Golf World's "Dream Par 3s" Article

[James Boon]

Just got my latest copy of Golf World (May 2010) and they have an article on the best par 3s in GB&I. They have kept the holes as their original numbers and have come up with the following list:

1. Royal Lytham & St Anne's
2. Ardglass
3. Woburn Dukes
4. Royal County Down
5. Lahinch
6. West Sussex
7. Hunstanton
8. Royal Troon
9. St Anne's Old Links

10. Moortown
11. St. Andrews Old Course
12. Royal Birkdale
13. Muirfield
14. Royal Portrush
15. Kingsbarns
16. Cruden Bay
17. Loch Lomond
18. Lough Erne

What do you think of their list? What would yours be like?

Cheers,

James

[Carl Nichols]

I thought all but one of the par 3's at County Louth were really good; surprised not to see any of them here (though I've not played any of the holes on here other than those at Portrush and RCD).

[Tom_Doak]

County Louth's par-3's were indeed excellent.  The fifth was the best of them, I thought, but I'd put the Dell at Lahinch ahead of it.

There are lots of holes in this list that are overrated.  The silliest choices are the 3rd at Woburn, the 9th at St. Annes, and the 16th at Cruden Bay (unless it has been totally changed since the last time I was there, and even so, there's no way it is the best par-3 16th hole in the UK).

I've been in Scotland the past week and just off the top of my head, would choose the 10th at North Berwick (West) and the 9th at The Renaissance Club over those listed.  The best par-3 at Askernish was the 14th, but I can't choose that over Calamity.

[David_Tepper]

I would rank the #16th at Golspie way ahead of the #16th Cruden Bay.

[Kevin Pallier]

James

On the main - I'd agree with most there except how did they leave out "The Redan" ??

I'll throw a few into then ring...

1. Berkshire (Blue)
2. Royal Dornoch
3. Royal Aberdeen
4. Agree + Cruden Bay or Swinley
5. Royal Worlington or Sunningdale (New)
6. Agree + Royal Dornoch
7. Rye
8. Agree + Ballybunion (Old)
9. Doonbeg ?

10. Worplesdon
11. Agree + Alwoodley
12. Agree + Woodhall Spa
13. Agree + Co. Sligo
14. Agree
15. North Berwick
16. Carnoustie
17. Burhnam & Berrow
18. Brora

[Mark Chaplin]

I'd change;

1st  Berkshire Blue
7th   Rye
15th North Berwick
16th Addington
17th Swinley Forest

Scott - Doh my error, 13 at HCEG is a great hole.

[Scott Warren]

Is 13 at Muirfield a better hole than 13 at The Addington?

Mark - 16 at The Add is a par 5. I think you mean 17, which is IMO as good as 17 at Swinley, if not a nose in front.

[Mark Pearce]

9 at Silloth must be in with a shout, surely, though I haven't played St Annes.

Scott,

13 at Muirfield is a great hole.  I haven't played the Add but from the pictures I have seen it isn't a match for Muirfield.

Difficult to believe there's not a single entry from the Berkshire on that list.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Many fine 17's but I'd go for Littlestone's.   Not only do you have a long carry over gunk but the green sits there like the stage in an amphitheatre with the dune wrapped around it. Tricky slope too.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Some other very good ones:

6th Rosapenna-Old
7th Nairn & Portnoo
15th Portmarnock or Ballybunion-Old

What about RCD?

[Scott Warren]

Tony:

17 seems a popular hole for a nice 17th:

Littlestone
Walton Heath (Old)
Swinley
Addington
Canterbury is a good one
St Enodoc

Of other holes, the punchbowl-ish 16th at Trevose is one that doesn't get much attention, but it's a bloody good hole. As is the 3rd there. No surprise Harry Shap was responsible!

Royal Lytham's opening hole must be good to be better than West Cornwall's.

[Paul Nash]

2 of my favourite's not mentioned are 7 at Hankey Common, which is truly superb, and 13 at Worplesdon

[Simon Holt]

This is a cool artcile.

I really like the 4th and 11th at Hoylake (normal layout, not Open) but dont know if I would substitute the ones on the list.  Played TOC many times so agree with 11 but never played RCD...only know the reputation.

The 9th at Renaissance is a fantastic hole, especially now they have riveted all the bunkers.

8th at Kilspindie is a sleeper.  Obviously the Postage Stamp has the infamy thing going on.

2nd at Dornoch???  Can divide opinion....

15th at KB is beautiful but it has never really done it for me.

[Tony_Muldoon]

At the end of Desert Island Disc's she always asks the most impossible question

"...and if you could only have one?"


Today my answer would be 18th at Brora. Truly Memorable.

[Scott Warren]

Only one?

13 at The Addington.

Great tee shot.
Brilliant, varied recovery options.
Awesome green.
Beautiful setting.

[Thomas McQuillan]

I would change the 7th to either the 7th at RCD or Baltray.I think one of Portmarnocks par 3's also deserve to be up there, possibly either the 12th or 15th.

[Thomas McQuillan]

At the end of Desert Island Disc's she always asks the most impossible question

"...and if you could only have one?"


Today my answer would be 18th at Brora. Truly Memorable.

The 5th at Baltray, even just to putt on.

[Scott Warren]

Great choice, Thomas.

The bunker shot from short right is lot of fun, too, trying to use the RHS kick pad to run it close.

That is one of the best 10 holes I have played in GB&I, I reckon.

[JNC Lyon]

This is from my very limited experience thus far.  It is most definitely subject to change.

1) Huntercombe - 150
2) Prestwick - 160
3) Addington - 210
4) Swinley Forest - 190
5) Prestwick - 200
6) Sandwich - 160
7) Addington - 150
8. Denham - 180
9) West Hill - 170

10) Swinley Forest - 200
11) Hainault Forest - 140
12) Denham - 120 (I read that Donald Steel learned the game on this course--very interesting!)
13) Addington - 230
14) Deal - 210
15) Huntercombe - 170
16) Sandwich - 160
17) Addington - 190
18) Haven't seen any yet, so I'll pick 18 at Garden City, which replicates a GB & I hole.

[Wade Schueneman]

Nobody has mentioned 6 at Royal Dornoch.
I also second 7 at Rye (even though I love 7 at RCD and Western Gailes), 9 at Silloth, and 15 at Ballybunion.  I concede that it is a shame to leave off the Redan. 

[Ian Andrew]

Some suggestions:

6th at Royal Dornock
9th at Castlerock
15th at Portmarnock

[Bill_McBride]

The sixth at Painswick is listed in some UK's "best" lists, and was one of Henry Longhurst's favorite holes.

[Anthony Gray]

  The long uphill par 3 at Crail is a classic.

  ARG

[Anthony Gray]

   #2 at Dornach......Natural?

    ARg

[Sean_A]

Off the top of my head

1. NO question about it: West Cornwall

6. Serious consideration for Painswick

7. Beau Desert

9. Serious consideration for Kington

12. Kington

15. N Berwick - no brainer

16. Some serious consideration for Wallasey

17. Its a dog fight, but I am usually gonna plop for the shorter hole - Swinley Forest.

Ciao