How should I play this hole?

[Golfingdad]

I think that if the OP was capable or confident of belting a driver over the trees on the left and then knocking one out to the right of the fairway there would be no problem.But that isn't the case - so why are we advising him to do what a touring pro would do?

Did some of you not see the OB marked in red or read his description of how he hits his driver into the trees on the right?

But that isn't thcase - so why are we advising him to do what a touring pro would do?

We all have nemesis holes and Google Earth never shows the contours or tree issues that cause the problems.

You could say hit 3 six irons and then an 8 iron  - but that is just as difficult for some as the macho solutions posted here.

I wouldn't call it a macho solution.  If, (IF) he's capable of hitting the driver a bit further than the 3 wood, then that turns a fairway that is, perhaps, 30-40 yards wide into a landing area that is at least double that size.

I agree, though, that these are all just speculation because we really have no idea what it looks like in real life.  He did say that you could go over those trees.

To me, "macho" is trying to cram a 3 wood down into the narrowest part of that opening.  If he's not capable of hitting driver over the trees, then, yeah, let's dial it back and hit a hybrid or long iron just to stay in bounds.

[mvmac]

I think that if the OP was capable or confident of belting a driver over the trees on the left and then knocking one out to the right of the fairway there would be no problem.But that isn't the case - so why are we advising him to do what a touring pro would do?

Did some of you not see the OB marked in red or read his description of how he hits his driver into the trees on the right?

But that isn't thcase - so why are we advising him to do what a touring pro would do?

I think some guys are answering how they would play the hole, @Slice of Life asked how he should play.

[Mr. Desmond]

Looking at your hc, I will assume it affects all of your game equally.

Take the longest club you always hit relatively straight and in the air, a mid-iron is fine if that is the club, and hit it off the tee. The more distance the better off the tee, but if you have confidence, you'll have a better chance of relaxing. Take a club you always hit straight and get in the air off the deck and hit two more shots. Hopefully, you're not more than 50-80 out on your 4th shot, and you hit a wedge decently. Land on the green for a chance at par, or at least a bogey.

good luck.

[jamo]

I would either hit driver or (if I really can't hit it straight-ish) lay up wayyyy back. Hitting 3-wood or hybrid is just hitting to the tightest part of the fairway. Not sense in doing that if you're going to take 3 shots to get to the green anyway.

[Divot Master]

OP, could you please tell me which course this is on, SO I CAN AVOID IT!!!

IMHO, a course with holes as poorly designed as this one is not deserving of my business, when there are so many other well designed and reasonably priced courses in the Cleveland area.

Interior OB's have been discussed ad nauseum, and are nearly always a lousy solution to a problem that shouldn't exist.

As for answering your original question, you obviously are a student of equipment and technology, find a driver and swing pattern you can hit without a massive slice, and then use it here.  As has been mentioned before, the safe landing area here for driver is wider than the safe landing area for any other club.  Once your drive is out there in play, proceed very conservatively with 2, 3, or even 4 more safe shots to reach the green.

[Slice of Life]

Looking at your hc, I will assume it affects all of your game equally.

Take the longest club you always hit relatively straight and in the air, a mid-iron is fine if that is the club, and hit it off the tee. The more distance the better off the tee, but if you have confidence, you'll have a better chance of relaxing. Take a club you always hit straight and get in the air off the deck and hit two more shots. Hopefully, you're not more than 50-80 out on your 4th shot, and you hit a wedge decently. Land on the green for a chance at par, or at least a bogey.

good luck.

Ha, the handicap is a joke. I'll post an update shortly.

[vangator]

I'd bang a driver into the fairway to the left of the crooked OB stakes. Then a short to mid iron on the green. :) If I were to hit it down the proper fairway, I'd hit a 3 iron to 210. Then a 5 or 6 iron to the corner. Then whatever iron gets to the green and pop in a putt for birdie.

[Slice of Life]

Ok guys...

Driver was kept in the bag on all but one hole tonight...since unless I hit it just right, I actually lose distance compared to my 3-wood lately.

So I tried to bomb a 3-wood left, but caught the trees and got lucky to stay JUST in bounds...but hitting the trees got me only 158 yards.

From there, I hit a 7 iron 173 yards (dangerous...thought I might be headed OB...hit it pure), and then hit a garbage 7 iron short right, pitched up, and 2 putted for a bogey.

Even though I completely failed on the tee shot, I managed a bogey...which I'll take any time on this hole. Here's the game golf output:

[MS256]

Ok guys...

Driver was kept in the bag on all but one hole tonight...since unless I hit it just right, I actually lose distance compared to my 3-wood lately.

So I tried to bomb a 3-wood left, but caught the trees and got lucky to stay JUST in bounds...but hitting the trees got me only 158 yards.

From there, I hit a 7 iron 173 yards (dangerous...thought I might be headed OB...hit it pure), and then hit a garbage 7 iron short right, pitched up, and 2 putted for a bogey.

Even though I completely failed on the tee shot, I managed a bogey...which I'll take any time on this hole.

Just the way you drew it up.

I know the feeling.

[Slice of Life]

Just the way you drew it up.

I know the feeling.

Actually, I played it over the trees (or tried to) like most people here recommended...just didn't get it up quick enough and the tree ate it up.

With all the suggestions for driver...I just tried to blast the ever living s*** out of my 3 wood. Mission failed. lol

[mvmac]

With all the suggestions for driver...I just tried to blast the ever living s*** out of my 3 wood. Mission failed. lol

How about the suggestions for the hybrid?

[MS256]

Actually, I played it over the trees (or tried to) like most people here recommended...just didn't get it up quick enough and the tree ate it up.

With all the suggestions for driver...I just tried to blast the ever living s*** out of my 3 wood. Mission failed. lol

Yeah that's the feeling I was talking about that I know all too well.

When "the best laid plans of mice and men" go awry.

[Slice of Life]

How about the suggestions for the hybrid?

Thought about it, but two holes earlier I duffed a hybrid into some water...so I wasn't ready to bring it back out yet lol.

[Slice of Life]

Yeah that's the feeling I was talking about that I know all too well.

When "the best laid plans of mice and men" go awry.

Yeah it's too bad...I got a hold of it, but the trajectory was just a hair too low and the tree got a snack. Was just happy to still be in bounds.

[Dave2512]

There are some funky dogleg par 5's at a few of the courses I play. On one kind of like this but plays to the right I hit 5i 5i and whatever short iron I have left. The reason on both of the first two shots it is the longest club I can keep in play. I hate holes like this, bad design imo.

[vangator]

Except for the proximity of the others greens, It's a nice challenging hole. I bet that tree over hanging the green has grabbed a few balls. ;-)

[David in FL]

Except for the proximity of the others greens, It's a nice challenging hole. I bet that tree over hanging the green has grabbed a few balls.

I agree.  I don't see a problem with the hole at all.  Long hitters will hate it because it's going to be a DAMN hard hole to get to in 2.  Those of us that play the vast majority of our par-5's as 3 shot holes will enjoy watching the bombers have to think a bit for a change.

[CarlOwen]

Can you aim a little further left?  Because if those trees on the left side aren't in your way and you can aim over them, you should hit a driver.  That would get you past the OB left and allow you to aim as far left as you want to miss the OB right.  Even if you're driver shot zone was as wide as @saevel25 's  you could still hit the fairway.

Assuming that you can't do that, then why not drop down a little to either a hybrid or 4 iron?  I mean, you're already only getting to the 120 yard spot in two shots anyway, so instead of 3W-9I, why not go 4I-7I or hybrid-8I?

I agree with golfingdad.

I would aim up the left side with my most accurate long club. (could even be a 4 iron for that matter) From there, hit another 4 or 5 iron. Here your second shot has little or no chance ending up in the woods you describe. You would still wind up with roughly the same pitch shot to the green.

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