Every course has a hole or two that are my Kryptonite. In using Google Earth to resarch courses I play I have found there are some holes that are set-up to jack with the average golfer (see below.) This is a par 4 that is 450 from the blues and 430 from the whites. An average 250 yard tee shot has a fairway width of 15 yards! If you lay back to 200 yards you have a fairway of 60 yards but it leaves you a 230-250 yard approach to a green that is 15 yards wide. I have found there are some holes that you just have to give up to the golf Gods and lay-up for your approach and play for bogey. I have had many a snowman on this hole. How would you play this hole?
Tricky one. I would probably hit driver. Try to attack the hole and make it an easy par. If I hit a bad tee shot, ok. Just find a way to make par. Most likely pitching to a yardage I like. I guess the way I see it, I am going to hit the fairway 60% of the time. That means 60% of the time, I am in position to attack the hole. 30% of the time, my goal is to have a second shot to a yardage that I like. Still chance to save par, but bogey is worst case. Let’s say that 10% of the time the tee shot is basically unplayable. Ok. Who cares? Find a way to make bogey. If you take a double, it’s not the end of the world. Attack and move on. Know that as you stand on the tee you have better than a 50% chance to slay it. :)
i would tend to go off the tee and shoot for 200-225 off the tee. Probably my 3 wood. Depending on what stakes are at play I may lay up in front of the creek/ditch and then get on the green from there. If this hole is later in the round and I have an awesome round going I would definitely try to avoid the "blow up" hole
I normally tee off with a 3 wood but that leaves me 200-220 yards which for me is a 4 hybrid-5 wood to the green depending on the wind. As you like to say "Are you feelin' lucky?..."
Great post, @Matt Kelton! It'll be interesting to see the responses.
For me on the hole in question, if I've got my sweeping overdraw ("The Janitor") under control, then it's probably 3 wood off the tee and a 6 or 7 iron approach. If he's acting up, then more likely a stinger 3 iron, leaving me a long iron in.