Par4QC
johnnydoom
You guys are speaking my language. I would be bombing away at both of those holes.
Personal example, miserable 550 yard par 5, tree lined river all the way up the left side, pond starting at about 230 on the right, big drainage ditch near the “corner" of the dog leg, on the left, about 285 from the front tee. It’s one of those holes where it seems like no matter where you hit the ball it runs towards the water when it lands, either right or left side. The ditch is always in play for me, I can’t hide from the pond, yet can’t afford to hit an intentional draw because the river is in play and the trees are tall as hell, so if you get over the ditch, but under the trees, there’s no way to get to the green. The hole sweeps way back in to the left, so to see the green you need to be on the right side of center, but the rough is brutal, so you can’t really just hope to hit the rough and still have a shot.
Another guy who hits the ball as long or longer than I played it together, his strategy was aim for the pond, try for the draw, but worst case take the drop and try to smash the ball on the green from the right angle. Turns out, he had the right strategy. There was no reaching in 2 without driver, there was too much penalty if you missed with a wood or hybrid off the tee so you might no even make it in regulation. Risk vs reward at its finest. To boot this is the first hole, so your round almost hinges on it. Oh not to mention golf magazine had it ranked in the top 50 hardest starting holes in the entire country (43rd iirc)
I have played that friggin hole, hundreds of times and I have exactly 1 eagle and 3 birdies on it, I’m thrilled with par and perfectly content with bogey. It takes a Christmas miracle to make it off that hole in good shape. For reference, I look at every par 5 as my chance to score, it’s my best shot to make up the dumb shots I add to every round. I still can’t find a better way than just swinging for it, no amount of "safe" shots have ever worked out for me on that hole.