[Jordan Wall]

Watching Eastlake this weekend, I was shocked at how difficult the sixth hole looked from the tee.  To me, it looked like one of the most intimidating tee shots I have ever seen on a par-3 hole.

For those who have been to Eastlake, is it really that hard?

What are other par-3's that provide such an intimidation from the tee?

My my limited experience of courses I have personally seen, these have provided the most intimidationon the tee for me:
Riviera 4
CPC 16

Other than that, I can't think of any that immediately come to mind as so difficult based off the view from the tee.  The sixth at Eastlake, to my eye, looked easily as difficult to me as the two holes I have mentioned.

Discuss.

Cheers,
Jordan

[Bill Satterfield]

From the tips off course . . . #7 at the Idaho Club in Sandpoint, #3 at Wolf Creek (Mesquite), #5 at Fishers Island, . . .

[Sean Leary]

I agree. It looked really hard yesterday especially. I wonder how much of that was the camera which makes the target look smaller.

[Jonathan Cummings]

Maybe the 16th at Cypress (easily the most intimating par three in the world).  J

[Mike Wagner]

PGA West Stadium (whatever hole it is...)
Aldarra #15 (a little Seattle flavor for the board)

[Sean Leary]

Mike,

I thought about the hole from PGA West at well. As for the other one, from the never used back tee it is, but that is a dumb tee.

[Scott Warren]

13 at The Addington and 6 at NSWGC (from the outcrop tee) immediately come to mind

[Bart Bradley]

13th hole at Blackwolf Run River...I'll post a picture tonight...just played there yesterday..


Bart

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

tv makes the hoel look tighter than it actually is.
Length wise it is a very managable hole hole, but there is actually more room around the green than the tv makes...except right of course.
When the wind blows across the lack from the right, the challenge factor intensifies...but even then middle of the green is not that tough a ahsot.
The actual putting surface is rather large, giving you a good size target.
The few number of balls in the water over the course of the week signifies that the look is harder than the actual shot.


Most intimidating...no doubt number 5 at Pine Valley....although number 14 same venue from the extended tee is almost as puckering!

[Patrick_Mucci]

# 5 at Pine Valley.

The first time I saw it I thought it was a short par 4.

When the caddy told me it was a par 3 I was intimidated.

The gorge, the water, the steep drop off right, the bunkers, pines, and seemingly small target are quite a sight.

[Tim Leahy]

Spyglass Hill #3, the first time I saw it, all I could see was sand and Iceplant with a tiny green from an elevated tee directly into an ocean breeze.

The PGA West #17 at the Stadium Course was also the happiest I have ever been to be anywhere on the green.

[Mark McKeever]

I am going to have to say 5 at Pine Valley gets my vote.  There is nowhere to miss and you are over about 230 away on the back tees.

Another notable is 17 at Merion East.  Its such a narrow target for how long the hole is.

Mark

[Sean Leary]

17 at Merion from that back, back tee box..

[Chip Gaskins]

Mr. Mucci hit it on the head.  #5 is by far the most visually intimidating from the tee.

Cypress #16 and Augusta #12 are the most mentally intimidating however...you are already thinking about them standing on the first tee.

East Lake #6 is pretty tough, especially from the tees they play.

Shinnecock #7 has to get an honorable mention as I would assume (not played it) Yale #10

[Patrick_Mucci]

Chip,

I'd agree, # 9 at Yale is very intimidating, there's no easy way to get to the green and NO bail out area ala # 16 at Cypress.

#12 at ANGC doesn't quite have the length to be overly intimidating

Ditto # 8 at Troon.

# 11 at Pacfic Dunes, with the wind crossing or in your face is pretty intimidating.

[Joe Bausch]

For those that have played the 17th at Sawgrass (I've not played there yet), how intimidating was that hole your first time on it?  I guess what I am trying to get at is just what is it that makes a par 3 intimidating?  Is the biggest factor the feeling that there is really no place to miss?  And at the 17th at TPC, if you do dunk your first ball, that even from the drop area you still have the water in play for your next?

[Mark Chaplin]

Pat wouldn't you say the very length of 8th at Troon and the 13th at Merion makes them intimidating as you totally expect to hit a green just over a 100 yards away but know the punishment for failure is high.

12 at Woodhall Spa is pretty intimidating especially if bunker play is a weakness.

5 at PV is intimidating but then i don't expect to hit a green with a 3 wood or rescue.

[David Stamm]

3rd at Pasa

3rd at Barona Creek from the tips

2 or 20 at Engineers

[jonathan_becker]

For those that have played the 17th at Sawgrass (I've not played there yet), how intimidating was that hole your first time on it?  I guess what I am trying to get at is just what is it that makes a par 3 intimidating?  Is the biggest factor the feeling that there is really no place to miss?  And at the 17th at TPC, if you do dunk your first ball, that even from the drop area you still have the water in play for your next?

Joe,

The only time I played it, it was dead down-wind, which made the hole play much easier.  And it looked like I could throw the ball on the green from 140.  I was shocked at how close it looks.

[jonathan_becker]

Here's one that goes unnoticed....#17 at Firestone North from 218.  The wind off the lake makes it extremely difficult to judge going downhill.  Especially when it's into the wind.

http://www.virtualclub.com/CourseWalks/Firestone/north_course/hole17.asp

[Joe Bausch]

Here's one that definitely is not well known, but when I take people out to the Hurdzan/Fry Pilgrim's Oak in Peach Bottom, PA, the 12th hole usually gets their attention.  From the tips it plays 200 yards to a fairly large green with a creek in play near the front, a junk lateral hazard area back and left, and big trees along the right.  Not too forget a fairly deep small grass bunker just to the right of the green.

[Jim Thornton]

3rd hole at Merion during Saturday afternoon Walker Cup action.  274 yards.  16 foot deep bunker on right.

[Dean DiBerardino]

#17 at Kiawah Ocean, especially with the wind.

[Jason Topp]

In my view, the 8th at Wolf Creek is much more intimidating than

17th at TPC Sawgrass
17 - Stadium Course
6 NSWGC
3 Pasa
3 Wolf Creek
11 Pacific Dunes

The tee shot is so intimidating our grouped laughed at it, and 2 out of 3 put it within 20 feet.  217/248 with a multi story drop to a green surrounded by water and ESA's.  Wind was howling when we played it.

17 at Kiawah is just as difficult depending on where one plays it from.  At least you have a bailout option on that hole.

[Brian Phillips]

# 5 at Pine Valley.

The first time I saw it I thought it was a short par 4.

When the caddy told me it was a par 3 I was intimidated.

The gorge, the water, the steep drop off right, the bunkers, pines, and seemingly small target are quite a sight.

Pat,

I totally agree.  I knew all about the hole but was absolutely stunned when I saw it.  I hit driver and was short in the right bunker...

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