Club championship time:
One of the par 5 holes is relatively short, with a second shot typically in the 210 - 240 range, depending upon how well I draw my tee shot around the corner. While the green is unprotected short, you don't want to be long, OB lines the left side and jail pinches in from the right side. Anything but a straight shot means I'll likely be hitting 4 from the same spot.Two years ago, playing in the club championship, my strategy on the hole was to layup, and it served me well, with two birdies and a par for the three rounds.
First round this year, I'm 230 out, with the wind at my back. I know I can get there, even though the lie isn't perfect. Historically, I hit my hybrids pretty well, but this year, lack of play/practice has me swinging tentatively at times. I had the hybrid in my hand, but I put it back in the bag and choose to layup. Foolishly, I don't focus on a target, resulting in a well struck ball that lands underneath a tree that borders the fairway; the tree really shouldn't have been in play. I punch out, fail to get up and down and I card a 6. Walking off the green, I can't help but think I should have gone for it.
The 18th is also a par 5, one I've only reached in two once. I draw my tee shot into the left rough, ball sitting in a hole that prevents me from making good contact. I advance the ball, but I'm lying two and I'm 210 yards out. Wind is in my face, trees right, OB left, water long. My round has been dying a slow death on the back nine, and I can't afford to bogey another par 5. I pull my 913H 24*, choose my line and hit the shot that was in my mind's eye. I missed the birdie (GRRR!), but par is always your friend.
So two similar situations separated by one thing - committing to the shot. On the first case, I second guessed my club choice before I even hit the ball and then just went through the motions without truly concentrating on what I needed to do. The second time though, I knew what I had to do, walked through my routine and made the shot. I don't know if there is truly a right or wrong decision when it comes to going for it, but the lesson learned is once I've made the choice, I have to complete the process and focus on the target and strike the ball.