Least difficult pars in town

Lawrence has a few feel-good holes - and that's not a bad thing

Eagle Bend pro John Morris, right, tees off on the sixth hole as Journal-World sports editor Tom Keegan looks on last year. An eagle is not out of the question for those able to drive to the green on this par-4.

Former Kansas University golfers Chad Roesler, left, and Conrad Roberts discuss the speed on the ninth green during the KGA Four-Ball Championships last month at Alvamar Golf Course. The par-4 ninth hole is one of the least difficult pars in Lawrence.

For some reason, golfers tend to equate “tough hole” with “great hole.” Not true. For example, No. 14 at Alvamar Country Club and No. 16 at Lawrence Country Club, included in last week’s look at the toughest pars in town, wouldn’t have been mentioned in a list of the best holes.

Similarly, this week’s look at the 18 least difficult pars (no such thing as an easy par) does not mean these are the 18 worst holes in town, just the ones an average golfer is mostly likely to par.

The holes were selected from the four 18-hole courses in Lawrence: Alvamar Country Club (private), Alvamar Golf Course (public), Eagle Bend Golf Course (public), and Lawrence Country Club (private).

Par 3s

No. 3, EB: It’s short with a huge green and little trouble. No excuse not to par this one.

No. 13, EB: Reaching the big green is easier than putting on it.

No. 2, ACC: Neat hole, and as long as the tee shot doesn’t land in the creek, the huge bunker, or on the wrong side of the ridge on the green, it can be an easy par.

No. 12, AGC: Stay out of the three sand traps, and hitting this green shouldn’t be much of a problem.

Par 4s

No. 11, EB: Little trouble and a short second shot into the green make this one of the least challenging holes in town.

No. 2, EB: Basically the same hole as No. 11, except that the sand trap is on the right side of the green instead of the left, and it is 20 yards longer. These two holes being so much alike and running alongside each other is the most glaring flaw in an otherwise solid layout.

No. 6, EB: Macho showoffs have been known to drive this green and putt for eagle. (Jealous? Who, me?)

No. 1, ACC: The drive is the key to this short dog-leg left. Stay out of the trees on the left and keep the drive in the fairway.

No. 14, LCC: Beautiful views abound, starting from the tee box on this hole that can give members with local knowledge a big edge over guests. Calculate the distance to the pin, then short yourself two clubs because the tendency is for the approach shot to roll off the back, where trouble awaits.

No. 14, EB: A slicer’s nightmare with trees lining the right rough, it’s easily reachable in two with an accurate drive.

No. 18, ACC: Stay out of the fairway bunker on the right and a good tee shot makes for a short shot into the green. Given the severe slope of the green, keeping it to two putts is tougher than reaching in two.

No. 10, AGC: This tough but fair course with such true greens is packed with difficult par-4 holes. This is the least challenging of them because it’s a pretty wide-open tee shot and not too long, although wild shots to the right can spell trouble.

No. 9, AGC: Similar to No. 10, but a little bit longer.

No. 9, LCC: Three traps in the middle of the fairway give golfers the option of playing to the elevated left fairway or down and to the right of the bunkers. Either way, it’s a short second shot. Those spotted on their cell phones after walking off this green aren’t necessarily checking messages at the office. Some are calling their wives to brag about driving the green. The really nice brides do a solid job of pretending to care.

Birdies are plentiful, but it also is a common blow-up hole because of all the sand and because of a tendency to fly the green and land somewhere on the seventh hole.