Hole 5 at Balboa Park Municipal Golf Club

Par 4 • 296 Yards • San Diego, California

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Hole 5 at Balboa Park represents the strategic design philosophy of Frank Szarfinzky's original Golden Hill Golf Links layout from over a century ago. This short par 4 embodies the risk-reward mentality that has challenged golfers since the course's humble $1,845 construction. A true test of course management and precision over power.

Tees:

296y277y253y

Green:18y × 24y

Fairway @250y:21y wide

1 Bunker dogleg

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Balboa Park Municipal Golf Club

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 296 yds
Green: 2192 sq ft
Bunkers: 1
Course Slope: 127
Course Rating: 71.1

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Gear Tip

A controlled tee shot and sharp wedge play will reward you here.

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Strategy Tips

tee shot

At just 296 yards, this short par-4 presents a strategic decision off the tee. The fairway narrows significantly from 26 yards wide at 200 yards to only 20 yards wide at 250 yards, making accuracy more important than distance. Consider hitting a controlled 3-wood or long iron to stay in the wider portion of the fairway.

approach

With the hole measuring only 296 yards total and bunkers positioned at 284.9 yards, your approach shot will likely be a short iron or wedge from around 100-120 yards. Focus on distance control to the compact 2,192 square foot green rather than trying to attack pins aggressively.

tee shot

Aggressive players may consider driver to get close to the green, but be aware that bunkers guard the approach at 284.9 yards. This leaves only 11 yards between the bunkers and the green on this short hole, requiring precise distance control if going for the green in one.

green

The green measures 18 yards by 24 yards, making it a relatively small target for approach shots. Given the historical Golden Hill Golf Links design by Frank Szarfinzky, expect subtle undulations that reward center-of-green approaches over aggressive pin-hunting.

hazard warning

The dramatic narrowing from 26 yards wide at 200 yards to just 20 yards wide at 250 yards creates a bottleneck effect. Missing this narrow corridor will leave you with a difficult recovery shot, especially important on this short par-4 where bogey should be easily avoidable.

train this shot at home

This 296-yard par 4 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

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Scoring Tip

Focus on getting your approach inside 20 feet. Two putts from there and you walk away with par.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 296-yard par 4, most players will hit 3-wood or driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 5?

This hole is a good scoring opportunity for most golfers. Key challenges include: small green.

What hazards should I watch out for on hole 5?

Key hazards include: 1 greenside bunker. Plan your shots to avoid these trouble spots.

How big is the green on hole 5?

The green is small and requires precision. Expect challenging pin positions with limited room for error.

What's a good score on hole 5?

This hole is a birdie opportunity if you find the fairway. This shorter par 4 rewards accuracy off the tee with a short iron approach.

Can I practice hole 5 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for Balboa Park Municipal Golf Club. You can play this exact 296-yard par 4 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →