What's your favorite par-3 course?

[Matthew Runde]

What is your favorite par-3 course, and why?

For reference, I found a thread from 2002, but that was a while ago.  I'm sure additional courses have been built.

[Tim Bert]

The Little Course in Franklin, TN. I am a little biased since my boys are learning to play the game there. It does have two double greens and some mighty good maintenance going for it though it is desperate need of someone taking multiple chainsaws to the embarrassingly narrow corridor that is the 4th hole. They can't seem to figure out why they are always playing the hole from mats instead of the grass tee. Hmmm.... Maybe it has something to do with the fact that sunlight has not touched the hole in five years. While the hole is less than 100 yards, there has got to be no more than a 10 yard chute to go through. Unless of course your 6 yr old can hit the ball 50 ft inthe air over towering, mature trees. Seriously, it is a nightmare on a course that is otherwise a breath of fresh air.

[Dale_McCallon]

Tim,

Is this the place that used to be called "Through the Green" (I think).  I remember playing a place in Franklin that was a lighted beginners course that had a couple Par 4s in the 240 yard range and then about 350 par 5.  Really a neat place, but I thought it was gone now.

[John Kirk]

Private course in Manakin-Sabot, VA called Kanawa.  Designed by our own Lester George.

[Will MacEwen]

Queen Elizabeth Pitch and Putt, Vancouver BC.  Nice piece of land, two clubs and a putter, A.V. Macan.

[Steve_Roths]

I think the top 3 have to be Augusta, Olympic, and Valderammas.

[Matthew Rose]

I'm a bit partial to Rick Smith's Threetops in Michigan.

Also, my grandparents in Lincoln, Nebraska lived in a residential estate that had a private par-3 course that was only available to those who lived in said estate, and guests. The longest hole was 130 yards and they had all these tiny little postage stamp greens with subtle slopes that were kept in pristine condition and were always about 13 on the Stimpmeter.

Lincoln also had a nice little muni par-3 course for juniors, which is where my brother and I learned to play.

[Ben Sims]

I thought the short course at Colorado Golf Club might be better than the "big" course.  Okay, that's only partially true.

But the greens were a bit more fun, it allowed for many runups, and was a great nature walk. 

[Cliff Hamm]

The Hickory Course at Hamilton Farm.  Can't imagine a better one....

A sample of three of the eighteen holes:







If interested the rest are here: http://www.hamiltonfarmgolfclub.com/default.aspx?p=CourseTourDefault&vnf=1&ssid=87509&mtab=&view=l2

[Steve Lapper]

Cliff is right, Hamilton Farm's Hickory Course is the very best out there. It has a wide variety of length, elevation, challenge and terrific green
complexes. Unlike most of the others mentioned before on this and other threads, it is USGA sloped and rated (rates two strokes over par, plays closer to 3-4*).

It is also vastly superior to the full length, Highlands Course on the property.

Sadly, it gets considerably less play from its members

*PS...Tiger couldn't break par there in three tries.

[Tommy Williamsen]

It's tough to beat Pine Valley's short course.  I agree that The par three course at Colorado GC is absolutey stunning.  I alos like the one at Colleton River.  Great fun.

[Tony_Chapman]

Lincoln also had a nice little muni par-3 course for juniors, which is where my brother and I learned to play.

Matthew -- You are killing me! Jim Ager Jr. Course was the best. We lived about an hour from Lincoln and whenever mom and dad needed to take a trip, they'd just drop me and my brother off and we play that thing over and over and over for probalby $8. A great place for us to learn the game. It's hosted the "young kids" in the Cornhusker State Games forever. Fond memories.

[Jeff Spittel]

The views at Olympic are pretty tough to beat. Also nice to hit approaches to greens with short irons after a day on the Lake.

[Sean Leary]

I will second Pine Valley. It is remarkable how close the holes resemble the big course....

[David_Tepper]

Here is a link to Kyle Henderson's recent photo tour of the 9 hole, par-3 Cliffs Course at the Olympic Club.

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,43780.0/

[Matthew Petersen]

Queen Elizabeth Pitch and Putt, Vancouver BC.  Nice piece of land, two clubs and a putter, A.V. Macan.

Is this the course that is in Stanley park? If so, I remember it very fondly from trips to Vancouver many years ago.

[Will MacEwen]

Queen Elizabeth Pitch and Putt, Vancouver BC.  Nice piece of land, two clubs and a putter, A.V. Macan.

Is this the course that is in Stanley park? If so, I remember it very fondly from trips to Vancouver many years ago.

Different part of town.  I have never played the Stanley Park one, but it is a handy little location.

[Chris Buie]

The Mountain Springs course at Grandfather is magical.  It is significantly higher up on the mountain.  Many of the holes are very secluded - not a house in sight - luxuriant forest with streams rolling over rocks...mountains out in the distance.  Quite an experience.  Clifford Roberts had a place there.  You know what his standards were.
Cliff, thanks for pointing out the Hickory Course.  It looks fantastic.  Haven't heard of that before.

[Anthony_Nysse]

What about Friars Heads par 3? I never saw it in its finished state, but I know Rod Wittman had a hand in it.

[Brandon Skopelja]

Bears Club in Jupiter has a really fun one. Two summers ago I was working out there while they were regrassing, and we would finish the day with at least nine out there. Great shape and some fun holes/shots

[Richard Hetzel]

Although only 4 holes total, the practice loop at Pineneedles is pretty darn cool.

[Tim Bert]

Dale - I am pretty sure what was "through the green" was something different and was mowed under a few years before I got to this area. The Little Course is on adjacent property to Vanderbilt Legends Club. It is operated separately, as a public course, but the Legends team maintains it and in return the members get free playing rights (though they can only book unrolled same day tee times).

[Jason Connor]

I haven't played many mentioned here.  But I enjoy the course at Grand National -- though the greens are often times beat up.

If you play one set of tees, the lengths can be monotonous.  

The key is playing a match where the winner of the previous hole gets to choose the tee box for the next hole.

[Anthony_Nysse]

I've Heard that there is a really good par 3 course across the street from Wade Hampton

[Kevin Pallier]

I will second Pine Valley. It is remarkable how close the holes resemble the big course....

Even though there is a P4 in the 10 holes there - it's probably the best I've seen. I love the views of Olympic (Cliff) as well.

Outside the US - I wouldn't mind seeing what Neil Crafter has done down at Barwon Heads recently

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