Druid Hills #14: How to Play a Par 5 Signature Hole
Every course has one — the hole on the scorecard photo, the one the members talk about. At Druid Hills, it is the par-5 14th: the signature hole. Signature holes earn the title by being beautiful and brutal in equal measure, and the 14th demands a real game plan, not just hope and a big drive.
Respect the Design
Signature par 5s are designed to tempt you. There is always a heroic line — carry the trouble, cut the corner, reach in two — and there is always a smart line that the architect left for thinking golfers. On your first play, take the smart line: find the wide part of the fairway off the tee, then decide on the second shot with real information instead of ego. You can always get aggressive on the replay.
The Second-Shot Decision
This is where par 5s are won. Ask two questions: what is my realistic chance of reaching, and what is the worst miss? If you can reach with a clean strike and the miss is a greenside bunker, go for it. If the miss is water, deep rough, or out of bounds, lay up to your favorite wedge number and trust the short game. A stress-free birdie putt from a layup beats a scrambling par from the hazard every time.
Signature holes are meant to be savored, not survived. Play #14 with a plan, commit to every shot, and whether you birdie it or not, you will have a story — which is the whole point of a signature hole.
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