Course breakdown: Kingsley #2
The 2nd hole at Kingsley has earned quite the reputation over the years. Commonly referred to as the shortest par 5 on the course, it is actually a tricky par 3 that many golfers would willingly skip if they could take a 4 instead. From the blue tees, it typically plays around 140 yards to the center, but it can range from 120 yards to 160 yards depending on the pin location. The green is triangular in shape, with the narrow end in the front and it widens as you move toward the back.
There are no water hazards at Kingsley, so this is their version of an island green, with bunkers positioned short left, long left, short right, and long right. Beyond the left bunkers is a ravine, which results in a blind chip shot to a green that slopes away from you (towards the right bunkers). Any shot that doesn’t reach the short right bunker ends up in a low area about 8 feet below the green surface. I’ve seen more people pick up their ball and move on to the next hole here than any other hole I’ve caddied.
As for strategy on this hole, it’s pretty simple: do whatever you can to hit the green, two-putt, and make par. If you miss the green, you’ll have to scratch and claw to chip the ball onto the green, hoping to make no worse than bogey.
To increase your chances of hitting the green, I believe you should use enough club to clear the right bunker (highlighted in blue). If you can hit it past this bunker, you’re aiming for the fattest part of the green, which eliminates the risk of missing short right into the low area. Even if you end up in the back-right bunker, you can splash onto the green and make bogey at worst. This strategy works best for any pin located in the middle or back of the green.
The only caveat is if the pin is in the very front finger of the green. This pin position is very narrow, and if your shot isn’t perfect, you’ll either end up in the low spot or in the left bunkers (or worse). I don’t recommend trying to hit the back half of the green because the putt from there is very difficult. A mediocre putt could easily roll off the green, and if you miss the green while trying to go deep, you’re left with an impossible up-and-down.
For the front pin, I take dead aim. If I don’t have the perfect club, I’ll intentionally play a little short instead of long. You can see that there is a flat fairway area (highlighted green) short of the green that is wider than the actual green, and it’s really the only spot you can miss and still make a 3 from off the green. This is where you need to evaluate risk vs. reward, but in my eyes, if I have a wedge in hand, I’ll try to hit the hero shot with my miss being short.
If I miss the green, it’s important to accept the bogey and not try another hero shot. The left side is straightforward, but if I miss in the low area short right, I cannot attempt to chip the ball towards the pin, let alone the green. As mentioned, the right side sits so far below the green surface that you’d need to hit a perfect flop shot to hold the green and not roll into the bunker. This is how blow-up holes happen. I would aim left of the green, towards the fairway, and chip the ball there to then attack the green. Keep doubles off the scorecard, and you’ll shoot your best scores!
Check out the blind fairway on #6 to your right as you walk off the tee box. You won’t be able to see the fairway at all when you're standing on the 6th tee.
