Excluding the par 3 holes, four of the seven holes change par after you make the turn. How common is this practice, switching pars and adding or subtracting 100 yards to change the character of the holes and how you approach them? Does it in some way help you understand the architect in how he approaches the routing?
Earlier this week I played Pineway, a 9 hole course in Lebanon, OR, designed by H Chandler Egan. I think a lot of Egan remains. It was a 9 hole course, so I played 9, part of my quest to play every course in Oregon . As I was preparing to leave I had a pleasant conversation with another golfer who said he needed the extra shot on #2. Huh? And I left. Later the mind fog lifted.
The awkwardly difficult par 4 2nd (365/390), became a much gentler par 5. Instead of having to bust a drive much like the 18th at Riviera, needing to keep it between narrowing tree lines for a semi-blind uphill approach. As a par 5 it was a drive to the base of the hill. a mid/short iron to the flats, followed by a wedge. The 9th (455/331), the other hole running up to the clubhouse was a par 5 with a big shoulder protruding into half the fairway about a wedge shot short of the green on top of the next hill. As a par 4 and 125 yards shorter, the different angle of the tee shot and less yardage made the shoulder less relevant. The down and back 5th (480/380) and 6th (353/465) are basic wide-open holes, but the approach shots are markedly different by length, and the bunkering in front of the 5th matters much more..
It is almost the red tee/blue tee approach. The great Ernie Banks said it's a great day, lets play two. He was right, now I need to go back and play the back nine.