How you play a courses’ Par 5s is probably the most important part of almost every round you play. This is true for both amateurs and pros. Par 5s present our best scoring opportunities, which is also why they’re such a scorecard-killer when we make mistakes on them. And amateurs make A LOT of mistakes on them. Stupid, self-inflicted, strategy mistakes.
So that’s what this video is about. It’s about what good Par 5 strategy looks like according to statistics and probabilities. In this episode of The Game Plan, Golf Digest Senior Editor Luke Kerr-Dineen dives into all the data he could find to discover the perfect way to play Par 5s. These pro-level strategies will help you make the right decisions, pull the right club, hit the right shot and lower your scores.
Have you tried any of these these Par 5 strategies? Let us know!
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Host: Luke Kerr-Dineen
Producer & Video Editor: Ben Walton
Executive Producer: Christian Iooss
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:30 The Green Light Scenario
5:54 The Yellow Light Scenario
11:45 The Red Light Scenario
14:02 Verdict
20 Comments
I watch a lot of golf and this is definitely the first time I’ve ever heard Si Woo speak
Si Woo Par 5 KING
Thanks for watching, everyone! You all are the best. Any ideas for future videos or questions, let me know! – LKD
George Plimpton?
15 minutes summarized: go for par 5's in 2 if no hazards present
Love these videos! Luke Kerr-Dineen is a treasure! Kudos to you!
This guy makes the best videos
Aggressive golf is smart golf. Being too critical most of the time will usually bring worse lies and a higher score. Being confident and consistent is key, laying up should be a last resort OR, if you have zero confidence.
Great stuff <3
Great video, thank you!
This is the best videos
I love this game plan series by Luke. Has helped me lower my scores every time I get out there by just playing smarter golf!
I can’t get enough of these videos and strategy. I got down to about a 3.5 handicap and am mad I didn’t employ more of these.
Great video, thanks, really useful.
I've been guilty of playing par 5s timidly. I'm going for it after seeing this! Thanks Luke 🎉🎉
I can’t get enough of these videos and strategy. I got down to about a 3.5 handicap and am mad I didn’t employ more of these.
The message of this video for anyone who has either never been exposed to DECADE golf strategy or, if has been exposed to it, doesn’t understand it. Still, it’s a valuable video (the green vs yellow light parts don’t make much sense, one can either reach the green in two or not, but in all cases advancing the ball the most while keeping out of major trouble is the best choice).
I think this depends very much on a player by players basis. How good is the players out of bunkers, how good is their short game, approach shots? What score are you aiming for? What are the chances of landing the 3rd shot close enough to the hole to make a realistic birdy? If you take risks, there has to be rewards. If you go 4i, 5i, 7i and two Putt for Par without having risked losing your drive into the rough, to me that's a more sound strategy that playing two risky shots only to have a 11% chance of birdy.
I appreciate the strategy might be ideal for pro's, but I can get a 10 handicapper much closer to sub-80 by playing a bit safer.
Fantastic video. Kind of a metaphor for life really..play safe or to go for it. Great mentality to have.
This video is absolute gold!!! Insights backed by stats!!! I’m a 5 handicap and think this could take me to scratch!!!Thank you!!!