When thinking about playing a par-5 hole, the first thought which comes to mind for many people is the distance to the hole. Some par-5’s can be very long and this is daunting but there are other factors to consider.
Hazards are the most obvious and you do not want to send your ball into the bunker or water on any hole. Elevation changes can also cause problems but when on a par-5 the first thought is often to try and hit the ball as far as possible.
However, when faced with an undulating par-5 which has changes in elevation plus hazards, the best decision if often leaving the driver in the bag. Doing so can lead to a solid par or birdie attempt and this starts by looking at the hole and thinking about yardage.
If you are facing a tee shot with trouble sitting within driving distance, there is nothing wrong with taking a shorter club. This is even more important if there is trouble further down the fairway. Why use the driver if you know it is likely to bring trouble into play? Use the longest club you know you can hit accurately and avoid the trouble.
Now your ball is safely on the fairway, you can begin thinking about using a longer club. Look at the undulations of the golf course, is it flat or does the fairway slope from one side to the other? If the fairway is sloping from one side to the other think about how you can use the slope to your advantage.
Make a note of any hazards which are ahead and how the ball will react when it lands on the fairway. If the slope will send the ball towards the hazard, perhaps you should play safe and use a club which will keep the ball in-front of the hazard. If you are confident in hitting the ball beyond the hazard you can use the slope to bring the ball around and behind it for your third shot.
Look for a flat section of the fairway on your second shot, as this will leave you nicely for your approach to the green.
Now you will be left with 150 yards maximum to the green, on a flat section of the fairway, with the opportunity to play a good approach shot. Look at the pin position and the breaks on the green. Think about what side of the hole you would like to leave the ball to make your putt as simple as possible.
If you can get on the best side of the hole after three shots on a par-5, it doesn’t matter if you have left the driver in the bag. You may not feel the initial satisfaction using the driver gives you off the tee but you will be delighted with the outcome and that’s what matters most.
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