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John Bernhardt

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #25 on: February 13, 2003, 09:12:33 AM »
My love for the 15th a Cypress will never die. Yes Homer Goodale did note the dumb blond aspect. Well I do love a shapely dumb blond. But this blond is no dummy and has much going on. She will tantalize me to the end of time. I love a great short par 3. My childhood course had one that was the first hole I aced. My home course has one that is the toughest tournement hole on the course. You will make par/birdie or double bogie. It was my 2nd ace.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Mike Benham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #26 on: February 13, 2003, 09:20:42 AM »
Rob - one might recommend an approach from the sea.  Zipping out of a wetsuit, with your tux underneath alla James Bond, would add class to the felonious act ...
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
"... and I liked the guy ..."

ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #27 on: February 13, 2003, 09:28:25 AM »
Rob,
 I had the same fantasy about #15 at CPC years ago. I did take the photo, I didn't play a shot, and I even ran through the tree tunnel to look at #16. Since then I have been graced with a few rounds on that course. :)

If you want to see some of the holes at CPC, and this is completely legal, there is a horse trail that goes up from 17 mile drive (look for a signpost with a colored square, I think its blue), between Spyglass #3 and Cypress #8. Follow the trail up and around and you can see CPC #8, 9, 7, and 6. From up above #8 you can see #1, #13, and 14. A great place to sit and dream, the only downside is you will only see 1 or 2 groups (or less) play through.

Keep dreaming the dream, they do come true. 8)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Robert Kimball

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #28 on: February 13, 2003, 09:30:20 AM »
Just watch out for Great Whites in the area!!!

 What club would you use to fend off Jaws??  Would it be an easy 4, or a hard 5??!! :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Mike_Cirba

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #29 on: February 13, 2003, 09:32:45 AM »
The miniscule (approximately 110 yards) par three 7th hole at Nine Flags Golf Course in Montdale, PA (formerly known as Scott-View Golf Course) is a tantalyzing tidbit of a hole that stimulated my love for the genre when I grew up playing there as a youth.

The tee sits on a steepish ledge, perhaps elevated 20 feet above the green's surface below.  A dirt path winds down steeply from the tee, around a rugged outcrop (where my hapless brother happened one day upon a burrowed nest of stinging insects...a blind hazard certainly!), and down to the lower plain where the natural landforms and rock hard turf conditions provided all sorts of fun and challenge.

The green itself is elevated slighty above the surrounding terrain, particularly short and to the left, and just enough to act as the proverbial upside down saucer, or in this case, perhaps a pie-pan as the green is perhaps 2000 square feet.  

Just short and left of the green, the ground falls away in a crescent shape, so that any ball that lands there gets swept away further left, particularly with the firm turf.  That's the spot most find, as the green is hugged tight on the right side by a staggered nest of white birch trees, which adjoin a placid pond.  

Due to the permutations of the ground, the hole does not accommodate a running approach, which would almost always be swept away to the left of the green.  

Behind, the green dissolves gracefully into what becomes the first fairway, with not an inch of change in elevation.  Thinking about it all these years later, "long" was surely the preferred miss.  Yet, in watching and playing there hundreds of times, I can recall only being back there or seeing others there a mere handful of times.

Thinking back, I'd bet that the green is found on about 1 out of 5 or more attempts.  There's nothing unfair about it and one can see everything right in front of them from the tee.  It is just one of those holes (which most great short par threes have in common) where some type of Bermudian Triangle forces seem to conspire against the golfer's ability to muster up the correct distance, direction, and mindset to achieve success.  



« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Stan Dodd

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #30 on: February 13, 2003, 10:00:03 AM »
Rob, I know of a group of 12 golfers who got rained out at Spy one year and spent an afternoon over serving themselves in a motel in PG.  They then loaded up in a motor home for a closest to the pin contest on 15 at CPC 3 balls each.  Parked the motor home in caddie car park.  But 15 wasn't enough they did 16 also, and then a race back to the motor home and more over indulgence and a clean get away.  Oh the 70's , some times we were lucky to survive.
The Wilkies Motel "for the rest of your life". ;)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Jim_H

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #31 on: February 13, 2003, 10:16:36 AM »
#7 and Pebble and #15 at Cypress are great holes with incredible scenic beauty.  But for the best short par 3 golf hole in the world, my vote would clearly go to #12 at Augusta.  It is a great strategic shot--the right side of the green is a club longer than the left, but it looks like the green is absolutely square with the tee.  The wind swirls in Amen Corner in interesting ways.  The bunker in the middle-front of the green is a factor.  The hill behind the green is horrible trouble.  And, of course, the creek is always in your mind.  And, the history . . . !
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Mike Benham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #32 on: February 13, 2003, 10:52:25 AM »
Rob -

Jack Nicholson preferred a 5-iron on the hood of the Mercedes.

I assume you would prefer to "slice" it as opposed to "hook" the Great White so I recommend taking 1 more club than normal ...

Mike
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
"... and I liked the guy ..."

Tom MacWood (Guest)

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #33 on: February 13, 2003, 10:53:17 AM »
Two of the more interesting short par-3s are in the Cape Cod area. Both from old nine hole courses, both are the 9th hole and both are about 115 yards.

Little Marion is George Thomas's first design. The hole is guarded by two large bunkers in front that appear to suspended in air at a very steep angle. When you get to the green - a very slopey green - you realize the bunkers are resting upon a stone wall.

The other par-3 is at Highland Links at Truro. The combination of the wind, very firm turf and small severely undulating green create as much interest and confusion as any short hole I have played. Judging the right trajectory, the wind, the firmness of the ground and the slopes is extremely difficult.  I don't believe there is a single hazard on this hole, just bushes 10 or 15 yards beyond the green. This hole was featured in an article in Sports Illustrated in the 60's - I believe written by HW Wind - on the best short par-3s in the world. If I'm not mistaken this hole graced the cover.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Mitch Hantman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #34 on: February 13, 2003, 11:28:21 AM »
How about Troon #8 - Postage Stamp?!!

Also, honorable mention for Muirfield #13.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

THuckaby2

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #35 on: February 13, 2003, 11:42:52 AM »
Good call re postage stamp, mitch.  Oh yeah, we've been way too American-centric (besides Rich) so far on this.  Muirfield 13 is a good call also but what's the yardage?   I don't remember it being "short."

There have to be many more great ones on the links of UK and Ireland.  I'm just brain-dead right now to think of specific good examples....

Ballybunion - short hole on back nine - can't remember the number right now... great little hole...

Ok, I'll give up.   ;)

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Dan_Belden (Guest)

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #36 on: February 13, 2003, 12:07:10 PM »
 The 2nd at Ardglass in Northern Ireland.  About 140-150 yards up on cliffs overlooking the Irish Sea, to a small green with a nasty pot bunker in the front.  Great hole.  If I can get a hold of a scanner, I'll scan the picture I have of it.  
  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Kevin_Reilly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #37 on: February 13, 2003, 12:14:21 PM »

Quote
I have pix of #15.  If someone who can post the damn things on this thead will send me an email, I'll email the photos (I know how to do that) and then you could post them on here for all.  

Here is the first one.  I needed to shrink it quite a bit because my ISP has a 180K limit per pic:
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
"GOLF COURSES SHOULD BE ENJOYED RATHER THAN RATED" - Tom Watson

Kevin_Reilly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #38 on: February 13, 2003, 12:19:24 PM »
And this is another (sorry about the proportions)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
"GOLF COURSES SHOULD BE ENJOYED RATHER THAN RATED" - Tom Watson

THuckaby2

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #39 on: February 13, 2003, 12:23:43 PM »
Screw this golf hole.

Look at that classic, perfectly balanced follow-through...

What's it like to be this great man (who is trying to maintain anonymity or else I'd lay his name out for one and all)??

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #40 on: February 13, 2003, 01:06:18 PM »
Dave,
 That day was so spectacular I don't think any of us saw you swing your clubs anyway. There was definitely no torture involved. See you in March.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

rhansen

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #41 on: February 13, 2003, 03:11:00 PM »
I think that the two par threes at Hidden Creek are very good also. Coore and Crenshaw created a great semi redan at #4 and a great short 120 yard up hill at #11. Of course I am partial because my company owns the course.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Mike_Cirba

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #42 on: February 13, 2003, 03:20:53 PM »
Roger Hansen;

You have every right to be proud.  The 11th at Hidden Creek is indeed a gem of a short hole, and is beautifully paced between what to me are the two best par fours on the course, the 10th and 12th.  What a superb stretch!

I have to believe that C&C had some of Shinnecock's 11th in mind as they built this beauty.  

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:02 PM by -1 »

Robert Kimball

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #43 on: February 13, 2003, 03:34:19 PM »
Mike and Roger:   WOW!!  What a beautiful design. And I agree on the similarites to SH #11.  Another C&C masterpiece.  

This hole looks like it's been there for years upon years. . .
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Jimmy Muratt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #44 on: February 13, 2003, 09:34:23 PM »
Great call with the 11th at Hidden Creek, a terrific new short hole that indeed looks like it's been sitting there forever.  Coore and Crenshaw seem to have a knack for designing top notch short Par 3's (and par 4's for that matter) that fit perfectly in the round.

Another Coore and Crenshaw gem is the 11th at Cuscowilla, a great Par 3 in a wonderful setting.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Scott_Burroughs

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #45 on: February 13, 2003, 10:04:38 PM »
Mike C,

A little surprised you didn't mention #4 at Lu Lu, the Emperor Hole.   ;)


Did anyone see that pic Mike Benham posted of 15th at Cypress?  Aw, heck, here's the link again:

http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=1123&mode=sequential&flags=0

Is that an alternate tee just up the hill from the regular one?  

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:02 PM by -1 »

Mike Benham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #46 on: February 13, 2003, 10:48:54 PM »
Scott -

I think you're right on the alternate tee.  Never knew it
was there.

Look at the square lawn in front of the car park.  Is the square
patch of lawn the driving range for Cypress?  If so, definetly
not top-notch ... maybe it is for the Sunday afternoon Member
croquet matches ;)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
"... and I liked the guy ..."

Bronco

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #47 on: February 14, 2003, 07:42:24 AM »
I suppose it just about says it all when Doak feels #17 isn't nearly the best hole at Sand Hills.  ;)

I'd also add Prairie Dunes' 10th (from the middle or forward tee) to this list of tremendous short holes.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

redanman

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #48 on: February 14, 2003, 07:48:11 AM »
Does anyone like the thirteenth at Merion,
Or did I just miss the post?

It's no Shinnecock #11, though.

Does anyone really like #8 at Easthampton?

I like PVGC #10 from the original list, if there is a vote there.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

THuckaby2

Re: Favorite short Par 3: CP,PV,PD, Pebble, Sand H
« Reply #49 on: February 14, 2003, 08:05:32 AM »
Bronco:

TD is right - 17 ISN'T nearly the best hole at Sand Hills.

That being said, it still is a GREAT short par 3 and belongs in this conversation most definitely.

And yes, that does say it all!

As for Cypress, oh yeah, that's an alternate tee up top left - I've played from there once.  Different angle, not quite as dramatic, a little easier... but still a very fun golf shot.

And CPC's "range" is to the right of #1 fairway, as you stand on #1 tee, on the far side of the road.  It's just a simple meadow of grass with some flags in it, suitable for warmup and quite functional.  I for one am very happy this is all they have - think what might have been displaced if MacKenzie had to incorporate some huge "practice area".

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »