Mike,
I have a similar situation ... coincidentally at Victoria, British Columbia. I've been asked to think about how to make the 451-yard par 5 17th hole there more challenging. My immediate answer (after thinking about it for 30 seconds) was, change par on the scorecard to 4. It's then, suddenly, the most difficult hole on the course, not the "easiest".
Perceived problem at our Victoria is, then total par would drop to 69. I've argued that par 69 would make the club's great old course (est. 1893) more distinctive - and "harder", like many members want it; and, I've cited all of those other great courses throughout the world where total par is less than 70, to no avail (yet).