To be genuine three-shot holes, new par 5s would have to be 700 yards or more. It'll be impossible to have four of those on any new course, because they'd take up too much precious land and drag each round into a sixth hour. A single par 5 will suffice. The others will be called what they now really are, long par 4s.
Quite often, C.B. Macdonald would complete a course design with a closing par 5. It would invariably be the worst hole on the course, with a boring second shot. If the master couldn't make them memorable, what hope is there?
Par 5s are a concept being made obsolete by the relentless reach of progress. Once they've departed from the scene, nobody will miss them.
- Text Size:
- Small Text
- Medium Text
- Large Text
