What par 3 holes have been hurt by adding length ?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tom Doak,

I had heard a number of rumors about Bethpage, including one about lengthening the 15th hole, which would seem difficult to do, given the road behind the current tee, and the steep drop off behind the current tee.

I don't know that a link has ever been established between Rees Jones and the lengthening of the 15th hole rumor.

I would be opposed to any effort to lengthen that hole.
Instead, I would create the same runoff feature at the rear of the green that exists on  # 3 green and penalize any shot hit long.

Unfortunately, I think the area behind the green has been used for grandstands.  I would further offset them, creating penal problems for balls hit long.

[corey miller]

Its the 14th hole that has been in question.  it seems to me the rumor started here with people saying the hole was not "strong" enough.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Corey Miller,

I do recall some discussion relative to lengthening # 15, so Tom is correct in mentioning it.  

As to # 14, it's a par 5 and as such will continue to be questioned.

[hogan53]

One of the holes that came to mind when I saw this posting was the lengthening of #11 at Shinnecock.  It was also moved to the left, making the tee shot nearly blind, the hole in my opinion is terrifying enough from the original tee.

[corey miller]

Sorry but arent we talking Bethpage? 13 is a par 5. 14 is a par 3. 15 is a par 4 up the hill.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Corey Miller,

You're correct, # 14 is the 160ish par 3.

[corey miller]

I thought so, as I remember it seemed this and 18 took the most heat on this site and one of the suggestions was to move the tee back on 14 which would maybe make it another Mucci 2-iron .