Have given this a lot of thought and think the answer varies with the facility and who your clients will be. For a member club pace of play is so important, particularly at a vibrant , busy golf course. Same with public that serves a lot of clients. You NEED to get the players off and moving, because once it slows down early inevitably a four hour + slog is sure to ensue. It's so important to be able to promote pace of play as a reason to make this your place to play!
If you are at a resort or high end private that is more of a destination this becomes less important. I personally abhor slow play but if you are at Pebble Beach or Cypress for instance it goes so fast you don't mind looking around a little more and drink it all in. So if you are there even the speed demons among us probably are ok with less thought to pace of play!
Two of my favorite golf course in our area have extremely challenging holes to start on Pine Valley's first needs no introduction and is quite a difficult starter. It's perfect though in that it sets the "mood" and is an inkling of what's to follow. Likewise the first at Galloway is quite difficult, not for it's length but for the need to hit a very precise tee shot followed by a second that challenges even a short iron. It's a gorgeous hole also and that might make for another thread on openers.
We are just talking about the opener here but certainly a part three and par five early tend not to work , at least for me . Back to that pace of play stuff, you know
which brings me back to Woodcrest CC where many of my best friends to this day started as caddies. Ownership built a new clubhouse years ago with some nice outside space. They likely thought it would be fun to watch golf while dining or drinking. However they then switched the nines to have the view of the 18th ....it was and is a bad decision..but I've already opined on that