Courses that open and close with

[Ronald Montesano]

Joe, Country Club of Hudson in Hudson, Ohio, does this:  https://cchudson.memberstatements.com/tour/tours.cfm?tourid=70329

Everyone else...I've played Taconic and CC Hudson. I think that #1 at Taconic is more likely to be a par four than #18. Both are nice half shot holes, although I can't say that the blind nature of #18 makes it very easy.

Glen Oak in Amherst, NY, an RTJ Senior design, begins with a boring and flat 1st hole (it's good, but not much to it) and a horrible, twisted 18th with the equivalent of 4 metal, 6 iron, 9 iron plays ... driver is never an option off the tee and a huge lake from 220 out up to the green eliminates the right side of the hole.  Brilliantly, Trent stuck bunkers up the left side, strangling the fairway.  In the words of the kids: FAIL

If I think of others, I'll report in.

[Jason Topp]

Minnesota Valley also opens and closes with par fives.

http://www.mvccgolf.com/guests/scorecard.htm


I can't say that I have a strong impression one way or another about those holes other than the first plays short and the 18th plays long. 

[Sam Morrow]

Southern Trace in Shreveport, La.

 I don't know about the Nationwide Tour but for Section events #1 played as a par 4.

This maybe true for outside events, but I beleive that everyday member play it is a par 5.

Looking at the card it is a par 5 for normal member play.

[Matt Bosela]

I've played five courses, all in Canada, that start and end with three-shotters:

Bear Mountain - Mountain (Victoria, BC)
Brantford G&CC (Brantford, ON)
Glen Abbey GC (Oakville, ON)
Legends on the Niagara - Battlefield (Niagara Falls, ON)
Twenty Valley GCC (Vineland, ON)

The opener at Glen Abbey plays as a par four during Canadian Open events these days but is a par five on the card.  Overall, I haven't given much thought to the concept but if pressed, I'd say the opportunity to close a round with a potential birdie is always welcome so I guess I'm fine with par fives as closers.

[Jaeger Kovich]

New York County Club a semi-private in Rockland County NY has par fives at #1 and #18, as well as #9 to close out both sides back by the clubhouse. To me its a bit of a cop-out in the design; a blatant choice to do it the easiest way instead of exploring alternative routing solutions. The clubhouse sits on the high point of the property, elevated WAY above the rest of the course on a very steep hill. The drop/climb must be 175-200 ft on #1, 9, 10 and 18, which is why the architect clearly tried to spread out part of the up/down effect over longer holes. Not a terrible thought, but when you play long straightish par-5 up and down the same mountain 3 times, there isn't a golfer out there who wouldn't wish something different have been done around that part of the property.

To be fare, I was on googlearth recently and it looks like there may have been an effort to change #18, its hard to tell maybe a mid construction picture

[Pete_Pittock]

Reserve Vineyards (North). But the original routing by Bob Cupp started with a sub 400 par 4 with OB right and an elevated green.i

[Tom_Doak]

Pretty sure the only one I've built that fits the bill is Black Forest, mentioned by David Boehm.  That's the only course I've built with five par-fives in its 18 holes.

[David_Tepper]

I have played Rooster Run GC, a muni in Petaluma, CA, many times. Up until the nines were reversed a couple of years ago, the course opened and closed with par-5's. I thought it worked fine. #1 was a straightaway hole and #18 was a good finisher, with water potentially coming into play on the tee shot, the 2nd shot and the 3rd shot.

[Peter Ferlicca]

The Reserve Club in Indian Wells, CA.  It has a short reachable par 5 opener, and then a long downhill par 5 finisher over water to the green.

Vista Valley Country Club in Vista, CA.  A ted robinson in a small valley, both are reachable par 5s

The Tradition Club in La Quinta, CA.  A good opener and a wild double fairway finisher.

Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle, WA.  A good uphill opener and then a finisher over water to the big clubhouse behind.

[Pat Burke]

I know it does not qualify,
but I bet I am not the only player that has a higher stroke average on #18 at Riviera, then on #1!!!

[jonathan_becker]

RTOM,

Never in a million years would I have remembered CC Hudson having par 5s on 1,9,10,18 until your post.  I played in the Hudson Jr a few times back in the 90s and the configuration gave you a chance to score at the start and finish as all aren't too difficult.

[David_Tepper]

The Presidio GC in San Francisco (where I was a member for 16 years) is another course that opened & closed with par-5's until the nines were reversed when the course was opened to the public in the late 1990's.

[Ronald Montesano]

Totally OT, but pray you never face this configuration:  par 3s at 1, 9, 10 and 18...that's the fate of Tan-Tara GC in North Tonawanda, NY. They go about 195, 140, 140, 170, all over the same, wretched cistern-ish water course.

[Cristian]

Like Sunningdale New, De Pan and Haagsche here in Holland (both Colt & Co, Haagsche primarily by Alison) each have a starting and finishing par 5. The starters are relatively easy holes with wider fairways, the 18th at either course has more trouble.

[Jed Peters]

Patrick:

The only really "notable" course of significance is SFGC, which opens with a 5 and closes with a 5.

Reason I REALLY appreciate it....it allows you to "play" more--i.e. even a wayward shot can be turned into a par--on both the first and 18th.

I like hitting a lot of "regulation" shots. Par 5s seem more "fun"....if that makes sense. One has the thrill of the tee ball, the spot to "lay up" or "go for it", and the third shot to be more "exacting" with the possibility of hitting a wedge.

I guess this would go to your Tilly post as the best architect of 5 pars too, eh? They're pretty great holes.

[Paul Stephenson]

There was a course here in Ontario named Boxgrove that opened with 2 par fives and ended with 2 par fives.  The course was owned for a number of years by IBM until sold to developers.  It is now a 9 hole course under the name Markham Green.

I personally like opening with a par 5 as it seems more forgiving and may allow for an early birdie.  The unique thing about playing Boxgrove is that after the second hole you felt you had to hold on until #17 and a chance at a strong finish.

Starting on the back nine would result in playing 4 par fives in a row.  Anyone know of another course which does this?

[Bob Jenkins]

Here in the Vancouver, B.C. area, there are a few off the top of my head:

  - Capilano starts with a downhill par 5 that is as easy an opening hole you can find, unless you duck hook your drive ala Leary. The course then ends with one of the best par 5s anywhere, with a green built into a ledge just below the imposing clubhouse.
  - Point Grey is an older private Vancouver club which starts with a 540 yard par 5 and ends with a 470 yarder which someone with any distance can reach in two. Pond on the front left has caught a lot of balls over the years. I too enjoy closing on a short par 5 as if you hit a respectable drive and have to win the hole to tie or win, that can determine whether you go for it in two. Lots of fun.
  - One more is the Chateau Whistler course, in of all places, Whistler, B.C. RTJ II course, very hilly but a fair amount of fun. Starts with an uphill par 5 and ends with a downhill par 5 of similar length and they run parallel, but of course #18 is back to the clubhouse.

[David_Tepper]

Until it was totally re-done in the mid-1990's, the Ocean Course at the Olympic Club opened and closed with par-5's.

[BCrosby]

Wade Hampton

[Sean_A]

Like Sunningdale New, De Pan and Haagsche here in Holland (both Colt & Co, Haagsche primarily by Alison) each have a starting and finishing par 5. The starters are relatively easy holes with wider fairways, the 18th at either course has more trouble.

Cristian

When I played Sunny New I think the 1st was a par 4 and I was surprised the 18th wasn't a par 4. 

Ciao

[Sean Leary]

Here in the Vancouver, B.C. area, there are a few off the top of my head:

  - Capilano starts with a downhill par 5 that is as easy an opening hole you can find, unless you duck hook your drive ala Leary. The course then ends with one of the best par 5s anywhere, with a green built into a ledge just below the imposing clubhouse.
  - Point Grey is an older private Vancouver club which starts with a 540 yard par 5 and ends with a 470 yarder which someone with any distance can reach in two. Pond on the front left has caught a lot of balls over the years. I too enjoy closing on a short par 5 as if you hit a respectable drive and have to win the hole to tie or win, that can determine whether you go for it in two. Lots of fun.
  - One more is the Chateau Whistler course, in of all places, Whistler, B.C. RTJ II course, very hilly but a fair amount of fun. Starts with an uphill par 5 and ends with a downhill par 5 of similar length and they run parallel, but of course #18 is back to the clubhouse.

What are you talking about? I found my ball. I used the trees as a sideboard, thats all. Second shot angle is way better from over there anyway.

18 at Cap is just an outstanding hole. Followed by as good of a 19th hole in golf....

[David_Tepper]

Pat Mucci -

You have received many responses to the question you posed. Is does not appear anyone finds opening & closing par-5's terribly objectionable.

What sort of information were you looking for in asking this question?

DT

[Patrick_Mucci]

Patrick:

The only really "notable" course of significance is SFGC, which opens with a 5 and closes with a 5.

Reason I REALLY appreciate it....it allows you to "play" more--i.e. even a wayward shot can be turned into a par--on both the first and 18th.

I like hitting a lot of "regulation" shots. Par 5s seem more "fun"....if that makes sense. One has the thrill of the tee ball, the spot to "lay up" or "go for it", and the third shot to be more "exacting" with the possibility of hitting a wedge.

I guess this would go to your Tilly post as the best architect of 5 pars too, eh? They're pretty great holes.

Jed,

Did the Original SFGC have a practice range.

Sometimes I think the designers of courses without range facilities opened with a benign hole.

[Keith Buntrock]

Otter Creek in Indiana

[Shannon Wheeler]

I'll extend the stakes:  how many courses out there can claim to open and close with par 5's and after flipping nines can still make the same claim?!  We have a course nearish Philly that fits the bill:  Wyncote.

I like the arrangement currently with a shorter 18th, although playing a bit uphill, does allow reaching in two with a good tee shot and a semi-blind 2nd.  The original 18th was also good as a true 3-shotter with the possibility for a tough Sunday pin to a small back right tier.
 
The opening holes in either arrangement are fine openers with some stress off the tees but pretty much a simple par for most, birdies for the better players looking to get off to a good start.