merion East over the quarry?

Or Pine Valley #5?

[Tim Gavrich]

Out at Lexington (VA) CC this afternoon I hit a nifty little punch-fade 5 iron from about 180 that bounced short of the green and scurried over a hill (the pin was in the middle, and the rear half can't be seen from the fairway because it trundles away from the player) on the green.  Getting up to the green and seeing my ball eight feet from the cup was just reinforcement of how much fun the game is.

Of course, I missed the putt, which was just reinforcement of how much of a pain in the neck the game is, too.  

[James Bennett]

Does anythng beat the approach to 16 at Merion East over the quarry?

Or Pine Valley #5?

Dan

as good as PV #5 is, isn't PV #16 even better?

James B

[Sean_A]

I generally drive the ball pretty straight...

Tommy

This is an understatement if I ever heard one.  At Beau you put on a driving clinic and its the straighest driving I have seen for many a year.

Ciao

[TEPaul]

Tommy:

Unless you're near a scratch player (I can't remember if you are although I suspect you may be a plus) don't you go trying to "SHAPE" any 190 yard shots into greens. Just try to hit the middle of the green amigo---you'll be better off for it.  

Now you take that 5th green at Pine Valley. I just can't imagine many golfers actually thinking they can go pin hunting on that hole.

For me, having played that course about 500 times over the years frankly I can count on one hand the times I've even tried to hit the green. My strategy is to just get right up in front of it and you'll be just fine.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Tommy:

Unless you're near a scratch player (I can't remember if you are although I suspect you may be a plus) don't you go trying to "SHAPE" any 190 yard shots into greens. Just try to hit the middle of the green amigo---you'll be better off for it.  

Now you take that 5th green at Pine Valley. I just can't imagine many golfers actually thinking they can go pin hunting on that hole.

For me, having played that course about 500 times over the years frankly I can count on one hand the times I've even tried to hit the green. My strategy is to just get right up in front of it and you'll be just fine.

At my home course the 13th is a reverse redan par four. Depending on the day, I usually am about 175-190 yards away from the hole.  I love taking my new hybrid and hitting a low cut.  
I wait the entire round to hit that shot.  Yesterday the pin was over the bunkeer and the green and fairways were soft so I went right at the pin.  I hit a good shot but felt disappointed that I didn't hit my regular shot.  #13 is a slight dogleg left with an uphill tee shot.  I hit the ball on the left side of the fairway verys short and had a 170 yard shot to a right pin.  I took my 22 degree odd looking friend and hooked around the trees.  It missed the green but the shot was much more satisfying than the previous one.

As for 5 at PV.  The only time I went for the green was the first time I played it.  Like you short and a chip is the better part of valor.  I have not played it more than a dozen times but can only think of going for it on a Holy day like Easter when i figure I may have a little extra help.

[JohnV]

The second shot to the 470 yard par 5 14th hole at Pumpkin Ridge's Witch Hollow Course when you are going for it in 2.  Water front left, wetlands behind, a big bunker right.  From about 180 yards it is really exciting.

Oh, did I mention I holed it the last time I was there.

Actually very few tee shots on par 4s or 5s are that exciting.  The shots to the green are usually much more interesting.

[Daryl David]

I think tee shots on 4 and 5s are not as interesting these days because the driver has become so easy to hit. That's why we look forward to the long second shots.

The most recent Golf Digest has an article that proves the tighter the hole, the more often the higher handicap player should hit driver.  Because of technology, the driver has become the club most players will hit straight rather than backing down to 3 wood or long iron.  Remember the knot in your gut when you stood over your drive with that persimmon driver and balata ball.  Alas, those days are gone as we all use our Burner to rip our Pro V1 right down the middle.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I generally drive the ball pretty straight...

Tommy

This is an understatement if I ever heard one.  At Beau you put on a driving clinic and its the straighest driving I have seen for many a year.

Ciao

Sean, if you had played with me yesterday you would change your mind.

[Tom_Doak]

One of my favorite approach shots in golf is the shot to the sixth at Crystal Downs if it's playing into the wind and you haven't got your drive up the hill ... it rolls back to the bottom and you are faced with a blind long iron off an uphill lie from about 180 yards into the wind.  You've got to hit it high enough to get over the crest of the hill in front of you, but without ballooning it up in the air.  I may be the only guy on earth who enjoys it but I just love it and I always hit a good shot there.

One of my favorite approach shots on my own courses is the 11th at Lost Dunes ... I always stomp on that one too.

[Chris Kane]

While its often moronic to go for the flag, the approach into the Road hole is so much fun - and I didn't pull it off once!

[Mark_F]

The approach to 6 West at Royal Melbourne always gets me going in that way. It really sets the imagination going, and you need to control not only shape, but spin also.

To me it is the ultimate par.4. approach - especially with the front left pin location.

Rich,

Is this approach harder than one to back left on KH 6th?

[Jim Nugent]

The approach to 6 West at Royal Melbourne always gets me going in that way. It really sets the imagination going, and you need to control not only shape, but spin also.

To me it is the ultimate par.4. approach - especially with the front left pin location.

You might be interested to know that George Pepper chose this hole as one of the 18 best in the world.  

[PThomas]

approach to number 8 at  Pebble ain't too shabby!

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