Sport

Par-six hole for Asian Tour event

A par-six hole measuring an incredible 878 yards is being played on the Asian Tour in Thailand this week

Thu Nov 03 2005 - 00:00

A par-six hole measuring an incredible 878 yards is being played on the Asian Tour in Thailand this week. And, not surprisingly, it has caused a mixed reaction. The hole is at the St Andrews Hill club - and is one of two par sixes on the normal layout - but for the Double A International Open the other has been reduced to a par five.

Thailand's Wisut Artjanawat said: "I don't think it's good. Golf should only have par-three, par-four or par-five holes - that was how this game was created. Of course we'll play it as it is, but you really need to hit three good strikes and hit a short wedge in to have a chance to be on the green in regulation. It's just too long a hole."

American Gerry Norquist commented: "It's a tough hole. It's unique that we have a par six for the first time on tour. All of us will have to learn to play it as it is, but I have to say I've never seen anything like this before."

In practice, Norquist hit a driver followed by a four iron, three wood and a wedge on to the green.

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The hole has two fairways split by a lake and players have various options of tackling the hole. A risky option is a brave tee shot which needs to carry trees and water for a shorter route to the green.

England's Chris Rodgers said: "It would be a strong par five if they brought the tee box forward. I've never played anything like this in my life, but I don't mind it."

Asian Tour chief executive Louis Martin added: "It's a great golf course and a fantastic club. The club has two par-six holes in its original design and we felt that we should be playing the tournament using the traditional, accepted maximum of a par five. But out of respect to the club, we agreed on a compromise of keeping one par six and reducing the other hole into a par five. It's against the norm to have a par-six hole, but we don't believe this is against the integrity of the game as the players still have to put the ball into the hole.

"I'm a staunch traditionalist and it is very difficult for me to get my mind round having to play a drive, six iron, three wood and know that I still got a wedge to the hole. It will be a mental game playing that hole for the pros."