Back to Back Par 5s as Closing Both Nines

[Lawson Klotz]

Walden on Lake Conroe (TX) has three consecutive par 5s to end the front nine and start the back (510 yds, 533 yds, 582 yds). Not an easy stretch.

[Ryan Book]

A curiosity for sure but I imagine one where the context of the routing makes it more palatable. Both of these duos are preceded by par threes of reasonable length; if there had been stiff par fours, or even par fours of average length, it might begin to feel like a slog.


On top of that, each of these pairs features one par five that, for matchplay purposes, might as well be a stiff par four. I'm not a long hitter so I'm biased...but both of these nines would essentially close with a par 4.5 and a three-shot five for my intents and purposes. I doubt I would be bothered, especially when my modern brain has almost been programmed to expect a stiff closer on both nines anyhow.


A slight tangent, worth noting that A.V. Macan's Victoria GC (in British Columbia) closes its front nine with consecutive par threes...the back nine does not close with them, but does in fact feature another pair of consecutive short holes.

Victoria in Melbourne has Par 5s for 8 and 9 and 17 and 18 (very good holes btw). I do not remember seeing both nines finishing with two Par 5s before.

[Stewart Abramson]

I'm not aware of any course with 8, 9, 17 and 18 as par 5's. The closest I can recall is Highlands Reserve in Davenport FL (near Orlando), which has 9, 17 and 18 as par 5's. 17 and 18 are pretty good holes. #9 not so much.

[Tim Martin]

Walden on Lake Conroe (TX) has three consecutive par 5s to end the front nine and start the back (510 yds, 533 yds, 582 yds). Not an easy stretch.

Lawson-Your last sentence “Not an easy stretch” piqued my curiosity about the nature of the holes. Is there water, forced carries, blindness or other features that make it a tough stretch? Many would look at three par fives in a row as a scoring opportunity but I could be off base not knowing the golf course. Thanks.

[David Cronan]

Louisville (KY) Country Club, has an eclectic run of holes. Walter Travis is the original architect.


(15) par 3
(16) par 3
(17) par 5
(18) par 5
(1)   par 5
(2)  drivable par 4
(3)   par 5
(4)   par 3

[Michael Felton]

For three 5s in a row, Inwood on Long Island has par 5s for 3, 4, and 5 (6 and 7 are then both par 3s as well).


As to ending both nines with two par 5s, I'm not aware of any courses that do that. The West at Wentworth ends with two par 5s and the commentators on the TV would often talk about how unusual that was - let alone to tack on the same on the front nine as well.

[Lawson Klotz]

Walden on Lake Conroe (TX) has three consecutive par 5s to end the front nine and start the back (510 yds, 533 yds, 582 yds). Not an easy stretch.

Lawson-Your last sentence “Not an easy stretch” piqued my curiosity about the nature of the holes. Is there water, forced carries, blindness or other features that make it a tough stretch? Many would look at three par fives in a row as a scoring opportunity but I could be off base not knowing the golf course. Thanks.

Tim - Each hole has tight landing zones at some point with water on one side. From what I've measured on Google, the greens on 9 and 10 are only ~2,100 sq.ft. each. The 11th plays out to a skinny peninsula on the lake. I've never hit a layup within 160 yards of the green since the entire peninsula pinches in to just 55 yards wide (total) where most would want to lay up.

[Tim Martin]

Walden on Lake Conroe (TX) has three consecutive par 5s to end the front nine and start the back (510 yds, 533 yds, 582 yds). Not an easy stretch.

Lawson-Your last sentence “Not an easy stretch” piqued my curiosity about the nature of the holes. Is there water, forced carries, blindness or other features that make it a tough stretch? Many would look at three par fives in a row as a scoring opportunity but I could be off base not knowing the golf course. Thanks.

Tim - Each hole has tight landing zones at some point with water on one side. From what I've measured on Google, the greens on 9 and 10 are only ~2,100 sq.ft. each. The 11th plays out to a skinny peninsula on the lake. I've never hit a layup within 160 yards of the green since the entire peninsula pinches in to just 55 yards wide (total) where most would want to lay up.

Lawson-Thanks for the hole descriptions as it doesn’t seem like an easy stretch with 11 being a potential card wrecker.

[Keith Williams]

I'm not aware of any course with 8, 9, 17 and 18 as par 5's. The closest I can recall is Highlands Reserve in Davenport FL (near Orlando), which has 9, 17 and 18 as par 5's. 17 and 18 are pretty good holes. #9 not so much.

I had forgotten that they have swapped the nines there.  The ninth that you dislike was originally the 18th and the consecutive 5's were eight and nine.