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Step on the tee box of a par five, whether you’re an amateur or a pro, and it’s hard not to feel optimistic. That’s the beauty of them—they’re teeming with potential.
There are three general categories for par fives, but only two of them get much attention. The risk/reward holes are always going to enjoy a fair amount of the spotlight, and for obvious reason. Similarly, the monstrous par fives that stretch close to 600 yards or more are also going to stand out.
Yet, the true, three-shot par fives, specifically the ones that don’t require three shots simply because they’re ridiculously long, often go unnoticed—likely due to the perceived lack of drama or excitement that they can generate. That doesn’t mean that they’re not redeemable holes with great architecture and inherent strategy baked in. And to prove it, we’re spotlighting nine noteworthy examples here.
9th Hole, Tributary—Driggs, Idaho
Course management is a must on this long par five that’s peppered with plenty of danger. A fairway that’s notably pitched from right to left means players need to challenge the penal native grasses right of the short grass if their drives are to find the middle of the fairway. From there, two bunkers down the left pose a bit of a threat, mainly for obstructing a view of the landing area beyond—and the water hazard that cuts in from the left. Challenging the bunker farther up the fairway on the right is the ideal line for second shots, but the hole’s large green complex makes par far from a given, even when players approach it from the ideal angle.