How would you play this par 5?

[dsc123]

I would go with a driver, and follow up with a 5i or 7i to cross the water hazard and land on right half of fairway.

I would worry that a layup short of the creek would be too short - in the junk - or trickle into the water. It's one of those sucker layouts where the layup may be riskier than firing away.

If I reach the second landing area across the water, from what you said, I should be able to see the flagstick (?). If I'm 80 yards out, I would probably do one of these:

Take a 7 iron and hit a running punch shot that lands in front of green and rolls on. Or, if pin is back, drop it just onto the green.

If there's no wind, I might try a 3/4 GW or PW. This assumes my wedges have been decent that day. If not, see No. 1.

In St. Louis area, several courses have that short par 5 that can kill you if you're too aggressive. There's a couple of them where 5i - 5i - 8i is the sane way to go. And, a couple of them are on older layouts, and the lumberjacks should come through and reclaim the landing area for the tee shots.

The running shot is an interesting idea.  I may have to try that one.

There's another hole on this course that I play hybrid, hybrid, wedge/short iron.  It has 2 forced carries.  Another course has a par 4 that sometimes I hit 4 iron then hybrid.  I like holes that make you take unusual club selections.  The one above is just too penal for me to really enjoy.

[Moppy]

I write "8" on my card and walk to the next hole.

I drive it into the woods, play field hockey with my three wood or 4 hybrid down the fairway, replacing my balls as I lose them near where they went out bounds, until I get close enough to get on with a short iron. Putt around for a while, pick up the ball, then write double par on my card and curse the name of the man who got me interested in golf.

I think your plan is better.