Six par-3's...

[Jim Johnson]

Okay guys, let's take this a step further...

...four sets of tees...
...I will focus on the "second from the back" set of tees for my own taste [and this example]
...each par 3 will be [for example only] 135 yds., 150 yds., 165 yds., 180 yds., 195 yds., 210 yds....all with varying hazards, all with varying topography [obviously], perhaps water coming into play on the shorter holes, with the odd bunker [or two] on the longer holes.

Sound okay?

Or, "sorry JJ, but that's one [or two] too many one-shotters for my taste, thank you very much".

JJ

[JeffTodd]

Colts Neck GC (NJ, Cornish, Silva, & Mungeam) has six par 3 holes (170, 133, 183, 224, 151, 233 yards). Frankly, it's some of the 2 and 3 shot holes at Colts Neck that detract from golf course; the one shot holes are all pretty decent.

[Darren_Kilfara]

If a course has six par-3 holes, what do you think of that golf course?

If they're good holes with a bit of variety, I like it a lot. If they're not, I don't like it so much.

Cheers,
Darren

[tonyt]

If a course has six par-3 holes, what do you think of that golf course?

Obviously, four par-3 holes on a course is the norm. Five adds a little bit of "variety" to the norm, while six par-3's may add or detract from the overall experience.

Assuming that there are four par-5's, and the remainder (eight) are par-4's, the total par is 70.

So, basically, if a course has six par-3 holes, does it add, or detract, from your golfing experience?

JJ

I've said as much on numerous other threads, and could have added (for some posters) the same thought on the "which tees at Augusta" thread.

Until the day comes when people place a scorecard on the ground and try and play golf on it, then what the numbers say means completely and utterly nothing compared to how the course feels to play it.

And thus to an extent, musing on the thought without a golf course in question and only some theoretical yardages is futile.

[Tom_Doak]

It's not necessarily laziness that leads to having two or three par-3's close to the same length.  If you're not on flat ground, the topography may dictate what you do; and even if it's flattish, sometimes the location of the proximate green will determine where the tee goes instead of mere distance.  [Don't be a box-ticker.]

Matt is correct, Forest Highlands is the other great course with six par-3's besides Berkshire Red.  However, I didn't like that Forest Highlands fell into having them every other hole from 4 thru 14, so you never get into any rhythm hitting your driver there.

I've never done more than five short holes myself.  The only way I would do so is if one of them were really long, 240 yards plus.

[Marc Haring]

5th 166 yards

Tony


One hates to get picky, but is that the 5th green or the par 4 6th?

The blue course has got some pretty good short holes aswell.

[Tony_Muldoon]

DOH

[Keith Durrant]

Marc, is that the first on the Blue course?

[Kevin Pallier]

I have seen a few courses in my time with six par 3's:

Berkshire (Red)
Shipley
= in the UK

Ocean Shores (NSW)
Kograh (NSW)
Mirage [Port Douglas] (QLD)
= Australia

and for mine they seemed more of a novelty value than anything else at the majority of these courses. If the topogrphy was different and the holes were of a variety of differing lengths and directions - I believe the concept could work.

I don't have an issue with the design of such but I have yet to see one that works OK with the possible exception of The Berkshire (Red).

[Sean Walsh]

Crail also has 6 Par 3's.  Only the 18th is a disappointment.

Caters for uphill, Downhill, long and even a blind Par 3.  

[John Goodman]

As does Kingussie, in Inverness-shire; one of which (#8) is altogether blind to a punchbowl green; with two back to back sets.  From the back tees the par 3s are 230, 151, 128, 189, 105 and 202.  Quirk-fest, rollicking fun.

[Jim Johnson]

How much would the concept of having six par-3's on the course affect the speed of play?

Would a round of golf take about the same time as a round on a "normal" setup of 4 par-3's, 10 par-4's, and 4 par-5's?

JJ