Bunkerless Par 5s

[Padraig Dooley]

Recently we were trying to come up with the best bunkerless holes in Ireland, there was plenty of great par 3s and 4s but seemed to be practically no great par 5s and it was even a struggle to come up with a couple of examples.
What are the best bunkerless par 5s worldwide?

[Tim Gallant]

I can't remember if there is a bunker or not, but the 13th at Silloth was the first to come to mind. There may be one, but looking at the Google Map image, it may just be a scar as opposed to a formal bunker.

[Mark Pearce]

I can't remember if there is a bunker or not, but the 13th at Silloth was the first to come to mind. There may be one, but looking at the Google Map image, it may just be a scar as opposed to a formal bunker.

That was the first that came to my mind.  Pretty sure there isn't a bunker, the course planner doesn't show one.  Think there is some exposed sand at the bottom of the rough covered rise you go up with your second.  I think it's one of the best par 5s in the UK, let alone best bunkerless par 5s.

[Ben Stephens]

8th at Brancaster for me is the best bunker less par 5 yet so strategic utilising the marshes very well. For me it edges the 13th at Silloth as it gives you more options off the tee as well as 2nd/3rd shot towards the green. The drive on 13th at Silloth I would say is not that challenging and a bit one dimensional however the 2nd shot is a completely different story 

[Thomas Dai]

Not sure if they were included within the bunkerless holes of Ireland thread but the 10th at Dooks and the 1st at Carne-Kilmore come to mind.
As to elsewhere, I guess it would be cheating to nominate holes from entirely bunkerless courses.
atb

[Ira Fishman]

The 13th at Primland is a bunker less Par 5. Steep uphill to huge green. It is followed by a bunker less Par3 and bunker less Par 4.


I am not sure I can think of another course that has three in a row.


Ira

[Conley Hurst]

The 8th at Brancaster immediately comes to mind. As does the 6th at Huntercombe. No sand, but several "pots"!

[James Boon]

I can think of quite a few bunkerless par 5s,not including those from bunkerless courses, that I think are decent holes:


Perranporth 2nd
St Enodoc 1st
Rye 1st
Painswick 8th and 9th
Berkshire Red 1st


On thinking about these I'm surprised how many are on links courses, but perhaps not surprised so many come early in the round?



For "greatness" though, its limited and only the previously mentioned 8th at Brancaster or 13th at Silloth fit the bill for me.


For some reason I initially thought of the 13th at Burnham & Berrow then I recalled it has one bunker, but not sure it contributes much to the strategy? I therefore wonder how many par 5s with 1 bunker (Askernish 12th or Brora 8th as other examples) need that bunker, or would perhaps be better holes without?


Cheers,


James

[John Chilver-Stainer]

The western isles of Scotland immediatly came to mind as potential candidates

I had to check the Machrie, Islay as it has been altered since I played it.
Of the three Par 5's, the numbers 12 and 18 are bunkerless.

I haven't got round to playing Askernish, South Uist but looking at the pictures  it appears the Par 5's are also bunkerless.

Also Jon Wiggett's nature loving and fun Brahan golf course is for the most part bunkerless including his Par 5's.

Who needs bunkers?

[Conley Hurst]

All the par 5s at Royal Ashdown Forest are bunker-less and are packed full of interest. The 12th particularly stands out. A stunning, heroic hole with no bunkers needed.

[Tim Gavrich]

Hole 5 at Mines Golf Course (Mike DeVries) in Grand Rapids is a superb par 5 with the southern edge of the property running straight down the right side. The left side shares fairway with the 9th so there's tons of room to bail, but it means a huge hill blocking your path to the green. Appealingly unfussy.

[Blake Conant]

6 @ Wild Horse

[Daryl David]

#2 at Arrowtown Golf Club, NZ

[Kyle Henderson]

13th at Bandon Dunes came to mind as a bunkerless par 5. 8th at Crystal Downs also sprang to mind at first, but it has a couple of green side sand pits.


Lots of bunkerless holes premiering soon (?) at the Ballybandon Sheep Ranch.

[Paul Dolton]

16th at Pennard?
Can't remember if 17th has any ?

[Kyle Harris]

The 9th at Diamond Hill in Dover, FL is exceptional. Great terrain.

650+ yards, too!

[Jim_Coleman]

Doesn’t Royal Ashdown Forest have 18 bunkerless holes?

[Sean_A]

Addington's 16th is a wonderful hole.

16 at Pennard has bunkers up the left.

RAF's 16th is a candidate. However, if this is the case, Kington's 14th is equally compelling.

Ciao

[Ally Mcintosh]

Recently we were trying to come up with the best bunkerless holes in Ireland, there was plenty of great par 3s and 4s but seemed to be practically no great par 5s and it was even a struggle to come up with a couple of examples.
What are the best bunkerless par 5s worldwide?

Was that a thread on the Ireland holes? Thomas mentions one above but it’s noticeable that out of the six holes that Steele / Ebert added to Enniscrone, all six of them were bunkerless and four of them were Par-5’s, perhaps the best being 16.

[Mark Pearce]

RAF's 16th is a candidate. However, if this is the case, Kington's 14th is equally compelling.

I thought about 14 at Kington.  It's a thrilling tee shot and is a contender but doesn't have the challenge on the approach, nor the jeopardy on the second (and third?) shots that make Silloth's so good.

[Thomas Dai]

Lots of cheating going on here folks ...... bunkerless par-5’s on totally bunkerless courses don’t count.
Atb

[Matt_Cohn]

I only found one bunkerless par-5 that I remember playing, and it's not my favorite hole on that particular course.


I came up with several that I *thought* were bunkerless, but actually have a bunker or two when I looked on Google Earth. So I can name several par-5's that don't need any bunkers!

[Mark Pearce]

Lots of cheating going on here folks ...... bunkerless par-5’s on totally bunkerless courses don’t count.
Atb

Why?

[Thomas Dai]

Lots of cheating going on here folks ...... bunkerless par-5’s on totally bunkerless courses don’t count.
Atb

Why?

No slight intended, but because picking par-5’s from totally bunkerless courses makes the question far to easy to answer. There’s a lot of golf knowledge and experience herein so between those posting let’s pick some choices that require a bit more thought in the first instance.
Atb

[Mark Pearce]

Lots of cheating going on here folks ...... bunkerless par-5’s on totally bunkerless courses don’t count.
Atb

Why?

No slight intended, but because picking par-5’s from totally bunkerless courses makes the question far to easy to answer. There’s a lot of golf knowledge and experience herein so between those posting let’s pick some choices that require a bit more thought in the first instance.
Atb

That doesn't make any sense.  The question is, what are the best example of bunkerless par 5s worldwide.  Why shouldn't we discuss those on courses that are bunkerless courses?  My gut feeling is that, actually, the par 5s are rarely a strong feature on bunkerless courses.  It's no easier to design a bunkerless par 5 simp[ly becaues you're not using bunkers on the other holes, so I see no reason we shouldn't discuss them.