What Par 72 Course Has the Best Par 5's?

« **on:** March 15, 2007, 05:35:59 PM »

The problem with par 5's is that they have to strike a balance between being too easy (relative to par) without being boring 3-shotters. Integrating 4 interesting par 5's into a standard configuration par 72 is a pretty tough task, particularly with modern equipment which has overturned established metrics for long par 5's and long par 4's.

I think Pete Dye created an interesting set of par 5's at TPC Stadium. Obviously there is Augusta. Where else do you find a par 72 with 4 good par 5's?

« **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2007, 05:39:31 PM »

Pebble Beach jumps to mind. Even if you call #2 weak (which I don't agree with), the other three are all pretty fantastic.

I know, they call #2 a par 4 for US Open. But for all other times it's a 5.

« **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2007, 05:50:55 PM »

I know I'll probably get killed for this but I think Muirfield Village actually has an excellent set of par 5's with the 7th being the least compelling.

5,11 and 15 are all fun par fives where anything can happen with any score between 3 & 7 a distinct possibility on each.

« **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2007, 07:00:49 PM »

Highland Links in Cape Breton has a wonderful set of par 5's

« **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2007, 07:09:03 PM »

Nicklaus has done several courses with excellent par-5's. Shoal Creek's are pretty good, although I guess Tiger B. thinks they are too easy. Sebonack has four very good ones, too.

« **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2007, 07:40:56 PM »

Besides ANGC, I have not played a par 72 golf course with 4 memorable par 5s.

« **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2007, 07:50:18 PM »

Strangely, Metedeconk National has six really excellent par 5's. The 3 pars are another story.

« **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2007, 07:57:50 PM »

Blackwolf Run River Course takes the cake by far of courses I've played.

« **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2007, 08:00:17 PM »

In Australia, NSWGC....all in different directions and thus affected by the wind interestingly so.

« **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2007, 09:24:25 PM »

One back home in Chicago that I can think of is Glen View Club in Golf, IL. 4 par 5's...two reachable, two not.

GVC:
#6: 575 Yards, straight away tee shot plays to a wide fairway that narrows the rest of the way. OB right, a downhill 100yd 3rd shot to a green that slopes hard back to front along with a false front, two bunkers.

#8: Reachable, uphill tee shot needs to hug the trees on the right. Second shot to a super small green fronted by a deep bunker.

#13: Three shot hole, North Branch of the Chicago River comes into play directly in front of green. Neat green with old elms surronding.

#15: Reachable with good tee shot, but must carry trees on left. Lots of room right, however going left is the way to make it in two.

They may be hard to explain without pictures, however the point was to show that I believe that a course should have two chances to get close to the green in two.

**Also, I think the new course at Forest Creek as a really strong set of Par 5's. #3, #9, and #18 are world class.**

« **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2007, 10:06:14 PM »

Hard to beat the four par fives at the Plainfield Country Club.

They range from 535 to 590 present different problems, provide various approaches and all have difficult and interesting bunkering and greens. The cross bunkers on number 16 are as good as any in the arsenal of Ross.

« **Reply #11 on:** March 16, 2007, 04:26:13 AM »

Certainly not a traditional course, but Wolf Creek in Mesquite, NV has some dramatic par 5s. I like the 17th hole the most, then the 12th, the 5th, and finally the 1st hole.

« **Reply #12 on:** March 16, 2007, 08:52:33 AM »

Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Creek is par 71 due to 5 par 3 holes, but the 4 par 5 holes are all strong IMHO...#8 and 10 are both reachable with 2 bold and strong shots (as long as I am playing from the white tees)...#4 and 15 are quality long uphill 3-shoters that have lots of danger from either lateral hazard down the length of the left side with severe right to left slope through the green (#4) or well placed bunkering on the left and a stand of trees on the right at about 190 yds (#15). Only #10 has a fairly flat green, the other 3 all have lots of interesting features.

« **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2007, 02:58:36 PM »

If Plainfield had 4 as good as the two on the back nine, it'd win. #5 is a very good hole and #8 would make an even greater par 4.

« **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2007, 03:25:37 PM »

Yeah, why did you want it limited to par 72? Is there a reason why you dont want data form par 70s and 71? Or is this a "tour reduction of par5s to 4s" thing?

« **Reply #15 on:** March 16, 2007, 03:33:36 PM »

Quote from: GJChilds on March 15, 2007, 07:50:18 PM

Strangely, Metedeconk National has six really excellent par 5's. The 3 pars are another story.

Damn...Geoffrey beat me to it.

« **Reply #16 on:** March 16, 2007, 04:19:12 PM »

Desert Forest in Az
Very strategic due to different features on each. Arroyo crossing, tree in fairway, along with roller coaster topog. on one of them. great set.

Sebonack's are wonderful and distinctive. 9,15, and 18 are all compelling.

Wakonda( Langford) and Lawsonia are also worthy of study

« **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2007, 04:26:09 PM »

Quote from: Jay Flemma on March 16, 2007, 03:25:37 PM

Yeah, why did you want it limited to par 72? Is there a reason why you dont want data form par 70s and 71? Or is this a "tour reduction of par5s to 4s" thing?

Because so many modern courses are par 72, probably because of the influence of Augusta. Par 5's are hard to design (or so it seems); I'm not sure par 72 should be the goal. That's why I started the thread.

« **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2007, 04:32:50 PM »

Well some of fave collections of par-5s are Tobacco Road, royal new kent, red tail, hiawatha landing and I like sawgrass too.

« **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2007, 11:15:21 PM »

I agree with Mark Chalfant's assessment on Sebonack. All four par fives there are excellent and a wide variety of scores are possible. There are four oustanding long holes across the street to Wade Hampton with the 18th being one of the best anywhere.

« **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2007, 11:24:38 PM »

Phil:

The par 72 leaning goes far beyond the influence of Augusta National. There is a numerology thing about par 72 and the balance of it that has a huge influence on a lot of people ... in Japan it's virtually impossible to get a client to even consider anything but a perfectly balanced par 72 course, and a potential intern from Korea told me yesterday that every single course in Korea is par 72 for the same reason.

« **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2007, 11:58:19 AM »

A second here for Blackwolf Run - River. #1 is a solid opener and 8,11 & 16 are are all outstanding 5 pars.

« **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2007, 12:08:23 PM »

St. Andrews: Old Course?

« **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2007, 12:25:54 PM »

Quote from: Kyle Warren Harris on March 17, 2007, 12:08:23 PM

St. Andrews: Old Course?

And it only has two doesn't it? Interesting that the Old Course configuration (2, 2, 14) didn't really catch on.

« **Reply #24 on:** March 17, 2007, 12:27:34 PM »

Kyle, only two par 5's, though, right?

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