Great Executive Golf Courses

[Peter Ferlicca]

Living in Palm Desert, CA there are plenty of executive golf courses for beginners and the older folk.   Some provide a lot of short par 3’s with some good driveable par 4’s mixed in.  Some have a lot of hard par 3’s in the 170 yd range, and some have real small greens putting a premium on accuracy.  What are some of the best executive golf courses in the world and country?  In the par 3 courses thread a gentlemen put in a link to a beautiful looking one in Linville, NC. 

It must be between Par 60 to Par 67.  If we get above 67 we are in the territory of Rye and Swinley Forest.  And anything below Par 60 is pretty much a par 3 course.

[Niall C]

Forgive me for asking, but what exactly is an Executive Golf Course ? Serious question.

Thanks

Niall

[Joe Bausch]

Matt Ward:  please pick up the pink courtesy phone.   

There is a nifty 'executive course' here in Philly called McCall Field.  It has six par 3's and twelve par 4's.  A Ross/Flynn course that was exclusively for Philadelphia Electric Company ("PECO") employees for years.

I did a photo tour of the par 3's a few years back:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,31175.0.html

Here is the complete photo album:

http://myphillygolf.com/uploads/bausch/McCall/index.html

[Brad Tufts]

There's one in Plymouth, MA called Souther's Marsh that seems to get some pretty good press.

Never played it personally though....might be fun to play amongst the cranberry bogs.

http://www.southersmarsh.com/golf_course/

[Mark McKeever]

I would add Phoenixville CC in Valley Forge, PA to the list.

Mark

[Niall C]

and an Executive Golf Course is..............

[Peter Ferlicca]

A special design of golf course is the "executive" golf course (also known as a "par-3" course). This course differs from standard courses in that the majority of holes are Par 3 holes, with one or two Par 4 holes added and sometimes (though rare) a Par 5 hole. The executive course is designed for beginner or older golfers and those who lack the time to play a round on a standard course.



I am not asking for any Doak 8's, 9's, or 10's.  I am just asking people if there are an special ones out there.

[Andy Stamm]

The wee or St. Olaf course at Cruden Bay is a favorite of mine. It's only 9 holes with a par of 32. It covers some very good links ground in the middle of the first 9. The 6th hole is a favorite with two massive dunes framing Slain's castle in the background from the tee, and it really rewards a long straight tee ball.

[Tim Leahy]

There used to be a great one designed by R. T. Jones Sr. just outside Sacramento called El Dorado Hills Golf Course. Changes in elevation and water holes. Really good greens. NLE however due to real estate development and poor management.
There is another good one at Incline Village on the North Shore by RT I think.
Also a good one in Valencia, Ca near Magic Mountain called Vista Valencia. I used to see Leslie Nielson out there.
Lawrence Welk Village in Escondido has a nice one. Usually par 61 or so with a few short par 4's and 5's mixed in.
Great for seniors and juniors that don't want to beat a ball down the fairway on long par 4's and par 5's.
Courses can be great for money games. Lots of greenies.

[Ted Cahill]

I enjoyed Audubon Park Golf Course in New Orleans.

[Daryl David]

As Peter says, there are a few in the desert that are fun.  The Oasis in Palm Desert used to be known for some of the best greens in the valley.  I believe it is a Ted Robinson Jr.  I always loved playing it and have great memories of witnessing both my parents make aces about a month apart.  Not sure if it is still the case, but a few years ago they had a great money game on Sunday afternoons.  Asst Pros around the valley would take part.  Used to draw a small gallery.  Must have been great practice for honing their iron game.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Southampton Princess in Bermuda

Mountain Shadows in Scottsdale

Palm Valley Lakes Course in Goodyear, AZ

"The Hale Irwin-designed Lakes Course was created to provide players with a high-quality alternative to the Palms Course. With a par of 62, players will enjoy a fun and challenging round of golf in a considerably less amount of time. The Lakes Course
Par 62, Designed by the legendary Hale Irwin"
Gold Tees: Yardage - 4745  Slope - 103  Rating - 66.0
Blue Tees:  Yardage - 4346 Slope - 98  Rating - 63.8
White Tees: Yardage - 3747  Slope - 91  Rating - 60.1

2Philly munis:

Walnut Lane(profiled here under Courses by Country)

Juniata

[Keith Doleshel]

Northwood Golf Club in Monte Rio, Calif. would certainly qualify, even at 9 holes.  I know its lost much of its MacKenzie original design, but its a fun golf course in truly a magnificent setting.  Hard not to be inspired by the sheer size of the trees lining the fairways.  It measures at 2,893 yards for a par of 36 for 9 holes.  It was rated as the 3rd best 9 hole golf course by Golf Week last year, a little generous perhaps, but still a pretty special place.

[Rob_Waldron]

I played Audubon Park Golf Course in New Orleans last week. 4,220 from the tips and Par 62. The course has two par 5's, four par 4's and 12 par 3's. Mandatory carts on paths and the course is in spectacular condition. Very diverse group of patrons. I saw a ton of college kids (The course is located near Loyola) seniors, and regular Joes. The Tulane Womens team was playing there as well.

Great little plantation style clubhouse that was packed at lunch. Definitely worth playing this parkland gem while in the Big Easy!

[mike_malone]

 The Montchanin course of DuPont CC. It used to be a nine hole course called Black Gates which I never played. The change to 18 par 3's and 4's created a course where the par 3's have a wide range of angles, distances, and elevation changes. I believe some of the long par threes may have been short par 4's on the 9 hole course so that the small greens become a major challenge as a long par three.

[Terry Lavin]

Laissez les bon temps rouler, tout la nuit!

[mike_malone]

 I guess the DuPont's did come from France

[Bill_McBride]

I played Audubon Park Golf Course in New Orleans last week. 4,220 from the tips and Par 62. The course has two par 5's, four par 4's and 12 par 3's. Mandatory carts on paths and the course is in spectacular condition. Very diverse group of patrons. I saw a ton of college kids (The course is located near Loyola) seniors, and regular Joes. The Tulane Womens team was playing there as well.

Great little plantation style clubhouse that was packed at lunch. Definitely worth playing this parkland gem while in the Big Easy!

"Mandatory carts on cart paths" on an executive course?

Count me out!

[Mark Pritchett]

Charlie Yates Golf Course in Atlanta is very enjoyable executive course.  Interesting piece of property with good movement, the course is a good walk at a good price and also offers players a peek at its famous big brother across the street.

[John Shimp]

On the private side, Grandfather's Mountain Springs course is great.  More of a par 3 than an exec course as there are only a handful of par 4s but there are 18 holes and it is a blast

[Melvyn Morrow]

Niall

An Executive Golf Course is one of thoes 'Waiting For God' stops where the golfer can to do a big fat zero.  No thinking , No walking  No mixing or wondering about the beauty of Nature. The course is narrow, suitable for carts driven by chauffeurs, long enough to prove the masculinity of the member be it male or female. Bunkers eliminated as regarded as causing slow play and all golfs balls fitted with traction devices to pull the ball to the appropriate hole.

Nothing is left to chance not even the need for the Executive to get off his Volvo Carts which uses one of its own Crash Test robot dummies (packed in the next bag to the clubs) to take the shot for the Executive while he controls it from his laptop or laptop robot (available for the very Senior Executives) from the passenger vibrating air cooled executive seat in the cart.

Then we have the Doak Ascendance Greens which have tilt mechanisms to increase the angle thus increasing/decreasing the speed, yet the ball will not roll off the Green thanks to the gravity mode which kicks in if the ball appears to be rolling away from the pin.

Hell golf is not easy it’s challenging, yet it has the potential to keep the Executive young as it kills them off due to their poor fitness and health problems.

The Executive Golf Club will even inter your body under the Greens using the Doak Deceased Driver, but maintenance cost can be extortionate due to the additional attachments available, i.e.  incinerators, mummification options; Culling the wife and mistresses and having the Ferrari serviced every three months or 3,000 mile, just in case they find away to bring one back to life.

What ever happened to that enjoyable 3 hour game while embracing life and the glory of Nature at her very best.

Just a thought

Melvyn             

[Andy Stamm]

I played Audubon Park Golf Course in New Orleans last week. 4,220 from the tips and Par 62. The course has two par 5's, four par 4's and 12 par 3's. Mandatory carts on paths and the course is in spectacular condition. Very diverse group of patrons. I saw a ton of college kids (The course is located near Loyola) seniors, and regular Joes. The Tulane Womens team was playing there as well.

Great little plantation style clubhouse that was packed at lunch. Definitely worth playing this parkland gem while in the Big Easy!

"Mandatory carts on cart paths" on an executive course?

Count me out!

I played there last week as well. By mandatory carts on paths, he means if you take a cart. Walking is definitely allowed. I was surprised how many people were riding though as it's a 4000 yard course, and the weather was perfect, 70 and sunny. Some habits die hard, I guess.

I'll second that the conditioning is superb. I don't, however, particularly like the course. For one, there's way too much water in play, especially for an executive course. But given the dearth of good options in the city, it's not too bad. And, it's in a beautiful park with tons of people out walking and what not, which is really nice. I think they did a good job of integrating the course and the park.

[Ben Sims]

Niall

An Executive Golf Course is one of thoes 'Waiting For God' stops where the golfer can to do a big fat zero.  No thinking , No walking  No mixing or wondering about the beauty of Nature. The course is narrow, suitable for carts driven by chauffeurs, long enough to prove the masculinity of the member be it male or female. Bunkers eliminated as regarded as causing slow play and all golfs balls fitted with traction devices to pull the ball to the appropriate hole.

Nothing is left to chance not even the need for the Executive to get off his Volvo Carts which uses one of its own Crash Test robot dummies (packed in the next bag to the clubs) to take the shot for the Executive while he controls it from his laptop or laptop robot (available for the very Senior Executives) from the passenger vibrating air cooled executive seat in the cart.

Then we have the Doak Ascendance Greens which have tilt mechanisms to increase the angle thus increasing/decreasing the speed, yet the ball will not roll off the Green thanks to the gravity mode which kicks in if the ball appears to be rolling away from the pin.

Hell golf is not easy it’s challenging, yet it has the potential to keep the Executive young as it kills them off due to their poor fitness and health problems.

The Executive Golf Club will even inter your body under the Greens using the Doak Deceased Driver, but maintenance cost can be extortionate due to the additional attachments available, i.e.  incinerators, mummification options; Culling the wife and mistresses and having the Ferrari serviced every three months or 3,000 mile, just in case they find away to bring one back to life.

What ever happened to that enjoyable 3 hour game while embracing life and the glory of Nature at her very best.

Just a thought

Melvyn             

Melvyn,

This has to be one of the most depressing things I've read in 6 months.  Nice work.  Seems like you have zero idea what an executive course is, why the category exists, and how to think about one.  I would--rather than educate you on the premise of an executive course and how it brings beginners to the game and possibly seniors back to the game--say a couple of things.

1)  Odd that you would use TD's name in a derogatory manner here.  Especially considering that it's his firm that is furthering the cause of your beloved Askernish.

2) Nothing happened to the enjoyable game Melvyn.  It still exists and I look forward to it. 

3) An internet friend Bill McBride said it best.  "You can be such a windbag"

Before you start, save me the free speech rhetoric and your inevitable retort about being misunderstood.  Golf is alive and striving to get better.   The executive course can and should be a component of the future growth of golf, especially in urban areas. 

[Peter Ferlicca]

Executive golf courses provides juniors a good test of golf that doesn't beat them up like a regulation golf course would.  It is also a great place to play if you are getting on the older stage of life, and hitting the ball 200 yards off the tee.  Especially good for the older ladies that only hit it 150 yards off the tee.  When you have 300 yard par 4's, and a lady hits it 150 yds of the tee, she is playing the hole like a par 5.  Also, when I played Marrakesh Country Club the other day, it is a par 60 and I walked it in 1 1/2 hours.  To tee up on the first hole at 4pm and walk off the 18th green at 5:30pm is something that a lot of people are looking for in golf.  You get to hit your golf shots and roll some putts.  I wouldn't want it to be my only place of golf, but playing good executive golf courses is a nice couple hours spent that fulfills your golf fix.

[Tom Walsh]

Who is this Melvyn whose limited view denigrates the noble par 3 course?

I grew up playing one in St. Louis and taught at least 100 kids the game under the massive TV tower at the Tower Tee par 3 course. No carts, no cart paths. Good greens, rolling hills, nice staff.

Pro and owner Steve Lotz hosts his fellow Gateway Section pro's there every summer. No bags, just a couple of clubs, a putter. They love it and they play for money.