Lakeview's Most Deceptively Difficult Short Par 3 Hole

Hole: 5th
Course:
Location: Wenham
Par: 3
Yards: 121 (blue tees); 107 (white); 95 (red)

Who doesn’t love to see a high, arcing shot that seems to be suspended in the air for eternity? The anticipation of whether it will land on the green for a birdie attempt or find its way into a hazard can take your breath away.

That is unless the possibilities of a hazard far outweigh the ball landing in a safe spot.

The fifth hole at Lakeview Golf Course may look like an innocent, 121-yard par 3 that doesn’t have a blind green or is straight uphill that adds on scores of yards.

Don’t let that innocence fool you.

The designer of this hole did all it could to make this one of the more difficult short (less than 160 yards in my opinion is a short par 3) par 3s in the area.

If you began on the first hole you know by now that the greens are relatively small at Lakeview. So, you need to land on the green.

If you don’t you have a difficult second shot no matter where you land. There are reeds on the front right and a swamp-like water hazard on the left. If you are pin high but not on the green then most likely you landed in a sand trap. And there is precious little real estate beyond the green before you will find yourself searching for your ball in the woods

Oh yeah, if you hit it short then you take the chance of having to wade through high weeds that run across the fairway from the water to a bridge that is just to the left of the reeds. So, anywhere 10-15 yards in front of the green is trouble.

The nice part about this hole – yeah, there is – pretty much everyone can reach the green on their drive, thus giving you a chance at a birdie.