235 Out on This Par Five - What's the Play?

[cipher]

The situation is that you are +1 and have a reachable par five with very little risk going for the green. You are also striking the ball well. Why is anyone laying up?

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by cipher

The situation is that you are +1 and have a reachable par five with very little risk going for the green. You are also striking the ball well. Why is anyone laying up?

Well my lay-up scenario is "as me", in my "as Erik" scenario I go for it with a cut . My better scoring recently has partly been from better ballstriking but better decision making has also played a pretty big role and at my skill level the percentages in this case simply aren't there.

[boogielicious]

You have a big gap between your hybrid and 3 iron (15 - 25 yards).  If the green is receptive and the hybrid won't roll out too much, then choke up hybrid to carry 225 with a fade to the center of the green.  If the green is very firm, I still try to hit the 3 iron to the front part of the green and have it roll back.

[MS256]

Originally Posted by cipher

The situation is that you are +1 and have a reachable par five with very little risk going for the green. You are also striking the ball well. Why is anyone laying up?

My thoughts exactly.

Of course I take it farther than that and would hit the cut 3W because that's the only club that's going to get really close. From what I'm seeing the cut hybrid can't get close against the breeze and is only what I would do if I wasn't hitting the ball very well.

I'm surprised that so many are so afraid of not pulling off the cut and going long. Maybe that miss wouldn't be ideal but there are not alligators back there either.

There's not a problem with any sort of layup, and I know a lot of good players that would lay up short of any trouble (and more than likely make a birdie)...But that's not what I would do.

Edit: Of course the one variable I don't have is how receptive the greens are for my cut 3W. On most greens I can stop that shot reasonably well but I have played courses where there's no chance.

[iacas]

When the discussion slows down I'll share what I strongly feel (and what Dave strongly feels, and a big part of the reason we're writing a book) is the correct answer.

[Stretch]

Think I'd try to hit it into the bowl on the front left of the green with the hybrid and two putt for birdie from there. Takes eagle out of play but then the most likely miss (into the left bunker) also shouldn't be too penal with all that green to work with. Hitting 3 wood over the back looks like a bad idea considering that high bank and the pin placement and the green running away from you. I could easily see myself ending up playing 4 from one of the front bunkers in that situation ...

[theworldengine]

This is a smooth 3 iron for me, always gets me within 11 ft.

[Ernest Jones]

Lol, do you call it your 11 foot club?

[GaijinGolfer]

Play it to about 100 yards out and hit a wedge into the green.

[Dave2512]

After reading the hints from the pros my gut tells me he played whatever iron that put him as close the green as possible and pitched/chipped it close for a one putt. Unless I'm wrong they all appear to be proponents of playing smart/safe. What is Erik's 185-190 club? 5i? The trees are the only real trouble but enough to make you think. What is the hole handicap?

[turtleback]

I would hit my 3-wood right at the left hand trap.  And if I hit it nice and solid my next shot would be about a 40 yard pitch onto the green,

I know.  I am so ashamed.

[Kujan]

I think you hit a fade with the 3-wood in order to reach the pin at the back of the green. Your ball landed on the front of the green and rolled to the back where you two putt for birdie.

[tmac20]

I think the smartest play that gives you the best chance of making birdie is to hit your hybrid straight to the left side of the green where the opening is. Trying a fade could cause you to push it and hit those trees, and I don't think you could clear that trap into the wind with a fading hybrid. You'd have to club up to a 3-wood, and as you know, the longer the club the easier it is to make mistakes.

[bkuehn1952]

Aim at the left part of the green and hit the hybrid with a soft fade.  "I" am playing well and have confidence in "my"short game.

[Maddog10]

I voted lay up but I guess it really depends on what the rough is like around the green. More times than not, you aren't going to hit this green in two. If the rough isn't bad and you feel like you can chip up close for a birdie putt after missing the green, then by all means go for it. If the rough around the green is like my course though, I'm laying up.

[Dave2512]

BTW great thread.

[Ernest Jones]

BTW great thread.

Yeah, awesome thread idea, reminds of the chess problems they used to put in the newspaper next to the cryptic crossword. I hope it becomes a new feature if TST, a monthly course management problem.

[Dave2512]

Originally Posted by Ernest Jones

Yeah, awesome thread idea, reminds of the chess problems they used to put in the newspaper next to the cryptic crossword. I hope it becomes a new feature if TST, a monthly course management problem.

I'd be all over it if people could keep it real. Not the usual I hit my driver off the deck 320 on a 656 yd par 5 to a tucked pin for an albatross but I play to a 26 because I can't putt and I take too many risks but I'm a good athlete nonsense. Though I doubt I could participate because it would be something like this is what I wanted to do but I chunked a 7i and blew a pitch over the green on the way bogey, if I'm lucky.