Golf Forums - Moral Dilemma!

I've got a moral dillemma I'd like to share with you all.

Let me setup the problem.

The first hole on the Priors course at Stapleford Abbotts GC is a par 5 (470 yds, SI 5) hole.  The white and yellow tees are right next to the car park.  Right in front of the tee box is a reservoir.  A rough circle in shape and about 95 yards across.

I normally hit a driver from the tee, then hit a mid iron to layup short of the pond that guards the front of the green.  The green is a good size but is narrow, and from the fairway its a wide green but only about 15 yards wide.  There are mounds behind the green so if you go too far through the green you could have a nasty downhill chip.

To me the gamble is not worth the risk, so I layup with my second shot and rely on hitting the green with my third shot.  If I get this on the green and two putt then I walk away with a par.  I'm happy as I get a shot on this hole.

For those of you who have played here this is a lovely opening hole.

So the scene is set, so here is my problem.

They have moved the white and yellow tees to the ladies tee box, which has the reservoir behind it.  The hole from the ladies tee is only 359 yards long, which is a par 4 to me!

My normal drive ends up between 200 and 230 yards, so if I hit my driver I'd be able to go for the green in two.

But for the last four rounds I've played this hole I've taken an iron from the tee and laid up with my second shot, just like I would do when playing from the men's tee.

The reason I do this is because I've never had a birdie on this hole and I feel it would be wrong to try and get a birdie when we are using the ladie's tee box.

They also have a short par 5 hole (15th), which from the front tees is really only a par 4, but I always play this hole from the back tees (they have two sets of tees for this hole).

So what would you do?  Would you take advantage of this hole being shortened?

Russ

No dilema at all. Blast the tee shot and go for the birdie !!

 If you never played there before what would you do? Take the driver out and slap it! They moved the boxes for a reason.The course management wanted to speed up play so they moved the boxes up so more people can make it in 4 and 5 rather then 6 and 7. You're not taking advantage of anything. The couse it set, now do your best. If you liked the challenge, find another course that is longer. Enjoy the great game of golf.

The way I see it is.............The ball travels less far in the winter due to cold air & wet soggy fairways, The the greens are slower & generally the conditions in winter are tougher than summer, I assume all the holes are slightly shorter so pro-Rata it is still a par 5.  If you can get on for 2 & 2 putt , go for it take the 4 points!  Let us know when you do it. 

I decided that on today's round I would go for it.

So I took out my driver and swung away.

I must have been a bit cold because my tee shot went too high.

Pacing out the yardage I had hit my driver 200 yards, this left 163 yards to the centre of the green according to my GPS.

160 is normally a six iron for me and seeing as the ball was on the fairway, just!  And it was on a slight downhill lie, with the green lower than the ball I decided a six it would be.

Well I hit the ball well but it was five yards short of making the pond!  SPLASH!!!!

So I took my drop, which left me with 63 yards to the hole, and landed my shot on the green, about ten feet from the hole.

My first putt lipped the hole and left me with a two footer for a six!

So much for going for it...   lol

If I had just took a five iron from the tee and layed up with my second I could have had a five.

After my round I went back to the first tee and played two balls.

One landed on the fairway and one was just off it, but nearer the hole.

I put one on the green and one was just short, between the pond and the green.

So would you believe it!  I three putted the one on the green and took a chip and two putts with the other ball, so I hit a par with both balls.

Well that's the way it is when playing golf.

Russ

What's joe's input? cheap advertising?  Anyway............seems you might be a little obsessed with that first hole Russ!  This makes me want to come & play it............lets all go to this course and play the first hole!!!!!!!!!!!  I see this forum being reopenened many times!