Par-6s?

[Jay Flemma]

I'm teaching my new girl about golf and golf design and she asked me, "are there ever par-6s?"

I could only say I'd heard there were a couple, (isn't there one in Massachusetts?), but I'd never played one.  I know there's one in Idaho and another in Virginia.  And John Fought and Tom Lehman designed one in Arizona.

Some say it's a maintenance nightmare.  Is it? What about strategically?  Do they work.

Anyone from N.C. who played Tot Hill Farm after the big flood in 2005 let me know how the combination hole of 17 and 18 played as a par-7!

[Joel_Stewart]

Lake Chabot 18t hole Oakland California

666 yards, steep downhill, small green.

[Alex Miller]

http://www.standrews2000golf.com/index.php/layout/layout-std/score-card-std

St. Andrews 2000 Golf Club in Thailand (what a name!) has 2 par 6's. I have not played them, but heard about them from my uncle who really enjoyed the course.

At 910 yards it appears that the second one is a true 4 shot hole.

[Cameron DeVries]

very cool.  love the idea of a 910 yard golf hole just for variety's (and humor's) sake.  I like long, unreachable par 5's once in awhile too - gives golf some edge, freshness

[Howard Riefs]

The USGA guidelines are such that any hole 691 yards and longer from the back tees or 591 and longer from the ladies’ tees can be considered a par 6.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21116556/ns/travel-active_travel/t/are-you-par/#.URlA7x3AeQ0

A few as of 2007:
- Meadows Farms in Locust Grove, Virginia -- 841 yards
- Chocolay Golf Club in Marquette, Michigan -- 1007 yards
- The Gallery in Marana, Arizona -- 725 yards

[Alex Miller]

I thought The Gallery's 725 yarder was just an insanely long downhill par 5.

I understand where it falls under USGA guidelines, but I think the fact that there are such specific guidelines is a bit silly.

[Jason Connor]

Ahh - that pleasant time where a new partner feigns interest in your passions.  

Anyway, when I was late teen I was a member at The Mountain Club (which turned into Gobbler's Knob, which is now Fore Sisters) in Rawlings Maryland.

It had a par 6. Dead straight, pretty boring.

I thought they'd shortened it and lengthened the short par 3 that followed it.  But apparently the par 6 is still there

http://www.foresistersgolf.com/14th%20hole.html

Its only redeeming quality is that it was home to one of my finest shots ever:  I hit a 1-iron of the flag on my third shot.  But it kicked 90% left into a trap and I didn't get up and down for birdie.  One of my more memorable pars ever.

Apparently they've switched the routing since I played.  They mustn't have just reordered because the 10th didnt start at the clubhouse.  it used to be #5.

[SteveOgulukian]

Cherry Creek (Links Course) out in Riverhead, Long Island has a par 6 18th hole.  644 yards from the tips.  It's basically just a 3 shot Par 5.

[Tom_Doak]

I was tinkering with the idea of a par-6 for the second course at Black Mesa.  In the last version of the routing, there was a stretch of about 750 yards between #15 green and #17 tee.  We could have made a long par-5 with walks before and after, or a par-6.  I didn't see why we shouldn't do the par-6 -- other than anytime anyone else does it, I think it's strictly a gimmick.

There are lots more par-6 holes for women than for men.  I think the USGA guidelines used to say that anything above 550 yards would be a par-6 for women.  The seventh at Cape Breton Highlands is one that I remember playing with my first wife.

[Morgan Clawson]

The 6th hole at Madden's Pine Beach East course in Brainerd, MN has a 618 yard par 6. The hole is dead flat.

Madden's is a resort in central MN.  The course was designed in the late 1920s by James Dalgleish, a Scottish golf course designer.

[David Ober]

I was tinkering with the idea of a par-6 for the second course at Black Mesa.  In the last version of the routing, there was a stretch of about 750 yards between #15 green and #17 tee.  We could have made a long par-5 with walks before and after, or a par-6.  I didn't see why we shouldn't do the par-6 -- other than anytime anyone else does it, I think it's strictly a gimmick.

There are lots more par-6 holes for women than for men.  I think the USGA guidelines used to say that anything above 550 yards would be a par-6 for women.  The seventh at Cape Breton Highlands is one that I remember playing with my first wife.

Personally, I would love a par 6 from time to time for variety's sake....

[Matthew Rose]

I'm actually shocked there aren't more 700-yard holes already. I think it is only a matter of time before they start popping up, at least out here in Colorado and other high-altitude places.

[Brad Tufts]

There is a par-6 at Maplewood Casino in Bethlehem, NH on (both sides of) Rte. 302.  It's late in the back 9...#16 or #17.  It's actually a straightaway 590 or so...a reachable in 3 par 6!

I think that's the only one I've played....D-3w-8i, two putts for a 5.

I realize score is nothing but a number, but I found it annoying that I might end up with a 6 on my card even though I played the hole well.

[John_Conley]

The 6th hole at Madden's Pine Beach East course in Brainerd, MN has a 618 yard par 6. The hole is dead flat.

Madden's is a resort in central MN.  The course was designed in the late 1920s by James Dalgleish, a Scottish golf course designer.

Madden's came to mind, as did a hole at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida.  Latter one is NLE I believe.

[Ronald Montesano]

US Open History Lesson: 1912 at Country Club of Buffalo (now Grover Cleveland municipal)...10th hole played to 606 yards and a par of 6, the only instance in Open history that a par 6 was on the card.

[Carr Harris]

The 7th hole at Black Diamond in Millersburg OH is a par 6 of about 680 yds. (It says 650 on the website but I believe there is a tee further back)

http://www.blackdiamondgolfcourse.com/course/hole-7

A few years ago, with a strong tailwind, I was able to reach it in two and I narrowly missed my putt for "double eagle" 

[Lester George]

Wake Forest Golf Club, 1st hole, 746 yards.  Club is now defunct but just recently sold in foreclosure so it may be coming back.

Lester

[Michael Moore]

Par six, hell yeah, the island fairway, pond-in-the-fairway, 90 degree dogleg around the wetlands, 660-yard 12th hole at Lakewood Golf Course in Madison, ME. How about a par two while we're at it?

[Jeb Bearer]

17th hole at Black Mountain near Asheville, NC. The front nine is a nice Ross, the back is one of the worst nines I've ever played, BUT I do like the 17th. It works as a transition hole from forest through a valley and break in the trees to a meadow. The green is tucked around a hill and is reachable in 3 good shots. The scorecard says 747 yds but I have my doubts.

[Greg Holland]

Farmstead Golf Links by Willard Byrd in North Myrtle, SC.  From its website:

Straddling the North Carolina - South Carolina border, Farmstead Golf Links is truly a cut above the typical Grand Strand course. Its most distinguishing feature is the mammoth 767 yard, 18th hole, a par 6 that begins in South Carolina and ends in North Carolina.

[Anders Rytter]

Himmerland golf&cc in Denmark has one

[Matthew Petersen]

I thought The Gallery's 725 yarder was just an insanely long downhill par 5.

I understand where it falls under USGA guidelines, but I think the fact that there are such specific guidelines is a bit silly.

You are correct: http://www.gallerygolf.com/default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=293428&ssid=174390&vnf=1

The hole is very long (725 from the tips), but very downhill. And those back tees are rated 74.0/142, I'd be surprised if they were ever used for much other than the few years the pros played out there as a portion of the Tucson Open. Go one set up and it's a 609 yard hole, which is long, but still quite downhill and not all that unusual for a par 5.

There is a par 6 in Arizona, at Turquoise Valley in Naco, just north of the border. A mere 747 yards with a wash crossing the fairway some 300 yards from the tee and a green set at a 90-degree dogleg behind a pond. Never played it but it seems like a serious par 6 that would take 3 very good shots to get home on.

[Bill Gayne]

I would think it would be very boring to have a hole deemed a par six simply for length. Another idea for a par six might be a hole with par five length and a green complex that is intended as a three putts/chips. A wild green complex with maybe a undulating volcano green with huge chipping and run off areas that could just as easily result in a four or nine. It would be a complete gimmick but aren't all par six gimmicks?

[Tom_Doak]

I would think it would be very boring to have a hole deemed a par six simply for length. Another idea for a par six might be a hole with par five length and a green complex that is intended as a three putts/chips. A wild green complex with maybe a undulating volcano green with huge chipping and run off areas that could just as easily result in a four or nine. It would be a complete gimmick but aren't all par six gimmicks?

I don't think a par six HAS TO BE a gimmick.  Most are, partly because most are on fairly mundane courses and the par 6 is the only hole people talk about.  But the old seven-hole course at Royal Blackheath had a par-6 before they invented par.

There is nothing wrong with the idea of making long hitters bash a fairway wood a couple of times if they want to get home in three.  Fairway woods were a big part of the game 100-125 years ago, and were still part of the game 40-50 years ago.  Now they're a footnote. 

[Brian Finn]

There was a 750 yard par 6 on the silver nine at mountain manor in NE Pennsylvania (near the Delaware Water Gap).  It included 3 dog legs and a large pond fronting the green.  I believe the course was closed a few years back.  Despite fond memories of playing there a few times as a kid, it is probably better off.  Having played this one and the 18th at Cherry Creek on LI (neither is very good) I think I have had my fill of 6 pars.