Par 6

[Mark_Rowlinson]

There are a few par 6s in golf. Are there any good ones? If so, why are they good?

[Kyle Henderson]

Lake Chabot's 675-yard finisher has been a not-so-infrequent topic on this board. It's uber-fun, though it may not meet the criteria of greatness in everyone's lexicon.

A big drive hit (from position A) with a slight draw or kicking off of the high right side of the fairway will head down a steep hill to the left (note switchbacks in cart path) to position B. From there, a fairway wood hit from a down hill lie can reach the green, which is still well below the player. A valley is found 100 yards short of the green, past which the hole climbs steeply such that any short approach will stop or retreat. A layup from position B can virtually be played with a putter and still reach the 100 marker. There is a bit of a bowl left and behind the green covered with rough. Shots that miss the green long or left force the player to play a flop shot from a downhill lie to a tiered green that runs away from them. A 3 is possible. A 5 feels like par. The hacker will relish his par of "6."

[John Moore II]

Here is a thread on this same topic from about a month ago:

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,36039.0.html

[ChipOat]

I read the thread from last week + this one and I can't believe Mike Cirba hasn't responded to this one, because:

When I played Cobb's Creek in the late 1960's, it had a Par 6 - right there on the card.

Also, the old Ingleside Manor in Downingtown, PA had a Par 6.  I played off a cliff to a big open pasture, if I recall correctly.

[TX Golf]

If you notice the cart path has switch backs because that hill is soo steep. However, that is what also makes the hole great. While it might not be the greatest par 6, I have never heard a person say they don't enjoy playing it!!!

Robert

[Mike_Cirba]

I read the thread from last week + this one and I can't believe Mike Cirba hasn't responded to this one, because:

When I played Cobb's Creek in the late 1960's, it had a Par 6 - right there on the card.

Also, the old Ingleside Manor in Downingtown, PA had a Par 6.  I played off a cliff to a big open pasture, if I recall correctly.

Chip,

I know the holes you're talking about at both courses, but neither is a par 6 these days.

The 14th at Cobb's Creek (one of the holes revised in the 1950s) is about 620, but today plays as a par five.

I can't recall the hole number at Ingleside, but it's also a 5 as well.

The only par  6 I've ever played is at Mountain Manor in the Poconos;   it's about 750 yards, and is a 90 degree dogleg right after a blind uphill drive, and the final shot is about 150 over a pond.

It's a true par six for most normal humans, but other than a novelty, it's really not something I'd care to see a whole lot of. 

[Adrian_Stiff]

I think 675 yards is still a par 5. I would have thought the 'line' should be 701 yards to be a par 6 and I base this on a par 3 is standardised at 250, a par 4 at 251-475 a par 5 'in excess off', if you call the 250-475 the interim shot -225 yards, so 475 + 225 is 700.
We have a 696 yarder and you can get it in 3 shots, mainly 3 woods though even I have hit a wedge 3rd shot from the 638 tee. I do not know of anyone on in two of the 696 tee, though its been done from the 660s.
Probably to be a good par 6, it needs something to challenge at 450 which if carried you can get on in 3 whilst a lay up defines it as a four shotter, it would be a rare bit of land but its possible you could get a good one.

[Rich Goodale]

The 14th at Royal Dornoch is a 445-yard par 6 and it is generally regarded as pretty good.

[John Moore II]

I think 675 yards is still a par 5. I would have thought the 'line' should be 701 yards to be a par 6 and I base this on a par 3 is standardised at 250, a par 4 at 251-475 a par 5 'in excess off', if you call the 250-475 the interim shot -225 yards, so 475 + 225 is 700.
We have a 696 yarder and you can get it in 3 shots, mainly 3 woods though even I have hit a wedge 3rd shot from the 638 tee. I do not know of anyone on in two of the 696 tee, though its been done from the 660s.
Probably to be a good par 6, it needs something to challenge at 450 which if carried you can get on in 3 whilst a lay up defines it as a four shotter, it would be a rare bit of land but its possible you could get a good one.

Actually, the number for a Par 6 according to the USGA is 691. Based on USGA 'averages' the average scratch player hits the ball 250 off the tee. The 'max' length for a par 4 is 470. So that means the 'average' scratch player hits a 3 wood 220 yards off the deck. 250+220+220=690. So 690 is the max yardage for a par 5, assuming no odd circumstances. The old Wake Forest Golf Club (NLE) had an opening par 5 that was I think 715 yards (It was over 700 for sure) but the tee shot was very much down hill. It was reachable in 3 shots, but it was a very odd hole.