Golf course design has evolved since the playing of this dumb game called golf started at the Old Course at St. Andrews in 1552, which I can only assume wasn't called "Old" back then.
In the beginning, golf was played over the same fairway out and then back to the same holes. As the game became more popular, groups of golfers would be playing the same hole, albeit in opposite directions hitting toward each other. Eventually, common sense prevailed (and maybe insurance companies intervened?) and fairways and greens were separated so that golfers weren't firing projectiles at each other.
The Old Course's influence on modern golf course design is apparent. The course was first established with 22 holes, but eventually the first four holes and the last four holes were combined into to two holes in each direction (out and in) because they were too short (I guess there were "roll the ball back" and "distance is killing the game" cries in 1764!?) and now we have 18 holes as a standard round of golf.
Early on in golf course design there was no "formula" for a golf course; holes were simply laid out across the land. As design philosophies became more solidified, architects like Charles Blair MacDonald had a multitude of "template" holes he used on his designs, taking cues from the courses around Britain: Redan being among one of the most popular, and Short, Long, Eden, Punchbowl, Cape, Biarritz, and Road, among others also employed on his designs.
These types of holes are used by golf course architects -- both old and new -- and have stood the test of time. (And I hope to explore them in future articles.)
But as the modern game places an emphasis on power and distance, a new type of "template" hole has emerged: the drivable par four.
Are Drivable Par Fours Really Par Fours?
Golf courses built in the early 1900s often had long par threes, some reaching 220 or 230 yards. In those times -- and let's be honest, it would be for many golfers in these times -- driver was likely the club selection on those par threes.
Oakmont Country Club's par three eighth hole is currently listed as 288 yards from the US Open tees -- and played over 300 yards(!) as a par three in the 2016 US Open -- stands out as a hole from a classic era, which likely played as a driver par three when the course opened, to the modern era which requires a driver off the tee today. At many courses, a 288 or 300 yard hole would be listed as a par four.
The 16th hole at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick is listed at 301 yards from the back tee ... and as a par three. (Granted, those back tees are an absurd 8,100 yards.) When looking at the hole, Dave Harner, French Lick's Director of Golf said to Dye that the hole would be a good candidate for a drivable par four, Dye responded, "if you can drive it, it's not a par four."
"If you can drive it, it's not a par four."
It's hard to argue that point. If you can get it on the green in one, then take the "regulation" two putts, that adds up to a par three.
But making those shorter holes as par fours make the game more fun. Especially if those short, drivable par fours are well designed and bring decision making and evaluation of risks and rewards into play.
It's Hard To Design a Good Drivable Par Four
For the sheer amount of short par fours on the planet, good, quality drivable par fours are few and far between.
And that's because it's hard to design them well. From recreational golfer's vastly different driving distances (what exactly is a "drivable par four" and for whom is it drivable?) to the potential inconsistent short iron/wedge play from a lay up, good drivable par fours also rely heavily on a golfer's ability.
With high-level statistics and analytics becoming prominent in the professional game -- and that information basically saying to "send it" -- there is essentially no laying up on drivable par fours in the modern professional game. But how challenging, how difficult, how insane can you make the green surroundings to have a risk of a high score? After all, that is the point of a drivable par four, isn't it? To bring a score of 2 and a score of 5 or 6 into play? For professionals, maybe Pete Dye was right: drivable par fours are just 300-yard par threes.
But even one of Pete Dye's masterpieces haven't become immune to the drivable par four. Originally designed without one, the PGA Tour remodeled TPC Sawgrass's 12th hole to a drivable par four in 2017. And then redesigned the hole slightly in 2018. While Pete Dye apparently ok'd the hole, Alice Dye called the hole awkward, not fitting of the course, and not a Pete Dye design. And through the redesign of the 12th -- and then the re-redesign -- it shows Pete may have been right: that hole is probably now just a long par three.
Does Par Even Matter?
This is probably a whole other topic entirely: the question of par having any meaning. (Spoiler alert: probably not.) But in a drivable par four, par does matter. It seems more palatable to call a 260-300 yard hole a par four, especially for the amateur player.
Calling these length holes par fours brings in a sense of decision making. After all, if the hole was labeled a par three, would anyone even consider laying up? No. By calling them a par four, laying up still has a psychologically appealing option: drive, approach, two putt. After all, that is the "appropriate" way to play a par four.
But the possibility of sending a long drive toward the green -- maybe even on the green(!) -- and chipping or putting in for an eagle two? Now that sounds like fun!
In the end, does par matter? No. The score is the score. The analytics don't care what par says. But golf is a mental game, too. And what we call something matters.
My Favorite Drivable Par Fours
There are many famous drivable par fours in the game. (Whether they are good or not is another question.) Among these include the aforementioned 12th at TPC Sawgrass, the 10th at Riviera, the 17th at TPC Scottsdale, and the 15th at TPC River Highlands.
It's hard to judge a hole without actually playing it. So, I guess this list will be my two favorite drivable par fours that I've played.
6th Hole - Center Nine at Ridgewood Country Club
Playing 275 and 259 from the two sets of middle tees, golfers playing the appropriate tees likely have a chance to send it to the green here. Nicknamed the "five and dime" hole -- many originally played it as a five iron and wedge to the green -- many golfers stand on the tee and ask their caddy for their driver. (I did - I didn't go there to lay up.)
The green is elevated, no more than 10-12 yards wide at its widest point(!), and protected by a hillside covered in fescue left (leaving a downhill chip), a drop off behind, and deep bunkers front and right.
A layup off the tee still leaves a difficult approach to this narrow, closely-guarded green, while a drive to the green may find a deep bunker or a downhill lie from fescue. The penalty for a poor drive is not too severe - you're likely to find your ball -- but will leave a challenging chip ... which may result in second challenging chip for your third shot.
6th Hole - Hilton Head National
Playing 273 and 254 yards from the two sets of middle tees, this hole also presents an option off the tee for golfers.
With a lake down the entire right side of the hole, the penalty for a missed drive right is a full stroke. But, it's a red penalty area, meaning lateral relief is available, so depending on where the ball crossed the margin of the penalty area, the distance may not be too severe of a penalty. This makes sending a driver an appealing option; even if the drive is to be so unfortunate to find the water, par can still be in play.
Complicating the layup off the tee is a cross bunker about 70 yards from the center of the green. Playing short of that bunker leaves a longer approach, and hugging the water right leaves a better angle to the slender green, which is guarded by mounds and bunkers on the left and water on the right.
There Is No Ideal Drivable Par Four
There are some great, some mediocre, and some just plain bad drivable par fours. Unlike other template holes like the Redan, Alps, and Biarritz, the drivable par four is only identifiable by the distance of the hole. They are all different in character. The greens are all different; the bunkering is different; the shaping of the holes is different.
There really is no ideal drivable par four because, like myself, no player is ever ideal.
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