Top Three Toughest Short Par 3 in your experience?

[Andrew Bertram]

7th at barnbougle


I had 28 members there 3 weeks ago, playing into the wind with the pin cut front it came up with the following


1 x 1
2 x 3
7 x 4
18 x double or worse

We stood on the saying the only way to hold the green was to hole out, only to learn later on that some one had, he landed 15 feet past the hole. the ball stopped and was then blown back into the hole


12 players of single figures, another 10 between 11 and 15 handicap

Finish short in the "safe" zone and you had to be perfect or it blew back to your feet

[Anthony Gray]

#10 at Royal Dornoch. There is no routine up & down if you miss the green.

 2 and 6 also they roll off on every side.

  Anthony

[Mike Policano]

Top 3 toughest

5 at Pine Valley
16 at Cypress
17 Secession

Honorable mention

11 Plainfield
11 Shinny
17 Sawgrass

[Mike Cirba]

I'm thinking #9 at Myopia needs to enter this discussion.

The green is a tiny table top surrounded by some of the nastiest drop-down bunkers in my experience.

[Matt_Ward]

I'll have to think about the entire listing but let me say this -- as much talk as there is for the 3rd at Mauna Kea (can play to 270 or so yards) the real gem of a long par-3 hole is at the same course but comes with the 11th -- at 242 yards and usually played back into the prevailing wind.

The green is quite small and the elevation drop while appearing to be helpful only allows the wind to become even more of a force because of the exposure. Trent Jones gets plenty of grief on this site but when long par-3 holes are considered the 11th at Mauna Kea is one I will long remember -- as well as anyone else who plays it.

[Carl Johnson]

In my limited experience:

1.  The Postage Stamp at Royal Troon

2.  The Sea Hole, No. 13, at the Glen Golf Club (East Links, North Berwick), described on the Club's website as:

"The Glen's signature hole, many a visitor from the USA has likened this to Pebble Beach. A short par 3 with a blind tee shot to a green that has beach and rocks on two sides.  The tee shot needs to carry to the green and, depending on wind strength and direction, might be a pitching wedge one day or a 4-iron the next. This is one of the great holes in Scottish golf."

The hole was a wedge when we played it, but none of us (out of four) kept the ball on the green.

[Sean Leary]

I'll have to think about the entire listing but let me say this -- as much talk as there is for the 3rd at Mauna Kea (can play to 270 or so yards) the real gem of a long par-3 hole is at the same course but comes with the 11th -- at 242 yards and usually played back into the prevailing wind.

The green is quite small and the elevation drop while appearing to be helpful only allows the wind to become even more of a force because of the exposure. Trent Jones gets plenty of grief on this site but when long par-3 holes are considered the 11th at Mauna Kea is one I will long remember -- as well as anyone else who plays it.

Even for you Matt, those cannot be considered short par 3's...

[Matt_Ward]

Sean:

I posted that info as a tongue and cheek and wanted to see who would pick it out.

Good job !

If I name holes to fit that category - the 14th at Doonbeg would be on the very "short" list -- only 111 yards and when the wind blows just a sheer terror -- any number is in play !

[Thomas McQuillan]

7 at royal co down
12 at portmarnock
7 at co louth

[Karl Kocher]

IMHO the toughest short hole to make a par without losing a ball is the 12th at Pine Tree.

[Karl Kocher]

Meant 13, sorry.

[Carl Nichols]

IMHO the toughest short hole to make a par without losing a ball is the 12th at Pine Tree.

Is there a separate category for hardest holes to make par while losing a ball? 

[Karl Kocher]

Yes

[J_ Crisham]

For me the 7th at Pebble with a breath of wind, 11th at Shinny, and the 6th at NGLA. All less than 150yds but doubles can happy very easy- I managed that on each of these this year!                           Jack

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Postage stamp in the UK and the 15th at Bayou DeSaird CC(my childhood course) at home are the classic tough par and easy double bogie short 140 yards or less par 3.

[Chip Gaskins]

Not sure where the yardage cut off is for "short" but...

Below 150:
Colorado Golf Club #2
San Francisco Golf Club #13 (bunkers, bunkers, bunkers)
Maidstone #8 (you can't see the damn green)

Below 175:
Augusta National #6 (can you say 4 putt)
Shinnecock Hills #11 (jez, not much to hit to there, but soooo much fun)
Aronimink Golf Club #5 (bunkers, tiers, fall offs)