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Course opening hole - what do you prefer?

TheDoctor

TheDoctor

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What is your preferred opening hole and your reason for this?

Par 3, par 4 or par 5

For me it depends on whether I have had a chance to warm up on a range before the first tee shot of the day. If I have been to the range first I don't have any particular preference, but my home course starts with a par 4 that doglegs right and is a nice start as it gives you a chance to hit an iron off the tee to the corner, followed by anything from a 9i to wedge depending on how tight you get to the corner

I think a par 3 opening hole can be tricky and a long par 4 means you have to hit a good shot to have a chance of reaching the green. A par 5 could be a nice start as a less than perfect tee shot would hopefully not mean you can't reach the green in 3 shots still

So what would you prefer for your first tee shot?
 
Par 5, can still be "off" for a few shots and manage a par.
 
Par 4 , Preferably with a slight turn/dog leg to the left.
 
I like a mid to short par 4 to start.
I like the feeling that the course isn't trying to beat me up before I really get started.

I do hate first hole par 3's though.
 
I love starting my day on a Par 5
 
Mid length, wide open par 4. Get some confidence, start the round off correctly.


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#Cookie said:
Par 5, can still be "off" for a few shots and manage a par.
Click to expand...
Ditto, it's nice to have a cushion to start.

But I will say par 3 is a close second, everytime I've started on a par 3 in a scramble has always felt like a nice warmup!
 
Straight, wide, and relatively short part 4.
 
Short par 3 FTW
 
Something easy. A medium length par 4 seems to suit me well enough.
 
Par 5...better opp for a good start and get the head started off right.
 
Prefer a straight away, manageable par 4, something easy to start the day, maybe build some confidence. One of the better courses I seen do this was Blue Heron Pines in NJ - great short par 4 that you could get your round started the right way.

If I owned a course I'd have the architect start with a Par 5 to get people off, not jam up the course. I'd also delay the first par 3 until the 4th or 5th hole to ensure good time flow and pace.
 
A medium length par 4 with a slight dogleg right.
 
Drumdog said:
A medium length par 4 with a slight dogleg right.
Click to expand...

My home course would suit you. 5/6i off the tee depending on the wind to the flat area of the dogleg followed by a 9i or wedge to a 2 tier green protected by bunkers short right and left
 
A par 4 that's short enough for me to use 3 wood off the tee so I can ease into the driver.
 
My home course is a downhill 425 and very wide par 4. I like it for a starting hole since it has a good chance of recovery for that first 'breakfast ball'
 
Par 5's are always good to start with, my course starts with a short par 5 so its a bonus. A slightly errant tee shot and one has that extra shot to manage a par.
 
Easy Par 4 or 5.
 
Par 4. I like having par 5s to look forward to. Starting with a par 3 is just...creepy.
 
Par 4. I can hit less than driver out of the gate until I'm warmed up a little. I don't go the range. I get out of the car/truck, load the clubs, one or two practice swings and go.
 
Par 4. That way I am not swinging for the fences right out of the first box trying to get there in two. All my birdie holes are par 5 and short threes. Everything else I am for center of green and hopefully two putt.

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This is an interesting question. My Thursday night league alternates between the par 5 first and the par 4 tenth week to week; and I never seem to get a par on either. I think I want to say a short to mid par 4.
 
I prefer a par 4 where I don't have to hit driver. Something with an easy tee shot. Outside of a shotgun start, I don't think I've ever played a course with a par 3 to open with. I prefer to 'save' the par 5's for later as they tend to be better scoring chances.
 
I like a nice wide open par 5 or a short par 4. Basically, something that doesn't demand 2 great shots to make par.
 
Mid length par 4, 380-400 yards. I want a chance to use my breakfast ball with the driver if necessary. I hate short par 4s that take driver out of your hands for the first hole.
 
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