Fifth Hole

The Fifth hole at the Calabasas Golf & Country Club

This hole is almost shaped like a number 7 - a sharp dogleg left. Pro Hans Kersting from Woodland Hills Country Club calls this 'just a long par 3.' He hits driver or fairway wood right over those trees left of the tee box. Us mere mortals hit something 180 - 250 yards to the center of the fairway and then have 120 over the water to the green. I have been experimenting with what to hit here, lately I use 5 iron -theory being that if I pull or hook it, it still won't reach the water. Problem is that if I don't get all of it, I have to deal with the last tree in my line to the green. If I hit 4 iron, it is enough to get in front of the tree but I reach the water on a miss hit. I may go back to 3wood here. The further right your tee shot goes the more club you will need and the steeper the slope your stance will have to deal with (ball below feet and downhill) too far right and that rough is brutal to have to carry the water out of.

If you do try and go for the green here off the tee - there is OB stakes a little left of the cartpath and water right so hit it directly at the center of the green...

Side Note: It was this hole where I witnessed the best pitch I have ever seen. 2003 Calabash Member Guest Sunday this was our final hole. Yours truly just made an eight foot putt on the 4th Hole that was perfectly straight and slightly uphill to put our two man team in the lead by a half a stroke. I thought that putt was to win the tournament since this hole would probably be 4 pars. Boy was I wrong. It came down to two players: My member partner Cliff, and our opponents’ member Chuck. Cliff was long left of the green in thick thick rough with a slight downhill stance in two. Chuck was in the center of the green in two. The pin was far right only a couple paces on. This green is sloped left to right, back to front so Cliff's shot had to carry about 20 yards, then roll down hill breaking right and somehow stay on the green. Got to assume Chuck is going to two putt even though there is a definite possibility for a three putt - so Cliff somehow needs to get this up and down to win. The entire tournament came down to this one ugly situation. Cliff hits the shot of the day, flops it way up, lands it softly, it takes the break, and trickles down to 6 inches below the cup. UNBELIEVABLE. That was the best pitch I have ever seen, especially with all the pressure of three days of golf riding on it.

We stood in amazement as Chuck curled in his 15 foot putt that broke 4 feet left to right for the birdie and the trophy. What an incredible finish!! I don't like losing but great shots all around made this one bearable. Look out Chuck – Team Hodge is going to be ready for 2005!

Approach Shot

328 yard par 4

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What I've shot on this hole:

7 ON 07-14-2004:

5 ON 08-11-2004:

Tee shot: 5 Iron Fairway Shot: 5 Iron - Push Approach Shot: 8 Iron Putts: 3

5 ON 09-08-2004:

Tee shot: 5 Iron Fairway Shot: 8 Iron Chips: 1 Putts: 2

7 ON 04-13-2005:

Tee shot: 3 Wood Approach Shot: Driver Chips: 1 Putts: 2

Notes: 3 wood was teed a little too high for the terrible swing I put on it. Skied it up and right - OB. Since I was already out of the hole money game my dad suggested I try and drive the green, which I have done on scramble or best ball days. I had the distance but the line was a little right and water bound. I took a 7x here but fudged in a chip and a couple putts so the stat program doesn't freak out.

5 ON 06-26-2005:

Tee shot: 3 Wood Fairway Shot: Sand Wedge Putts: 3

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Course: Calabasas Golf & Country Club | Fifth hole | Link to This

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