Hole #3 is a par 4
420 from the Gold tee
387 from the Black tee
After walking off the 2nd green, the golfer welcomes an opportunity to take a free swing to a wide open landing area. This mid-length par 4 offers plenty of room in the landing zone, but the preferred zone is not quite as wide. The left side of this undulating fairway is preferable. The golfer landing on the high side is rewarded with a clear view of the green from the fairway. The ball that strays to the right faces a blind shot from the fairway at best, and a fairway bunker shot or even lost ball if the shot is played too far right. The left side, while preferable, feels rather slim. Too far left will roll off the fairway into the rough and down the hill, so a blind approach is possible from either side.
This green is enormous (I think it is one of the three largest, with #4 and #13 being the other two if I recall correctly.) With the 2nd still haunting ones thoughts, the green feels and plays even larger than it really is - if that is possible. The day we played the pin was on the front right section of the green. The back right side of the green seemed as if it could be a different hole entirely, like a large double green. A missed approach slightly left leaves a reasonable shot at getting up and down (at least when the pin is where we saw it - playing a chip from the left side all the way to the extreme right pin could prove challenging.) Missing short and right will send the ball running even further right. There are two greenside bunkers that also come into play when taking on the right side of the green. The run up area to the left side is wide open, providing yet another opportunity to take advantage of the turf conditions. The ball will run here, and a low flyer may be the best option, as long as the ball doesn't leak too far right.
Not only is the green very large, but it is also wild and great fun. It is one of many greens around the course where I could imagine spending an hour or so piddling around with some putts and chips.
From the tee
Another shot from the tee. The 4th fairway is in view on the far right.
The approach from the left side
The fairway from the lower, right side
The approach to the front of the green. The green extends even slightly further right than the view of this photo
The view of the green from the front
From just off the left side of the green
Looking back to the front left of the green from the far right
A look at the bunkers guarding the right side of the green