When did the Road Hole become a Par 4?

[Chris Cupit]

I was curious.  I was reading Bob Jones' "Golf Is My Game" and in the chapter entitled, "The Most Important Tournament of My Life" he describes his match against Cyril Tolley and in particular, the key hole of the match, number seventeen.

The map of the old course's 17th hole describes it as a 466 yard Par 5.

Does anyone know when the par was changed?  Also, (and I know technology has changed things today) would you rather see 17 as a reachable par 5 or a very long par 4?

Lastly, if the old course did finish "easy" par 5 then "easy" par 4, would that influence how you perceived the strength of the course?

[Adrian_Stiff]

I was curious.  I was reading Bob Jones' "Golf Is My Game" and in the chapter entitled, "The Most Important Tournament of My Life" he describes his match against Cyril Tolley and in particular, the key hole of the match, number seventeen.

The map of the old course's 17th hole describes it as a 466 yard Par 5.

Does anyone know when the par was changed?  Also, (and I know technology has changed things today) would you rather see 17 as a reachable par 5 or a very long par 4?

Lastly, if the old course did finish "easy" par 5 then "easy" par 4, would that influence how you perceived the strength of the course?

I'd guess it was the mid to late 50s, on the 60 open it was a 4, but I think either the 55 or 57 it was a 5. The 13th was also a 5, and probably the 4th was too but thats going back a fair bit and probably when the term was more Bogey, rather than par. At some stage in the UK 476 yards became the standard distance for a par 5, regardless of uphill or downhill. To a good player I dont suppose it makes much difference if you call 17 a 4 or a 5. Personally I think the business of building golf courses/ operating golf course is quite linked to the entertainments business, 'we are here to provide enjoyment for people' So probably more people enjoy an easy 5 than a tough 4.

[Paul Jones]

It is still played as a Par 5 from the Ladies Tees:

The Old Course. Hole 17, Road.
Par 4/5
Medal Tee: 455 yards
Ladies Tee: 426 yards

[Jeff_Mingay]

I'm pretty sure it wasn't until the mid-1960s ('64 or '65) that the Road hole became a par 4 for everyday play.

[Chris Burgard]

Apparently Ben Crenshaw advocates leaving it as a par-4...

"The reason the Road Hole is the greatest par-four in the world," says Ben Crenshaw, "is because it is a par-5."

[Brian_Ewen]

I think it was changed for the 1964 Open , and has remained as a par4 since .

[Forrest Richardson]

I agree with the mid-1960s timeframe. The hole is shown as a par-5 on Shell's Wide World of Golf...which I believe was a 1966 broadcast.

[Adrian_Stiff]

I agree with the mid-1960s timeframe. The hole is shown as a par-5 on Shell's Wide World of Golf...which I believe was a 1966 broadcast.

I have the 1963 British Open Amateur Championship programme and it was a 4 for that, but it may have been a 5 for regular play. I do remember some old Henry Longhurst footage of an Open around this time where he says he got his five at 17. I think this was 1955 or 1957 though. So sometime in between that.

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