Are Par 3s Harder to Design Than 4s and 5s?

[Anthony Gray]

 Other than distance how can the architect put variety in par 3s. They do not usually have fairways so this takes away some creativity. On flat courses you cannot use elevation changes. Is differing green complexes the architects main tool? Hazards? Do we see par 3s with a higher percentage of water hazards than 4s and 5s?

  Anthony

[Mark Pritchett]

I would guess the angles from the tee boxes to the green complexes would factor in as well.

Bases on the Par 5's I have played it seems to me it is that a really great or even really good three-shotter is harder to pull off.  I hope some of the architects chime in on this subject. 

[Adrian_Stiff]

Short holes in my opinion are much easier very often they can fit into more difficult land situations and into more radical situations involving the better use of natural features, also they can involve using a very small land parcel perhaps 1 acre per par 3.

[Randy Thompson]

One puts as much time and effort into the greens and the surroundings to put what little strategy you can into a one shoter, after that itīs pure art but that is the fun and creative part!

[Anthony Gray]

Short holes in my opinion are much easier very often they can fit into more difficult land situations and into more radical situations involving the better use of natural features, also they can involve using a very small land parcel perhaps 1 acre per par 3.

  Adrian,

  Nice insight. At times par 3s are used in routing to tie holes together, How often are sites found that just cry out for a par 3?

  Anthony

[Garland Bayley]

Short holes in my opinion are much easier very often they can fit into more difficult land situations and into more radical situations involving the better use of natural features, also they can involve using a very small land parcel perhaps 1 acre per par 3.

  Adrian,

  Nice insight. At times par 3s are used in routing to tie holes together, How often are sites found that just cry out for a par 3?

  Anthony

Forrest tells the story about a piece of property where the land was so difficult in one section that it would not make a decent par 4 or 5. So he proposed putting in back to back par 3s that would work nicely there. Unfortunately the client would have none of it, and nixed the back to back par 3s.