We have a par 3 in South Bend, Studebaker Golf Course, and it is definitely right in an urban setting. Not the best of neighborhoods surrounding it, but lots of great golf at 1898 yards, 7 par 3's and 2 par 4's.
Nice and tree lined, very well kept for a par 3 muni which sees lots of abuse by uninformed or younger golfers who simply don't care what they do to abuse the course and greens. They hold a summer long junior golf clinic there, and almost everyone I know in town swung their first club there (self included), and spent long 'all you can play for $3' days there as youngsters (sadly that deal is gone). My kids enjoy(ed) going there, the length is manageable for say a 10 or 11 year old and even for the accomplished golfer there is the chance to work on the short / medium irons.
Sounds like a neat place. As a kid we could play a nearby 9-hole par-3 company golf course for $3. It was a food machine manufacturer company's course that they built so employees could go play during their lunch hour. Up until about 10 years ago it still had an honesty box.
Since I have last been there the park district purchased it and Rick Jacobson gutted it but kept the routing. Here is the link;
http://www.sportsmansgolf.com/content/view/43/136/It caters to the younger crowd, and currently each hole has a name:
1) Friendship -The first hole is where your journey will begin and where you will meet your friends for a fun game of golf.
2) Honor - On the second hole, you will need to determine in what order you should play. The lowest score goes first when playing by honor in a formal tournament. In a casual game of golf, the person who is ready first should play to help everyone stay on pace.
3) Respect - Golfers need to have respect for the game, the course, and their partners' differences. Take care of the golf course by fixing your ball marks, replacing your divots and raking your footprints in the sand. The golf course will respect you and will reward you.
4) Patience - This hole will test your patience from the tee to the peanut-shaped, undulating narrow green. If you lose your patience here, your scores will rise steadily.
5) Courtesy - Treat people the way you want to be treated. Be a friend in order to make friends.
6) Integrity - Do what's right on this hole, and remember to add up all your shots. Even if you think no one is looking, you are cheating yourself by making up a score.
7) Honesty - Being honest in life will help you earn respect from everyone around you and ultimately yourself. You have to be honest with yourself first, before you can be honest with someone else.
Determination - Never give up! No matter how high the mountain is or how big the obstacles in front of you, try, try and try again. Remember, your next shot may be the best one of your life.
9) Sportsmanship - At the end of the round, take off your cap and sunglasses and shake hands firmly with your playing partners. Look directly into their eyes, thank them for joining you and compliment them on a game well played.
What?! No Redan?
