The Restoration Of Charles Hugh Alison's Hirono

No. 5
176Yds 139Yds 129Yds 129Yds 127Yds Par 3
Hole Description
The run of three extremely demanding par 4s (four in major events when the 1st is played as a par 4), is broken by the world
class, par 3 5th hole. However, even though it is undeniably world class, there will be golfers who might prefer the 7th or the
13th. Even the 17th is a strong one-shot hole. It is true to say that Hirono has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to
par 3s. That is common amongst the designs of Harry Colt and Charles Hugh Alison but it is unlikely that any of their other
courses will be quite as well-endowed on this front.
The deep, water filled ravine which lies between the tees and the green provides the visual drama but Alison produced a
hole of the highest quality with a quite brilliantly bunkered green. The huge hazard which slices so strongly across the front
of the green and up its right hand side looked so stunning in the early photos of the course and every attempt has been
made to replicate the same visual impression from the tee. A very short tee shot which just clears the ravine leaves the
golfer faced with possibly the second hardest bunker shot at Hirono. The hardest one comes two holes later in the deepest
pit short of the par 3 7th!
Bunkers restored and reshaped.
1. New back tee added lengthening the hole by 24 yards.
2. Existing tees rebuilt and enlarged.
3. Trees and bushes cleared to reveal the reservoir and to open up the surroundings
around the green.
Hole Changes & Comments
4. The incredible looking large bunker restored.
5. Alison’s original green design restored using his plans and the old photographs of
the green from the tee to replicate the look of the bunkers and the horizon line of
the back of the green.
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